WUNRN
African
Women in Agricultural Research & Development (AWARD)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AWARD: Successful Women, Successful Science
AWARD is now acceptingaccepting applications for the
2010 AWARD Fellowships
African women working in agricultural research and development
from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania,
Uganda and Zambia who have completed a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree
in selected disciplines are invited to apply. Applicants must be nationals of
the above listed countries and be available in Africa throughout the fellowship
period.
The deadline for all applications is March 22, 2010.
Click on the document name to download:
a) Call
for 2010 AWARD Fellowshipapplications
b) Frequently
asked questions (FAQs)
c) Post-doctorate
application
d) Post-master's
application
e) Post-bachelor's
application
All queries should be sent to AWARDFellows@cgiar.org
AWARD Fellowships:
tackling complex challenges with bold innovations
Helping
poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa overcome food crises and improve
livelihoods is a complex challenge. It requires bold, innovative action. An
essential step is strengthening the voice of Africa’s knowledgeable women, both
on the farm and in the laboratories.
Acting on this conviction,
in 2007 the CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program launched African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD). AWARD offers two-year
fellowships to fast track the careers of African women delivering pro-poor
research and development. The program is generously funded by the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID.
AWARD is unique because it:
•
selects women scientists already working closely with the rural
poor on tackling poverty and hunger;
•
focuses on career development, adding value to existing academic
training programs;
•
nourishes the talent pipeline for agricultural research and
development (R&D)through carefully tailored fellowship packages for women
with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees;
•
engages with African leaders of agricultural R&D, both men and
women, to raise awareness and build networks.
AWARD works across 16 agricultural research and development
disciplines
The fight against hunger,
poverty and environmental degradation cannot be fought on one front. AWARD
fellows are specialists in topics of direct relevance to struggling farmers.
They help:
·
improve seed quality and supply;
·
increase poultry and livestock production;
·
promote sustainable management of pests, trees, soils and water;
·
enhance crop yield; improve child nutrition;
·
protect biodiversity;
·
support rural producer groups to raise incomes.
AWARD invites fellowship applicants from the following 16
disciplines and seeks mentors from these areas as well.
Agricultural economics
Agronomy
Animal and livestock sciences
Aquatic resources and fisheries
Biodiversity conservation
Crop sciences
Ecology
Entomology
Extension education
Food sciences and nutrition
Forestry and agroforestry
Horticulture
Molecular biology (plant/animal breeding)
Natural resources management
Soil sciences
Water and irrigation management
Building in three directions at once
AWARD
cornerstones: mentoring, science and leadership
The AWARD Fellowships are built on three cornerstones:
1. establishing
mentoring partnerships
2. strengthening scientific
skills
3. developing
leadership capability
Mentoring
Throughout history,
African village elders have shared their knowledge, passing on what they know
to the next generation. AWARD mentoring builds on this tradition. Every fellow
is carefully matched with a senior professional who serves as her mentor for
one to two years. Together, they set their goals and meet at least once a
month.
Hundreds of men and
women—Africa’s most senior leaders in agriculture—volunteer their time as
mentors to AWARD fellows. In exchange, mentors are offered the opportunity to
participate in two of AWARD’s special events, such as courses in leadership or
writing research proposals.
During the second year of
an AWARD Fellowship, fellows with advanced degrees reach a new level of
experience. These more experienced fellows become mentors themselves, to junior
scientists in their institutions—“sharing forward” what they have learned. This
creates a ripple effect, spreading the benefits of AWARD to yet hundreds more young women.
Science
One of the keys to improving livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa is
to build and sustain a strong, effective talent pool for the delivery of
agricultural (R&D). This requires fostering
individuals’ capacity while strengthening R&D systems.
AWARD offers the resources
to strengthen science competence while broadening horizons. With variations by
discipline and career level, AWARD’s science cornerstone provides fellows with:
•membership in aprofessional association of choice,
•laptop withinternetaccess,
plus training on how to make the most of theonline
sciencelibraries,
•training in sciencewriting and presentation skills,
•training in writingresearch proposals for funding,
•support to attend ascience conference of choice,
•the option to
competefor advanced science training with world-class agricultural R&D
institutionsfor three to nine months.
AWARD helps ease fellows’
access to the latest methodologies and technologies, while strengthening their
skills and professional networks. It also brings the groundbreaking work of
African women to the national, regional and global stages, where it is much
needed.
Leadership
African women in
agricultural R&D often find themselves invisible. They can be the last ones
in line for budget allocations and without influence research priority-setting.
Tackling Africa’s hunger requires tackling the dynamics that keep women outside
of decision-making leadership bodies. Investing in African women’s leadership
skills sends a powerful message.
Leadership training helps
AWARD fellows learn to:
• manage successful R&D teams;
• navigate organizational dynamics that tend
to favor men;
• build alliances and take risks;
• promote gender-sensitive policies and
practices;
• influence their institutions on behalf of
rural women and poor farmers.
AWARD fellows are called
upon to practice their newly-acquired leadership skills. They serve as role models to inspire the next
generation of girls and boys. During her second year, each fellow organizes a
community event at a school, career fair or farmers’ market. She talks about
her work and her personal journey, but also stresses the importance of
agricultural R&D and the key role of Africa’s women.
AWARD Fellowships: Who
is eligible to apply?
AWARD is currently
available to female African agricultural scientists from:
Ethiopia Nigeria
Ghana Rwanda
Kenya Tanzania
Malawi Uganda
Mozambique Zambia
African women
professionals from these countries, who are conducting research and development
in AWARD’s 16 related disciplines (see above), are strongly encouraged to
apply.
CALL FOR AWARD
COMPETITIVE RESEARCH ATTACHMENTS/SCIENCE PLACEMENTS
This opportunity is open to 2009 post-PhD and post-MSc AWARD
Fellows
For more information, please go to: http://fellowsupdate.wordpress.com/announcements/science-capacity-building/attachments/
================================================================
To contact the list administrator, or to leave the list, send an email to:
wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com. Thank you.