African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) participated in the 2023 annual CGIAR Gender research conference in New Delhi, India, from October 9-12, 2023. The international conference “From research to impact: Towards just and resilient agri-food systems” addresses the gender and social inequalities at the heart of food systems.

In addition to an exhibition booth, AWARD featured in two sessions of the conference:

Dr. Michèle Mbo’o-Tchouawou, Deputy Director – Programs, AWARD, participated in a plenary panel discussion on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, titled “From Research to Impact: Towards Agri-Food Systems Transformation.”

The panelists were as follows:

• Dr. Lauren Phillips, Deputy Director – Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Dr. Meredith Soule, Division Chief, Inclusive Development – United States Agency for International Development, USAID
• Dr. Michèle Mbo’o-Tchouawou, Deputy Director – Programs, AWARD
• Ms. Neena Joshi, Interim Senior Vice President – Asia, Heifer International
• Mr. Nishant Gupta, Social and Environmental Impact Advisor, Walmart India
• Dr. Rukmi Rao, Founder, Gramya Resource Centre for Women (Invited – TBC)
• Vice-Chancellor (TBC)

Moderator:

• Ms. Vivian Atakos, Global Engagement, and Policy, CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform

Dr. Laura Estelle, a Researcher in Zoology and Genetics at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Biosciences et Biotechnologies Appliquées (ENSBBA) of the Université Nationale des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénierie et Mathématiques (UNSTIM), in the Republic of Benin and 2020 One Planet Laureate Candidate also participated as a panelist in a parallel session on Preparing Future-Ready Youths for Agri-Food Challenges, which was held on Monday, October 9, 2023, in New Delhi, India.