East African Women
in Science: The Cream of the Crop
The Gender and Diversity Program (G&D) of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) announces winners of women’s science fellowships |
This year’s winners show great promise for the future of women involved in agricultural sciences in Africa, according to Vicki Wilde, leader of the CGIAR’s Gender & Diversity Program. “We recognize that many talented women drop out of science as they move up the ladder, and those who remain are less likely to attain leadership positions. But if we are ever to see progress in the fight against hunger we must repair this leaky pipeline. Solutions will come all the more quickly if we stop this wastage of human talent and bring women’s experience to the laboratory.” Says new fellow Jane Nabawanuka-Oputa, a research officer from Uganda, “The voice of women farmers from rural areas is so important because they work closely with food production and they know the real problems. As women scientists it is our duty to listen to this voice and to work with them to make a difference.” Ten of the fellowships are funded by The Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Program while one fellowship is sponsored by The Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Development for a private sector winner. For each of the women selected, the fellowship offers an attractive two-year package aimed at strengthening her scientific and leadership skills. This includes funds to support presentation of her research at a major scientific conference each year, sponsorship to the renowned CGIAR Women’s Leadership Course and Negotiations skills training, and access to key resources via linkages to regional and global networks. Their scientific expertise is enhanced through monthly mentoring sessions with senior scientists in their fields. In the second year of the fellowship program, the winners will in turn mentor junior women scientists in their respective countries. By the end of this 2-year fellowship these women and their research will be well known, not only in the region but also worldwide. This year, four senior crop researchers from East African universities and six senior CGIAR agricultural scientists have shown their dedicated support by volunteering to mentor the fellowship winners. In an interesting exception, Dr. Usha Zehr who is Chair of CGIAR’s Private Sector Committee and Director of Research at Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company in India, has offered to mentor a private sector fellowship winner Josephine Okot. “I want to inspire African women to take up the bold step of entrepreneurship and I want to be a shining example to them,” says Josephine who is also the Managing Director of Victoria Seeds Ltd, Uganda. The fellowship winners gathered together along with their mentors at a Mentoring Orientation Workshop held from 3-7 July in Mombasa, Kenya where they received intensive training on how to set goals for their careers. The workshop provided a special opportunity for them to network with six West African women scientists from the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science & Technology Fellows Program. The Borlaug Fellowship Program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). G&D is collaborating with USDA and USAID to provide fellows in the Borlaug program with access to mentoring, leadership and networking opportunities. This networking draws upon a shared vision of African women agricultural scientists successfully contributing to the fight against hunger and poverty. Agnes Nyomora, a plant biologist from Tanzania says, “It is so hard for us women scientists to break into a male dominated working area and gain the respect and recognition we deserve. Through this workshop and the information I receive from G&D, I’ve learned to network and be more assertive. I am prepared…” Dr. Peter Matlon, director of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Program, said the response from the first group of fellows launched in 2005 had been overwhelmingly positive. “These women have benefited substantially from improved career goal setting, enhanced confidence, new leadership skills and wider professional networking opportunities,” he said. “Now they are sharing that learning with more junior women scientists, helping spread the benefits of this innovative program.” Another fellowship winner, Lusike Wasilwa of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute says, “So many people have shown me kindness in my life and I want to pay it forward by helping other women scientists achieve success.” The new fellowship winners are: Kenya: Contacts for more information: |
| For more information on the CGIAR Gender and Diversity Program, visit www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org |