According to Nairobi's Business Daily, the Gates Foundation has awarded $13 million to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) to promote careers in agricultural research by African women. The grant will fund 360 fellowships for women at all career stages. There is no age limit. CGIAR is an umbrella organization of 15 international agricultural research organizations.
It's a fascinating situation because women form the majority of Africa's farmers but only a minority of its agricultural researchers. According to the article, African women produce 60-80% of Africa's food but constitute just 20% of the continent's agricultural scientists. "If only one in five researchers is a woman,
you run the risk of not including all the relevant voices,” Vicki Wilde, head of the gender and diversity programme at CGIAR, told
Business Daily at a CGIAR conference in Beijing on Tuesday. "More
women in research and development will mean that women farmers are
better served, and hunger and poverty are better tackled, added Ms
Wilde. “Women are on the level closest to the ground. When we
strengthen them, we back an important part of the equation.”
CGIAR has run a pilot program in Kenya for 3 years that encourages women to stay in research. The program (the article says) has helped retain 20% more women in agricultural research.
The program will provide 360 2-year fellowships for women. Women whose research promises to help small farmers will receive priority.
Hat Tip: AllAfrica.com
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