WoW Blog

Last Wednesday, leading African women scientists spoke with African leaders and United States policy makers regarding the chronic hunger and poverty conditions in sub-Saharan Africa.

In their discussion, the scientists expressed their concern regarding the lack of women in decision-making positions in the agricultural development in the country. They claim that this problem needs to be addressed because increasing women's research roles is crucial for achieving success in food security and development. By gaining influence over priorities, policies, and programs, the women scientists believe they'll be able to avoid future food crises, better deal with drought, and manage other environmental problems that could disrupt food production.

So why should women play a larger role? Currently, about 80% of African farmers are women. They produce between 60-80% of the continent's food, but only receive 5% of agricultural extensions and less than 10 % of rural credits. In Africa, women farmers also have less access to land, technologies, and finances.

Why does this disparity exist? In part, it's attributed partially to the small number of women (14%) in management positions for agricultural research and development programs. But this is the very issue that many are trying to overcome.

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)

The scientists noted the success of the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) program, which has served as a model and inspiration to women farmers in Africa.AWARD is a fellowship that was created to increase the talent pool of women in agriculture. The program identifies outstanding African women scientists to receive opportunities to strengthen their leadership and scientific capabilities.

With AWARD, women are chosen from all over Africa. Countries include Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Each woman in the program is paired with a senior scientist /AWARD fellow as a mentor. Mentors are selected to match the participant's field of expertise and personal goals.

The fellowship emerged from a pilot program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Gender & Diversity initiative. Now in its second year, AWARD has helped to empower African women in the agricultural field.

According to Vicki Wilde, director of CGIAR's Gender & Diversity program, "Agriculture is recognized as an engine for economic growth in Africa. What is less well recognized is that women run this engine. From before dawn to after dusk, they keep all its parts moving…We cannot defeat hunger and poverty in Africa unless women have a strong voice."

Women Farmers are Already Successful

Despite the limitations experienced by Africa's women farmers, there are policies and programs targeting these women that have already proven successful.

For example, the 2008 World Development Report describes a CGIAR program that was designed to improve the bean varieties grown by women farmers, the group that primarily grows this crop, in more than seven countries in eastern and southern Africa. The "bean experts" used local channels that were readily-accessible to the women (places like community centers and churches) to distribute small, affordable packets of bean seeds.

In addition to being more nutritious and marketable, the new beans offered up to 30-50% more yield and have helped women cushion their food supply, while raising their incomes.

According to the women scientists, this program shows that African women need more influence over agricultural policies, priorities, and programs – in addition to finance, land, and technology - to make initiatives, like with the beans, successful in aiding hunger and poverty in Africa.

Author's Note: I will continue to follow this story, as U.S. policy makers are still on tour in Africa.

Resources:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/06/content_11832518.htm

http://www.afrol.com/articles/33931

http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/-/440808/635164/-/item/1/-/i9c819z/-/index.html

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Local/African-women-on-front-line-against-hunger-2705.html

http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/harnessing-the-potential-of-african-women-in-agricultural-research-and-development-award-announces-2009-fellowship-winners/