The AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Science

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African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) is announcing the Call for The AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Science. This Call targets young women in science under 35 years of age from Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Malawi.

The program, funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) and implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), seeks to build a pool of capable, confident, influential young women scientists equipped to excel in agricultural sciences, thrive in leadership roles, and champion gender integration in agriculture.

The competitively selected successful applicants will benefit from a range of opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills, enhance their capacities to effectively communicate their work to diverse audiences, and amplify their visibility and networking skills. The program is envisaged to equip them to overcome institutionalized barriers to women’s career progression and motivate them to stay in agricultural science careers. It will increase their awareness of the importance of gender integration in agriculture sciences and the need to champion gender equality in agriculture professions.

Launched in 2020, the AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Science draws participants from diverse biophysical and social science agriculture disciplines and organizations, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, research organizations, the private sector, and more. To date, the program has reached 75 young women in science from 21 African countries.

AWARD Leadership Program Benefits

Participants will gain leadership and mentoring training, access to a network of professionals, tools for personal branding, and opportunities to amplify their visibility through presentations and media engagements.
They will gain skills in gender-responsive agricultural research, enhancing their capacity to win grants that promote gender equality.
Overall, they will acquire skills to accelerate their career progression and have a more satisfying and impactful career in the male-dominated agriculture field.

Eligibility Criteria

Emerging African women agricultural scientists under 35 years old whose nationalities are Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria.
Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in an agricultural science field. Advanced degrees and demonstrated leadership potential are added advantages.
No, applicants must reside in Africa at the time of application for the program to qualify.