Sixty outstanding women agricultural scientists receive 2010 AWARD fellowships

27 July 2010. In an award ceremony held at the CGIAR World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya, women scientists from across the continent, including a fruit pathologist, a catfish breeder and a pigeon pea researcher, were recognized and honoured for their contribution to alleviating hunger and poverty in Africa through their agricultural research and innovation.

Over 780 women scientists from 54 institutions competed for this year’s fellowships. Sixty outstanding women agricultural scientists from 10 African countries this week received 2010 fellowships from African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), an initiative of the Gender and Diversity program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).


“We have proven that top-notch female scientists do exist in significant numbers" says Vicki Wilde, Director CGIAR Gender and Diversity Program and AWARD, "and equally important, they are conducting critical food security research that is desperately needed to feed future generations.”


Akinwumi Adesina, Vice President Policy and Partnerships for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), speaks as a scientist, a father and a strong political advocate about the need for better recognition and support for women in agricultural science.


2008 AWARD Fellow, Waceke Wanjohi, uses examples from her own life to show the possibilities offered through AWARD to African women who wish to succeed in the competitive area of agricultural science.


Ruth Amata, new AWARD Fellow, shares her commitment to the program. She describes the challenges and sacrifices facing Africa’s female agricultural scientists who are trying to forward the economic growth of Africa, and the vital help that the AWARD program is giving to make that process possible.


Stella Williams, AWARD Chair, describes the AWARD scheme, its unique nature and why it is necessary to the future of African agriculture.


Ephraim Mukisira, Director Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), talks about the vital role of African women scientists in the struggle to achieve food security for Africa. He starts with giving his impression on the FARA GA2010 which he attended the week before in Ouagadougou