This year’s African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) took place in Lusaka, Zambia, from September 29-October 2. During a side event held on September 29, AWARD launched its latest publication “Empowering African Women Scientists through Career Development Fellowships”. The publication is a result of years of data collection, analysis, and reflection, telling the story of how AWARD is organized, what it set out to do and what it has accomplished since it was founded in 2008. AWARD Director Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg symbolically handed the first hard copy over to one of AWARD’s first fellows in 2008 from Zambia, Dr. Judith Lungu. Dr. Lungu is the first woman to be appointed Dean in Zambia at the University of Zambia, and is currently serving as the Deputy Vice Chancellor at Mulungushi University. She also serves as an AWARD Mentor.

A number of AWARD Fellows were present at this special event, including AWARD Steering Committee member Dr. Jemimah Njuki, former AWARD Fellowship Manager and M&E Coordinator, Marco Noordeloos, and AWARD Deputy Director Learning and Outreach, Raymond Brandes. Additionally, a new animation on the report summarizing the AWARD Fellowship, and the role of women in agricultural research and development was showcased.

During the forum, Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg was part of a panel discussion that tackled the topic, “Capacity Development and Access to Markets: Important Drivers of Inclusion in Agriculture”. Delegates expressed their appreciation for the attention drawn to women agricultural scientist and the role they can play in food and nutrition security.