The call for the second Cohort of the USAID-funded program is open to female policy practitioners from Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Senegal.

Monday, February 13, 2023 —African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) has opened the Call for the second Cohort of its Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy (GRASP) Fellowship to women who are citizens of Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Senegal.

An initiative of AWARD funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the highly competitive GRASP Fellowship is an immersive three-year career development program targeting mid-career African women in the policy field to catalyze the design and implementation of gender-responsive agricultural policies across Africa.

Successful applicants, known as AWARD Policy Fellows, get customized training in mentoring, leadership, negotiation skills, and gender integration in policy and agriculture.

The inaugural Cohort, announced in December 2022, comprises 49 women from six countries – Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia – drawn from diverse organizations, including the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies across the six countries.

“The GRASP Fellowship promises to prepare me to make a difference in my country by helping fishing communities to develop resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change shocks” Carolyn Munthali, Principal Fisheries Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Malawi, 2022 AWARD Policy Fellow.

Effective policies are critical if research innovations are to provide gender-inclusive, sustainable solutions for Africa to transform its agriculture and feed its growing population. The guidelines for country implementation of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) under the Malabo declaration highlight the need for agricultural policies that will facilitate stakeholder engagement and inclusive, equitable agricultural growth. Such policies require careful interrogation of the policy processes, from decisions to actions.

“To develop and refine policy interventions for women and other marginalized groups involved in livestock rearing, we must better understand the roles they play in livestock production and what interventions work best to empower them.” Sylvia Harrison Ng’andu, Lecturer, University of Zambia, 2022 AWARD Policy Fellow

The AWARD Policy Fellows are identified through a competitive selection process that includes assessing their experience and leadership potential in gender, agriculture, food systems, and policy development. The AWARD Policy Fellows will sharpen their skills to foster innovative policy-oriented projects and lead policy processes. They will also receive catalytic funding to design and deploy innovative gender-responsive policy projects.

The Call for applications opens on February 13, 2023, and closes on May 15, 2023, at 2359 hours EAT. Application is strictly through the online portal on the AWARD website. Incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted.

Download the GRASP Fellowship brochure for more details about it and its implementation.

Lundi 13 février 2023— African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) lance l’appel à candidatures pour la seconde édition de son programme de formation sur les systèmes agricoles et politiques publiques sensibles au genre (Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy, GRASP). Le programme s’adresse aux femmes ressortissantes du Burkina Faso, Ethiopie, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda et Sénégal.

Cette initiative d’AWARD, financée par l’agence américaine pour le développement international (USAID), est un programme intense et hautement compétitif. Le programme de formation GRASP, d’une durée de trois ans, vise le renforcement des capacités des femmes africaines, professionnelles et en milieu de carrière, qui s’intéressent à l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre de politiques agricoles sensibles aux questions de genre et d’inclusion sociale.

Les candidates retenues, encore appelées AWARD Policy Fellows, participeront à une série de formations sur le mentorat, le leadership, les techniques de négociation, la prise en compte de la problématique genre dans l’agriculture et les politiques publiques.

Au lancement de la première cohorte en décembre 2022, 49 femmes avaient été sélectionnées. Elles sont ressortissantes de six pays africains – Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigéria, Ouganda et Zambie – et issues de disciplines et organisations diverses, y compris, le secteur privé, les organisations non-gouvernementales, les organismes d’Etat et d’autres administrations publiques.

“Le programme de formation GRASP va me préparer à de nouveaux défis, à faire la différence dans mon pays grâce à l’appui aux communautés de pêcheurs pour développer la résilience et la capacité d’adaptation aux chocs climatiques” Carolyn Munthali, AWARD Policy Fellow 2022, est un Agent principal des pêches au Ministère de l’agriculture, Malawi.

Il est crucial de promouvoir le développement de politiques efficaces pour que la recherche et l’innovation apportent des solutions viables et durables pour la transformation de l’agriculture et la sécurité alimentaire en Afrique. Les directives pour la mise en œuvre du Programme détaillé pour le développement de l’agriculture africaine (PPDAA) dans le contexte de la Déclaration de Malabo, mettent un accent sur les politiques agricoles qui facilitent l’engagement des différents acteurs tout en promouvant une croissance agricole inclusive et équitable. La formulation et la mise en œuvre de telles politiques sont fortement conditionnées par des processus décisionnels et plans d’action bien conçus.

“Pour développer et renforcer les politiques en appui aux femmes et groupes marginalisés impliqués dans l’élevage, nous devons impérativement comprendre leurs rôles dans la production animale et adapter les interventions pour une meilleure autonomisation de ces communautés.” Sylvia Harrison Ng’andu, AWARD Policy Fellow 2022, est une enseignante-chercheuse à l’Université de Zambie

Les AWARD Policy Fellows sont sélectionnées à travers un processus compétitif qui comprend l’évaluation de leur expérience professionnelle, le potentiel de leader et prise en compte du genre, la connaissance du secteur agricole, des systèmes alimentaires et de la formulation des politiques. Les AWARD Policy Fellows vont renforcer leurs capacités à formuler des projets axés sur des politiques et à soutenir les processus d’élaboration des politiques publiques. Elles recevront aussi un financement d’appui pour la conception et le déploiement des projets innovants axés sur les politiques et sensibles au genre.

L’appel à candidatures est ouvert le 13 février 2023 et sera clos le 15 mai 2023 à 23:59, heure d’Afrique de l’Est. La soumission des candidatures se fait strictement en ligne, à partir du site d’AWARD. Il est important de noter que les formulaires incomplets et les soumissions tardives seront rejetées.

Pour plus d’informations sur le programme et sa mise en œuvre, nous vous invitons à télécharger la brochure GRASP.

Fish plays a significant role in the Beninese protein supply. In rural Benin, aquaculture has contributed significantly to the livelihoods and food security of the farmers. From employment opportunities to high-quality animal protein to essential nutrients, aquaculture has evolved to provide smallholder households with better access to resources.

Like other industries, fish farming has not been spared by the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has evoked several challenges in the agricultural sector, including a drop in fisheries production and trade. Growing evidence has linked the upset in the fisheries’ upstream value chain to the pandemic.

At the start of the pandemic in 2020, governments and other actors along the fisheries value chain sought temporary measures to cushion their countries from the developing effects of the pandemic. However, new challenges have been calling for more prolonged and lasting solutions. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) notes that already some lessons are emerging on ways to build back better to ensure that the resilience of aquatic food value chains is strengthened to endure future crises.

Fisheries Scientist and 2019 One Planet Laureate Candidate Dr. Toundji Olivier Amoussou is among the scientists leading research to help Beninese smallholder fish farmers mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Toundji led a team of eight scientists in the publication of a new study on “The multifactorial aquaculture-related COVID-19 shock in Benin, West Africa: A socio-economic perspective of mitigating the disruptive impacts on the small-scale and subsistence producers.”

The study reveals that Benin’s aquaculture heavily depends on small-scale and subsistence producers (SSAPs) who rely on inputs and equipment from markets overseas. The dependence on overseas inputs leaves the SSAPs vulnerable to market shocks due to COVID-19 restrictions. Hence the need to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on Benin’s fisheries sector.

Their findings uncovered that increased input prices severely affect most of the value chain. The study cited that inadequate access to quality inputs has led to the disruption of fish growth and, thus, the production cycle.

Fish is essential nutrition in the diet of vulnerable communities, and additional aquaculture development could reduce food insecurity among these communities. The research concludes that short, medium and long-term mitigation measures like adopting existing local technologies and modern digital options could help farmers cope with future disruptions.

Recognizing that the pandemic is still here and the effects are evolving daily, the research provides insightful recommendations to the scientific community. The researchers urge the scientific community to propose incentive-based alternative options (e.g., affordable production systems and efficient micro-credit model) to motivate SSAPs to continue with aquaculture and guarantee the farmers’ sustainable livelihoods.

James John Banda, a research scientist, specializing in food science, was awarded a grant of USD 20,000 to optimize the fish value chain in Malawi through improved smoking kilns and stoves. The grant is part of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ARSF3-ECR) program that supports early career researchers to undertake research that builds the resilience of food systems beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fisheries and aquaculture, a significant livelihood source to Malawian smallholders, contribute 70% of the animal protein intake in Malawi. Smoked, dried, and tinned fish are especially popular among smallholder households. But, fish is highly perishable and require proper handling soon after harvest. Cheaper preservation methods, like salting and open sun-drying, often result in substantial losses for the farmers. Compounded with years of environmental degradation, there is a growing interest in improving fish processing in Malawi to address the challenge of high post-harvest losses.

James explains that enhancing fish processing methods is essential to boosting Malawi’s food security, hence his focus on promoting improved fish smoking kilns and Chitofu 3-in-1 stoves. He says the project has the potential to provide healthy and nutritious fish products to millions of people, thus boosting the economy and the livelihoods of Malawi’s smallholders.

“There is no food security without food quality and safety. Ending hunger is about all consumers having access to quality, safe, nutritious, and sufficient food,” says James.

He further explains that the project also aims to build the capacity of fish value chain actors, assess their vulnerability to shocks such as COVID-19, and facilitate market linkages for increased incomes.

James, currently working as a Research Officer in Malawi’s Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, emphasizes the importance of working closely with smallholders. He states that he aims to study and monitor product quality along the value chain. “Consumers are looking for quality products which are crucial to achieving sustainability,” he asserts.

James is one of the candidates participating in the One Planet Fellowship. He points out that he has always wanted to improve his research, which was one of the reasons he applied for the Fellowship. “Through the Fellowship, I hoped to better my research. As researchers, we design smart technologies, and it can be challenging when the technology does not reach its desired audience,” says James. James explains that he intends to use the skills and knowledge he acquired in grant management, implementation, and monitoring of milestones during the science training to improve the outcome of his research.

While fulfilling the impact of increasing food demand on a growing population, we must pay attention to the effect of a series of crises, including climate risks, the Covid-19 pandemic, and postharvest loss. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that each year, the world loses a third of food produced for human consumption. At the same time, Africa faces extreme estimates, with over 30% losses occurring from production to consumption.

Reducing postharvest losses could be a sustainable solution to increase food availability and ensure farmers have access to adequate nutrition. The quest for reduced postharvest loss calls for collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure farmers have access to a wide range of services from knowledge to finance and technology. It is also paramount that these services and innovations are tailor-made to suit their farming needs.

This month, our top 10 reads spotlight the opportunities and strategies for mitigating food loss.

Stopping Quality Food Loss In Sub-Saharan Africa: Post-COVID-19 Options for Smallholders

The direct and indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa’s food security has hugely exposed the vulnerabilities of Africa’s food system while also weakening the control measures put in place. This article outlines the strategies governments can use to reduce postharvest losses and boost economies’ post-pandemic recovery.

Africa Cannot Afford Postharvest Losses; Needs Policies and Technologies to Strengthen Food Security

In this discussion, a panel of experts speaking at a webinar hosted by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) sheds light on the need for national governments and regional bodies to adopt effective policies and technology-driven interventions to reduce postharvest losses stifling food security in Africa.

How To Reduce Postharvest Crop Losses in The Agricultural Supply Chain

Cutting postharvest waste could translate to cost savings for producers along the value chain. This article considers the extent of global postharvest losses and proposes steps stakeholders could take to reduce waste.

Ice-Cold Innovation to Reduce Postharvest Losses

Prof. Jane Ambuko, Associate Professor of Horticulture and 2013 AWARD Fellow, shares her vision of mitigating postharvest loss in Kenya and Africa through collaborative efforts. She established a low-cost cold storage technique to enable smallholder horticulture farmers to preserve their products for extended periods.

Reducing Postharvest Losses During Storage of Grain Crops to Strengthen Food Security in Developing Countries

This paper provides a comprehensive literature review of grain postharvest losses in developing countries and the status and causes of storage losses. It brings into perspective the technological interventions to reduce these losses.

Postharvest Food Losses Pose a Serious Threat To Food Security

In Africa, most food loss occurs in the early stages of the food value chain. This article highlights the dangers of postharvest loss to agricultural productivity, especially on smallholder farmers, and the potential impact of reducing postharvest loss to value chain actors, especially women who are traditionally responsible for many postharvest activities.

Reducing Food Loss and Waste: Five Challenges For Policy and Research

This paper identifies policy-relevant information gaps, summarizes recent research that tries to fill these gaps, and identifies five challenges for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in reducing food loss and waste.

Unpacking Postharvest Losses in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis

Reducing postharvest losses is a crucial pathway to food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reveals the inadequacies of loss assessment methodologies that result in inaccurate postharvest loss estimates.

Making Africa’s Food Supply Chain Work

This article highlights four areas entrepreneurs must participate in to improve Africa’s food supply chain to mitigate postharvest loss and bridge the gaps in food distribution which could bring significant stakeholders to action.

Gendering Postharvest Loss Research: Responsibilities of Women and Men to Manage Maize after Harvest in Southwestern Ethiopia

This study reveals the link between women’s role in decision-making at home and access to quality food. Without gendering postharvest loss research, gender harms may be enacted when women’s livelihoods are impacted in reducing postharvest losses, thus compromising food security.

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) has partnered with The Conversation Africa (TC-Africa) to offer immersive Science Communication training that will equip participants with the skills to write for popular media.

The training, targeting AWARD Fellows, Fellows’ Mentees, and female One Planet Laureate Candidates, will enhance the researchers’ capacities to synthesise their research findings for non-technical audiences. The training will strengthen participants’ ability to inform and create transformative narratives on the role of research and development.

The partnership between AWARD and TC-Africa will see both organisations advance their capacity-building agenda for African researchers and unlock scientific innovation’s potential for agriculture-driven inclusive growth and prosperity.

One of AWARD’s priorities is to have capable, confident, and influential women scientists lead critical advances and innovations in agricultural research for development. AWARD further shares TC-Africa’s vision and strongly supports its mission of mainstreaming the voices of African scientists in the general news media, supporting them to engage and communicate better.

For the scientists to effectively deliver their innovations to the intended end users, they must be equipped to package their science appropriately. The training will support the scientists to package and address their innovations while creating opportunities to help advance their careers by publishing on public media platforms.

At the end of the training, the participants will walk away with;

• Immediately applicable practical skills and strategies for writing for popular media.
• Frameworks to enable them to synthesise their research for widespread uptake.
• A certificate of competence from TC-Africa and AWARD

What does the training entail?

The one-month-long virtual training will include two components designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the processes for effective non-technical writing.

• Component 1 – “Writing for popular media. This is a self-paced online training that participants can complete on their own. The course comprises three (3) modules that take up to one hour each.
• Component 2 – Zoom/Virtual session facilitated by TC-Africa trainers. This session will be conducted upon completion of component 1. The course will allow participants to sharpen their articles and publish with TC-Africa.

About The Conversation Africa (TC-Africa)

 TC-Africa is a not-for-profit media platform which connects universities and the research sector in Africa to the broader public. Since launching in May 2015, TC-Africa has published more than 8 000 articles from academics, researchers, and scientists whose news articles have reached more than 130 million reads globally. TC-Africa’s mission is to mainstream the voices of scientists and researchers in the general news media and to support science engagement and science communication activities of scientists in Africa. Their key objective is to make the knowledge produced in the academy accessible, easy to understand, and freely available for the public to be informed and use. TC-Africa publishes under a Creative Commons License, meaning that all articles can be republished by other media freely, ensuring a wider global reach. 

About AWARD

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) works toward inclusive, agriculture-driven prosperity for Africa by strengthening the production and dissemination of more gender-responsive agricultural research and innovation. We invest in African scientists, research institutions, and agribusinesses so that they can deliver agricultural innovations that better respond to the needs and priorities of a diversity of women and men across Africa’s agricultural value chains.

We are excited to announce the upcoming virtual AWARD Women’s Leadership and Management Course which offers just-in-time interactive online sessions to equip women leaders globally with up-to-date skills and knowledge. This customized course builds the leadership skills of women leaders, addressing the unique challenges women face at different times, including the current demands of leading amid a global crisis. The course is designed for women currently in mid-senior leadership roles, scientists, and managers with supervisory and higher-level responsibilities working for national, regional, and international organizations. It is broken down into eight sessions, each focusing on building an online learning community of women leaders.

AWARD Training has carefully designed the course to address women leaders’ unique needs and priorities. The course will be delivered from October 4-27, 2022 by world-class AWARD Trainers with extensive experience and knowledge in designing and delivering customized learning experiences for diverse audiences. It will include eight live online sessions and offline assignments and exercises.

Do not miss out on our immersive online learning experience, as participants will receive practical and hands-on learning!

Course Fee: $2,500 per person.

To reserve a slot, please send an email to awardtraining@cgiar.org and copy p.bomett@cgiar.org 

Click here to download the course flyer

We are delighted to announce the selection of exceptional young women to participate in an immersive leadership program that seeks to enhance their ability to lead and innovate in the scientific world. Selected from a pool of more than 770 candidates who applied for the AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in the 24 high-potential young leaders under the age of 35 years hail from 10 African countries.

Their research focuses on a wide range of agricultural science disciplines, including fisheries and aquaculture; marine ecology; crop disease management; biosecurity, among others. They are a demonstration of Africa’s incredible wealth and breadth of leadership talent, which promises well for the Continent’s future.

See the selected candidates here.

The AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Science, launching today, July 16, 2021, and running until September 2021, is offered under the umbrella of the Global Forum on Women in Scientific Research (GoFoWiSeR). GoFoWiSeR was established to address the systemic causes of the gender gap in STEM and spotlights the strategies and approaches that improve the numbers and experiences of women in STEM.

The two-month immersive virtual Program is tailored to address some of the challenges that impede young women’s growth into leadership in science. The Program will comprise highly interactive training sessions on leadership and mentoring, proposal writing and communication skills, and one-on-one coaching sessions. AWARD Training will deliver the training and coaching.

About AWARD Training

AWARD’s training courses reflect our commitment to unlocking the potential of scientific innovation for agriculture-driven inclusive growth and prosperity. Available to participants from all over the world, AWARD training courses cover a broad base of knowledge and skills designed to leave participants enlightened, empowered, and inspired to make significant positive impacts on their careers and the institutions for which they work.

AWARD has heavily invested in building a pool of 36 highly qualified trainers from nine African countries, equipped with the skills and tools needed to deliver AWARD courses at global standards.

The AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Science is funded by The Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY).