The Women in Agriculture Leadership Program, implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) under the Africa-Australia Partnership was officially launched in Nairobi. Held in Nairobi at the World Agroforestry campus, the event convened Directors General and institutional leaders representing diverse regions of Africa, alongside key partners including the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The launch comes at a critical moment, as women remain underrepresented in agricultural research leadership, decision-making, and innovation systems and are more affected by climate challenges, highlighting the need for more inclusive, climate‑resilient agricultural systems.

In sub-Saharan Africa, agrifood systems employ 76% of working women and 68% of men, highlighting both the central role women play in agriculture and the urgency of ensuring these systems are inclusive and responsive to their needs.

Delivering keynote remarks at the launch, H.E. Ms. Jenny Da Rin, Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, emphasized the importance of positioning women at the center of climate resilient agricultural transformation.

“The program stands out because it recognizes a simple truth; you cannot build climate resilience without women. This initiative is not just about training women, it’s about positioning them, supporting them to step into spaces where decisions are made about what research is funded, which solutions are prioritized, and whose realities are reflected. The future of agriculture, the future of climate resilience, the future of food systems and the future of leadership is already here, and it can be shaped by all of you,” she said.

Opening the session, Dr. Susan Kaaria, Director, AWARD, reinforced the urgency of addressing gender disparities in agricultural research and the need for both individual and institutional transformation.

“When it comes to research and leadership, women continue to lag behind men, with women comprising only about 22% of agricultural researchers. I highlight these statistics to underscore why this program is both timely and critical. If our research and innovation systems do not account for these realities, then our science remains incomplete and incomplete science leads to incomplete solutions. We recognize that addressing these challenges requires both strong individuals and strong institutions. That is why, at AWARD, together with our partners, we remain committed to investing in individuals, strengthening institutions, and creating enabling environments for gender-responsive agricultural research and development.”

Dr. Susan Kaaria, Director, AWARD

Dr. Leah Ndung’u, Regional Director for Africa at Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), highlighted the importance of strategic collaboration in advancing meaningful impact.

“AWARD has reached over 2000 women scientists, strengthening institutions and shifting systems over the years. So, ACIAR, the decision was clear. If we are serious about leadership in Africa, we must work with those who understand the landscape deeply. And together we have designed this program to train women and position them where decisions are made.”

Dr. Leah Ndung’u, Regional Director for Africa at Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

To date, AWARD has delivered 18 Fellowship cycles, reaching 2,214 women scientists from over 460 institutions across 26 countries, contributing to a growing pipeline of women leaders in agricultural research and development.

Dr. Phillip Osano, Chief Operating Officer at CIFOR-ICRAF, underscored the role of leadership in advancing institutional change and strengthening gender-responsive research and innovation.

“Through this program, we have an opportunity to embed gender responsiveness in our institutional functions, policies, research design, and implementation practices. We have an opportunity to position our institutions to deliver climate-resilient agricultural innovations that respond to the diverse realities of both women and men smallholder farmers”, he stated.

Dr. Phillip Osano, Chief Operating Officer at CIFOR-ICRAF

The launch marked the beginning of the institutional strengthening component of the Program which seeks to enhance organizational readiness to facilitate application of gender responsiveness in their policies and research practices to ensure they deliver better in their mandate.

Following the launch, the institutional leads embarked on a full day workshop on ‘why gender matters’. The workshop is designed to enhance the participants’ understanding of the program’s approach to gender, their role in creating an enabling environment for gender integration in the institutional policies and practices and foster their commitment in supporting the full range of activities and intended outcomes.

Structured around two components Institutional Strengthening and the Women’s Leadership Fellowship, the program is designed to drive both individual and systemic change. The Call for the Fellowship is currently open, accepting applications from women in Egypt, Ghana, Morocco,  Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

See photo highlights from the launch.