AWARD played host to Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, the Special Envoy on Gender and Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), and other representatives from the bank on September 21, 2016. The visit by the AfDB team was aimed at exploring a potential partnership between the two institutions.

Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg said that it was an honour for AWARD to host the AfDB and commended Ms. Fraser-Moleketi for the increasing the bank’s efforts to ensure gender equality and inclusivity. “We’re really glad to share the work of our Fellows and get to introduce AfDB to the amazing African women scientists that AWARD invests in,” she said.

Ms. Fraser-Moleketi acknowledged that AWARD is in a unique position to bring change to African agriculture. “Africa is capable of doing hard-core science. The work we are doing is not for ourselves, we are doing it for the women, youth, and other disadvantaged people across the continent,” she explained.

In addition to meeting the AWARD team, the visit also provided an opportunity for AWARD Fellows, Damaris Odeny, Sheila Okoth, Ivete Maluleque and Dr. Mary Njenga to showcase their work. Meeting the fellows in person provided the AfDB team the opportunity to see the impact these women scientists are having on the continent.  It is hoped that a potential partnership with the finance institution will magnify the impact that Africa’s women scientists are having in Africa.