The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) has unveiled its ambitious five-year strategy with a core mission to empower women to take leadership roles in agricultural research institutions, including Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). AWARD's Director, Susan Kaaria, announced the launch of the strategy during an evening event at the 2023 Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF 2023) in Dar es Salaam.
The strategy sets the stage for AWARD to collaborate with institutions deeply committed to gender equality, seeking to influence their policies and practices to address gender disparities. "In Tanzania, we offer fellowships that Tanzanians and other East Africans can apply for. Our fellowship reaches individuals across the region, and my expectation is that in five years, we will witness an increase in the number of women occupying leadership positions in national agriculture organizations, such as TARI," stated Dr. Kaaria.
She emphasized that AWARD recognizes the pivotal role of institutional commitment to gender equality and external pressure for change in driving institutional transformation. "We anticipate that these efforts will lead to the development of more gender-sensitive policies within institutions. In Tanzania, we have a country chapter, and we also work closely with our alumni to effectively implement the strategy," she added. Dr. Kaaria applauded Tanzania's commitment to prioritizing women and youth in agriculture, as expressed by the country's Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Livestock and Fisheries during the AGRF event. "I am delighted to hear that Tanzania is prioritizing women and youth; that is truly commendable," she remarked. The new strategy places a strong emphasis on leveraging the AWARD alumni and country chapters as advocates who can play a pivotal role in influencing institutional transformation. A key objective is to increase the body of evidence showcasing the costs associated with gender gaps within agrifood systems. This evidence will underscore the case for promoting gender equality across all levels of the broader agrifood system. Ann Vaughn, Senior Advisor for Climate Change at the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, USAID, expressed the agency's commitment to continue supporting AWARD over the next five years to address lingering gender inequalities. "USAID and the U.S. government are taking the issue of gender inequalities seriously. We need increased private sector investment in gender equality initiatives to complement these efforts," she emphasized.
Dr. Lateef Sanni, Chairperson of the AWARD Steering Committee, highlighted the extensive stakeholder consultations that shaped the strategy. "Investing in gender mainstreaming holds immense value, and we must sustain our commitment to it. Together, we can tackle numerous challenges and ensure equality and opportunities are sustained," he asserted.
AWARD's new five-year strategy represents a significant step forward in the quest for gender equality within agricultural research and development, promising to usher in a more inclusive and diverse leadership landscape in this critical field.