AWARD GROW Fellowship 2026: Empowering Women Breeders to Transform African Agriculture

Across Africa, women play a critical role in agriculture, yet they remain underrepresented in agricultural research and breeding programs. To address this gap, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) has launched the Gender Responsive Research for Optimized Women-led Breeding Systems (GROW) Fellowship under its Gender-Responsive and Women-Led Research and Development Program.

The fellowship is designed to strengthen the leadership capacity, visibility, and career advancement of women breeders while promoting gender-responsive agricultural innovation across the continent.

Why Gender-Responsive Breeding Matters

Agricultural research and breeding programs significantly influence food security, productivity, and rural livelihoods. However, many breeding systems have historically overlooked the unique needs and priorities of women farmers.

Gender-responsive breeding seeks to ensure that crop and livestock improvement initiatives consider the perspectives of both women and men smallholder farmers. This approach helps develop technologies and innovations that are more accessible, practical, and impactful for diverse farming communities.

The AWARD program aims to bridge two critical gaps:

• The low number of women breeders in Africa.
• The limited adoption of breeding technologies among women smallholder farmers.
• The need for inclusive agricultural innovation.
• The importance of integrating gender considerations into breeding research.

By addressing these challenges, the initiative contributes to more equitable and effective agricultural development across sub-Saharan Africa.

Understanding the GROW Fellowship

The GROW Fellowship is an immersive, non-residential leadership and professional development program targeting women breeders from across Africa.

The fellowship seeks to accelerate the growth of women scientists by equipping them with leadership skills, technical expertise, and professional networks needed to drive inclusive agricultural transformation.

Selected fellows participate in a comprehensive development journey that includes:

• Leadership and career advancement training.
• Technical capacity building on gender-responsive breeding.
• Mentorship from experienced researchers and industry experts.
• Peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
• Networking with agricultural research professionals.
• Exposure to policy and scientific leadership spaces.

The fellowship supports women breeders in becoming influential leaders capable of shaping agricultural research agendas and promoting gender-inclusive innovation throughout Africa.

Building a Stronger Pipeline of Women Agricultural Leaders

One of the program’s primary goals is to increase the visibility and recognition of women scientists working in breeding research.

Women researchers often face barriers that limit career progression, leadership opportunities, and access to professional networks. The GROW Fellowship addresses these challenges by providing structured support that enables participants to expand their influence within the scientific community.

The program empowers fellows to:

• Lead innovative breeding projects.
• Influence agricultural research policies.
• Contribute to food systems transformation.
• Advocate for gender equality in agricultural science.
• Mentor future generations of women researchers.

Through these opportunities, the fellowship is helping create a stronger pipeline of women leaders capable of driving agricultural development across the continent.

Strengthening Institutions for Long-Term Impact

Beyond individual leadership development, the Gender-Responsive and Women-Led Research and Development Program adopts a systems approach to institutional change.

The Institutional Strengthening Package supports national agricultural research organizations and universities in integrating gender-responsive breeding into their operations, research programs, and academic curricula.

Participating institutions include:

Ethiopia

• Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)
• Mekelle University

Kenya

• Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)
• Egerton University

Nigeria

• Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
• National Root Crops Research Institute

Uganda

• Makerere University

These institutions are working to create sustainable systems that support gender-responsive agricultural research and training for future scientists.

Partnerships Driving Agricultural Innovation

The success of the program is made possible through collaboration among leading organizations committed to advancing agricultural development and gender equality.

The initiative is funded by the Gates Foundation and implemented by AWARD in partnership with:

• Gender-Responsive Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation (GREAT).
• Makerere University.
• Cornell University.

Together, these partners bring extensive expertise in agricultural research, capacity building, leadership development, and gender integration.

Opportunities for Women Breeders Across Africa

The GROW Fellowship represents a significant opportunity for women breeders seeking to advance their careers while contributing to inclusive agricultural innovation.

Through mentorship, leadership development, technical training, and networking, fellows gain the tools necessary to become influential voices within Africa’s agricultural research landscape.

As agricultural systems face increasing challenges related to climate change, food security, and sustainable development, gender-responsive breeding will play an increasingly important role in developing solutions that benefit all farmers.

By investing in women scientists and strengthening research institutions, the AWARD GROW Fellowship is helping shape a future where agricultural innovation reflects the needs and priorities of diverse farming communities across Africa.

Women breeders interested in advancing their leadership journey and contributing to transformative agricultural research are encouraged to explore the fellowship opportunity and become part of a growing movement for inclusive agricultural development.

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