Deadline: 12 February 2025

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.

I. Benefits

• 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.

II. Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this Fellowship, applicants must meet all the eligibility criteria outlined below:

• Aged 35 years or younger at the time of application
• Have at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent in any agricultural science discipline from a recognized university
• Have at least five years of agricultural sector experience
• Be a citizen of the following countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Malawi
• Reside in Africa and be currently actively engaged in agriculture-related professional work
• Not a Fellow or Laureate of any other Fellowships offered by AWARD

III. How To Apply?

• Applications are strictly via the online portal on the AWARD website HERE.
• Selected candidates will participate in a nine-month intensive, non-residential career transformative program.
• The Call for applications closes on February 12, 2025, at 23:59 East Africa Time (GMT+3). Applications will NOT be accepted after this date.
• Applicants should carefully read the application guidelines for more information on eligibility criteria and the application process.
• Any queries? Please send an email to [email protected]  or [email protected] 

IV. Important Dates to Note

• Call for Applications open- December 12 , 2024
• Call for Applications close- February 12, 2025
• Selected Participants notified- April 2025
• Inaugural Cohort begins- May 2025

V. About The Program

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.

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.

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