630 Scientists Train Three Years to Help Women Farmers in Africa

Half of Africa’s farmers are women, yet they have limited resources on tackling climate change. But a new initiative will train 630 scientists to focus on meeting the needs of female farmers in adapting to climate impacts.

In September, the One Planet Fellowship, launched by the Kenya-based group African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), welcomed its first 45 fellows – over half of whom are female – from Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, Mali, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.

Aside from the focus on women farmers’ needs, the aim is to also “set an example and dispel the myth that there are no African women scientists ready to step into leadership”, says Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, director of AWARD.

The fellowship consists of a three-year career development program that trains African and European scientists to use a gender lens to help small-scale farmers tackle climate issues, while offering Africans the rare opportunity to serve as mentors.