The CGIAR and the Kenyan Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) brought together the world’s leading scientists and decision-makers in agriculture, climate, and health in Nairobi, Kenya, for the CGIAR Science Week. This gathering was a key moment to advance research and innovation, inspire action, and establish critical partnerships that can secure investment in sustainable food systems to nourish both people and the planet.

AWARD’s Participation

Program overview:  The event presented up-to-date data and discussed Africa-specific recommendations and strategies for gender transformative solutions that can drive equitable agri-food systems. The session was anchored on the forth coming report on the ‘‘The Status of Women in African Agrifood Systems’, that will analyze evidence on women’s role in agri-food sectors in the African context.

Venue: Conference Room 6, UNON

Time: 13:00 – 14:30 EAT

Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025

View photos from the side event here.

2. Reception: Women in and for Science

Program overview: The session focused on empowering women in science as a fundamental requirement for addressing the complex global challenges we face.

Venue: The Aberdare, UNON

Time: 18:00 – 20:00 EAT

Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025

View photos from evening reception here.

Speakers

1. Dr. Nicoline de Haan, Director, CGIAR GENDER Accelerator
2. Dr. Najat Mokhtar, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
3. Dr. Susan Kaaria, Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)
4. Dr. Sandra Milach, Chief Scientist, CGIAR
5. Dr. Valerie Verdier, Chairwoman of the Board and CE, International Research Institute for Development (IRD)
6. Dr. Eileen Nchanji, Gender Specialist, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
7. Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)
8. Ms. Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Amoah, Director, Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness, AGRA
9. Ms. Elizabeth Yegon, Head, Gender Unit, Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
10. Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala, President, Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF)
11. Dr. Siboniso Moyo, Deputy Director General, ILRI
12. Dr. Maureen Miruka, Director, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, CYMMIT
13. Ms. Dorine Odongo, Senior Manager, Communications, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)

 The CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator and African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) convened an event with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and CIFOR-ICRAF to mark International Women’s Day 2025. The event was held on March 7, 2025, from 9.30 to 11.00 am and Live Streamed. 

The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is ‘For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.’ This year’s theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all and a future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.

Women play pivotal roles in food systems as producers, workers, processors, distributors, traders, and consumers. They sustain household nutritional security. Yet, women in agricultural production often face difficult conditions due to prevailing gender inequalities and discriminatory norms.

On the occasion of IWD 2025, CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator and African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) convened an event together with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and CIFOR-ICRAF to mark this important day. In line with the theme, the event illuminated how we can pay conscious attention to ALL women and girls, considering women’s diverse contributions to agrifood systems and how they are positioned within the systems and present strategies to close the gender divide not just between women and men, but also between women in different contexts.

The event .

Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro-CIFOR-ICRAF

Dr. Susan Kaaria, Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development

Dr. Nicoline de Haan, Director, CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator

Dr. Galie Alessandra, Team Lead, Gender, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Ms. Everlyne Nairesiae, Africa Region Director, Landesa

Prof Salome Bukachi, Associate Professor, University of Nairobi

Ms. Elizabeth Yegon, Head, Gender Unit, Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock

Dr. Eileen Nchanji, Gender Specialist, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

Ms. Dorine Odongo, Senior Communications Manager, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development

Watch the recording here.

Check out the photo highlights from the event here.

We were delighted to partner with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uganda to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations, and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malawi to the United Nations to host a side event at the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 68).

The event, held on March 15, 2024, at the UN Headquarters in New York, convened different-level actors from the government, the diplomatic corps, civil society, researchers, and policy practitioners working across agrifood systems.

Spotlighting AWARD’s Gender Responsive Agricultural Systems Policy (GRASP) Fellowship, the event catalyzed conversations on how gender-responsive policies in food and agriculture can foster equitable agrifood systems, reduce poverty, and accelerate African socio-economic development.

Discussions highlighted some Africa-specific trends and options regarding equitable agrifood systems and the status of women in Africa’s agrifood systems.

Below are the panelists who took part in the side event;

Watch the keynote address delivered during the side event by Ambassador Nausca-Jean Jezile, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to FAO and the CFS Chairperson:

With CIFOR-ICRAF and the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform, we were delighted to convene leading global experts in agricultural research for development to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day as we illuminated some impactful investments in women.

The event featured interactive conversations and storytelling fireside chats as we discussed “Investing in women to accelerate progress toward equitable agrifood systems.”

This year’s IWD theme sought to spotlight actions toward closing the equality gender gap by 2030 to secure prosperous and just economies and a healthy planet for future generations.

With global trends indicating gender equality having only advanced by 4.1 percent and the gap is substantially widening, it is imperative to pay attention to gender-responsive approaches driving positive change across the agrifood systems.

This forum ignited conversations on investments in women, shifting the needle toward equitable agrifood systems while calling for better targeting of such investments for accelerated progress. Discussions spotlighted how to invest in agricultural solutions that work for women and the role of institutions in improving the numbers and experiences of women in agrifood systems leadership.

The panel conversations featured a host of thought leaders and scientists working in gender-responsive agricultural research and development.

Headlining the conversations was a panel discussion with Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro, CEO of CIFOR-ICRAF, and Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General, ILRI, moderated by Dr. Susan Kaaria, Director AWARD, that explored the role of institutions in improving the experiences and numbers of women in science.

We invite you to watch the video below to relive the event and the ensuing conversations. We also encourage you to learn from our guests’ experiences and how they contribute to investing in women to accelerate progress toward equitable agrifood systems.

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) hosted a virtual closing ceremony for 54 beneficiaries (27 mentors and 27 mentees) AWARD-ICWAE Special Mentoring Program participants.

The ceremony featured a reflection session with three mentors on their roadmap to professional success and a storytelling session with five mentees who narrated their experiences and outcomes of their mentorship journey throughout the program.

The event marked the culmination of the two-year virtual and non-residential mentoring program that aimed to equip women agricultural economists in the global south with the core skills, networks, and practical resources to develop themselves, enhance their visibility, and increase their legitimacy and relevance in the agricultural sector.

The AWARD-ICWAE Special mentoring program is a collaboration of AWARD and the International Association of Agricultural Economics (IAAE) through its International Committee of Women in Agricultural Economics (ICWAE).

Speaking during the ceremony, Professor Cheryl Doss (IAAE/ICWAE Program Coordinator) highlighted the underlying need that necessitated the formulation of the program to address the gap in mentoring opportunities for mid-career women agricultural economists who require additional mentoring support to elevate their career progression.

“There are a number of programs that cater to graduate students and post-doctoral mentoring programs. We were really interested in facilitating mentoring programs for women agricultural economists who require some additional mentoring and encouragement to take the next steps in their careers,” she said.

AWARD and ICWAE build on their shared vision for developing a community of women agricultural economists with a transformative leadership mindset to influence policy and practice and trigger agricultural transformation in the developing world.

Mentoring plays a pivotal role in achieving this common vision. It is a powerful tool for developing unique skills and leveraging and capitalizing on learning opportunities to support personal and professional development.

The event also featured the launch of AgSpirations Volume 3: Inspiring Stories of Change Booklet, which is a publication by AWARD that features a collection of stories from select mentors and mentees of the AWARD-ICWAE Mentoring Program.

We invite you to watch two documentaries featuring AWARD-ICWAE program participants, Dr Evelyne Kihiu (2022 AWARD-ICWAE Mentee and Agricultural Economist, International Potato Centre, CIP) and Dr. Beatrice Muriithi (2022 AWARD-ICWAE Mentor and Research Scientist and Agricultural Development Economist, International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology, ICIPE) as they share their experiences and outcomes of the Program.

Watch the recorded live-stream video below to re-live the event proceedings.

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) launched its new five-year strategy, 2023-2027, on November 9, 2023, at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

Marking 15 years since our founding, the strategy’s launch signifies the continued pursuit of our promise to contribute to agriculture-driven transformation for equitable livelihoods, emphasizing gender responsiveness as a critical lever.

The new blueprint is built on three strategic pillars defining AWARD’s mission towards elevating Africa’s agricultural research for development (AR4D) context.

The strategy launch was preceded by a storytelling event that featured six anglophone and francophone Laureate Candidates from various cohorts.

Watch the video below for a recap of the strategy launch event.