AWARD has onboarded 30 African women scientists into the inaugural cohort of the Women in Data Science Fellowship, a pilot initiative designed to cultivate and empower a growing pipeline of African women who are addressing challenges in agrifood systems and climate resilience by working at the intersection of data science, agrifood systems, and climate adaptation.

Coming from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi, the new Fellows represent 21 institutions across the region. They have a wide range of expertise, ranging from applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to advanced data-driven solutions that tackle urgent and pressing challenges in the regions’ agrifood systems, including plant health and yield, strengthening climate resilience, promoting agripreneurship, and empowering women and youth.

The Women in Data Science initiative comes at a critical juncture, as Africa confronts escalating climate variability, food insecurity, and the need for more robust, locally developed evidence to inform agricultural transformation. Through this initiative, AWARD aims to equip African women professionals with advanced skills to apply data science, enhance their visibility and leadership capabilities, and catalyze collaborative networks to ensure that women are not only contributors but also decision-makers advancing solutions for climate-resilient agrifood systems.

“For AWARD, the Fellowship is a new space for us to see how we can influence evidence-based solutions for agrifood systems in Africa, “said Dr. Susan Kaaria, Director, AWARD.

Data solutions, AI, and machine learning are rapidly growing in science and research. They are increasingly shaping policy and laws across different sectors in agriculture. However, women remain significantly underrepresented in data science fields, hindering the full potential benefits of evidence-based solutions in agriculture.

A recent report by the World Economic Forum reveals that women make up only 15% of all data scientists globally. At the same time, in Africa, they account for just 26% of professionals employed in data.

Speaking about her motivation to join the Fellowship, Dr. Martha Nelima Okumu from Kenya shared, “Throughout my work, I’ve seen a real gap in how data is communicated to stakeholders. I joined the Fellowship to learn how to package and share data in ways that stakeholders in decision-making positions and farmers can easily understand and use.”

Similarly, Ms. Keessy Maria-Prisca Kouakou, from Cote d’Ivoire, emphasized the importance of the initiative, “Data science is a dynamic and relatively young field, especially in Africa, with massive opportunities to create real-world solutions. Yet, women remain underrepresented. The Fellowship is an opportunity to amplify the voices of women in the field. I joined the Fellowship to increase my visibility, represent other women, and inspire them to join the field by showing that it is possible.”

The pilot cohort was officially launched in Mombasa, Kenya, where the Fellows participated in a weeklong Women’s Leadership and Management Course. The course is designed to enhance the Fellows’ leadership capacity and ability to influence crucial research and policy solutions for the future of Africa’s agrifood. This is the first intervention in their hybrid fellowship experience that will include various face-to-face and virtual activities over a 12-month period.