Clinton Recognizes USAID-supported African Women Scientists, Discusses Critical Role of Women in Achieving African Food Security
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| AWARD mentor Dr. Lusike Wasilwa (right) discusses the impacts of the fellowship program with (from left to right) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,US Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and AWARD fellow Margaret Mulaa. (CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program) |
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On August 5, 2009, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in Nairobi to discuss with a group of women scientists from the USAID-supported program, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), the critical role of women in achieving food security in Africa. The scientists argued that, only if women can exert more influence over priorities, policies and programs, will sub Saharan Africa be able to ward off future food crises and cope effectively with more frequent drought and other impacts of climate change.
AWARD, coordinated by the Gender & Diversity Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), provides 60 fellowships each year, which focus on career enhancement through a three cornerstone approach that includes mentoring, building science capacity, and developing leadership. In its second year in 2009, AWARD has provided fellowships to 120 women scientists from 10 countries in sub Saharan Africa.
"The outstanding achievements of the women of the AWARD program serve as a model and inspiration to women farmers all over Africa," said Vilsack in his response to AWARD fellows. Clinton highlighted the importance of incorporating women into agriculture, adding, “...we need a good collaboration to make sure that women are equal partners with men farmers all the way through the process. The AWARD program is a great example. It supports women scientists working to improve farming here in Africa and to fight hunger and poverty. And we need women represented in our laboratories as well as our fields. And I really congratulate the AWARD women for being pioneers in plant science." Access full remarks
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| U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with women from AWARD during a tour of the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) August 5, 2009. (State Department photo) |
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Women account for as much as 80 percent of Africa’s food production. But their access to land, to vital services, such as credit, and to improved technologies is extremely limited. They receive only 5 percent of agricultural extension training and 10 percent of rural credit. Furthermore, few agricultural projects are being designed to address women’s specific needs. Only a quarter of its researchers and development experts are women, and only 14 percent of the management positions in agricultural research and development are female. An encouraging sign - a recent study carried out by AWARD and the CGIAR supported International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) shows the gender gap in Africa’s agricultural science narrowing. Between 2000 and 2008, the proportion of female professional staff in Africa’s agricultural research and higher education grew from 18 to 24 percent.
The AWARD program is made possible with support from USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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