In a world where balancing roles—especially for women in the workplace and academia—can often feel like an impossible juggling act, the story of Dr. Evelyn Asante Yeboah, a 2011 AWARD Fellow, and a natural resources scientist, shines as a beacon of hope and inspiration.

Evelyn’s journey to her PhD began in 2011 during the Mentoring Orientation Workshop. Carefully curated training that pairs Fellows with veteran scientists and establishes a working relationship centered on the mentees attaining their specific career goals.

As a young environmental activist, Evelyn set out to obtain her PhD to strengthen her work on championing climate change solutions around forest conservation and smallholder education to promote resilience.

Agricultural researchers are crucial drivers of innovation and knowledge to support economic growth and sustainable livelihoods. However, Africa faces a shortage of researchers, especially at PhD level, with notable gender imbalance. A study reveals that women account for 28% of agricultural researchers at PhD level in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, while Evelyn’s pursuit of higher education was a personal mission, her efforts would contribute to plugging one of the continent’s glaring gaps—gender parity in agricultural research.

“During the workshop, we were tasked with developing a Purpose Road Map. My objective was to obtain a PhD and become a leading research scientist in my field. I made myself a promise, and I was going to fulfill it,” she reflected.

From October 2019 to December 2024, Evelyn navigated an extraordinary journey culminating in being awarded a doctorate in Sustainable Landscape Development from Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. However, her dream faced delays due to a lack of support as a single mother juggling family duties, insufficient funding, and the unexpected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I began my studies in a foreign land as a single mother of three young kids, with very little support, which posed unique challenges. Shortly after, my scholarship ended prematurely,” she noted. Despite these challenges, she secured a research assistant position to provide for her family while continuing her studies. “It was a delicate balancing act,” she commented.

A year into her studies, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, significantly disrupting her research, which relied heavily on fieldwork data from Ghana. She quickly had to reimagine her approach and innovate ways to collect and analyze data.

Evelyn’s resilience and adaptability are characteristic of the struggles many African women in science and research face. Biases, gender norms, and stereotypes often push women further from STEM fields. Evidence shows that women’s participation in STEM drops significantly as their careers progress, especially at the PhD level and in leadership positions.

The gender gap in science hampers the continent’s growth and development, reflected in inequalities across agrifood systems, policies, innovations, research publications, and socio-economic development. Women’s presence in science and research is critical, especially in addressing challenges like climate change, pandemics, data gaps, gender equality, and food insecurity.

Efforts to advance African women in science and research are already showing promising results. Organizations like African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) are building women’s capacity to succeed in higher education and thrive in research and leadership

AWARD offers tailored interventions on gender responsiveness, mentoring, leadership, and science to strengthen their skills. AWARD has since benefited over 2,100 Fellows, Mentors, and Mentees who have advanced their careers and led research innovations across Africa.

Challenging biases and galvanizing action to close the gender gap is critical to encouraging women like Evelyn. Her determination and success, including publishing three papers in high-impact journals and collaborating with institutions like GIZ to support and educate local farming communities in Ghana on sustainable ecosystem management, highlight the potential of women in science.

Evelyn concludes that in her pursuit of success, she learned that motherhood should not be perceived as a limitation.  She says her story is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the unyielding pursuit of one’s dreams.

“Women, rise up! Push forward with purpose and know that no matter your challenges, you can and will overcome them,” she affirms.