Post on 15-Dec-2015
Dr. Moji Edema
NiWARDNIGERIAN WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT
Transforming agriculture for development
2
NiWARD from AWARD…
• Nigerian Women in Agricultural Research for Development (NiWARD) - an empowerment initiative from AWARD
• To bring the benefits gained by AWARD Fellows/Mentors/Mentees to rural women farmers
NiWARDNIGERIAN WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT
3
• US$15 million, 5-year project • Established in 2008• Followed a successful 3-year pilot
program in East Africa with support from the Rockefeller Foundation from 2005-2008
• Second phase commenced in 2013
4
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation • USAID• ICRAF also contributes through cost-sharing
and indirect support such as audit, secretariat hosting etc
• Some 75 national agricultural research institutions also support in various ways
Sponsors
5
To fight hunger and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa through
women professionals involved in agricultural research
Goal:
6
What does AWARD achieve?
• Leadership• Improved visibility• Professional growth• Enhanced networking
7
– Structured mentoring/role-modeling– Proposal writing/fund raising course– Science writing/presentation skills course – Access to an electronic science library– Access to knowledge sharing and networking– Four-to-nine month research placement– Participation in a science conference– Membership in a professional association – Women’s Leadership course
Through Career Development Strategies:
8
• 11 Countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia
• 5 Francophone: Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire
• Levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral• 16 Agricultural sciences and allied disciplines
Coverage
9
Nigerians on AWARD
• 2008 – 09 Nigerians selected (n=59)• 2009 – 11 Nigerians “ (n=61)• 2010 – 13 Nigerians “ (n=60)• 2011 – 18“ “ (n=70)• 2012 – break before 2nd phase• 2013 – 18 “ “ (n=75)• 2014 – 23 Nigerians “ (n=70)
NiWARDNIGERIAN WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT
Transforming agriculture for development
16
Objectives of NIWARD
reach rural women farmers by implementing strategies already tested by AWARD fellows
link nutrition, agriculture and food production through provision of technical expertise under the new agricultural transformation agenda initiative
17
Objectives of NIWARD
organize women farmers as change agents of sustainable agricultural development in their communities
mainstream gender into agricultural policy and programmes
19
Implementation approach:
• Collaboration: among AWARD Fellows and development partners to spur sustainable agricultural development
• Capacity building: among rural farming communities to enhance agricultural productivity
• Gender responsiveness: agricultural development and innovation for women and youths
20
NIWARD interventions
• Workshops for target groups on value-addition;
• Support for Rural Farming Cooperatives, especially Women Farmers;
21
NIWARD interventions
• Creation and management of Agricultural Cottage Industries in Rural Communities;
• Empowerment of Rural Women Farmers in the context of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda
Anchored by CEGIST
• Centre for Gender Issues in Science and Technology
• One of FUTA’s service Centres that work with other national and international institutions/organisations for optimal impact towards national development
23
NIWARD Activities so far:
• Consultations with important stakeholders to support NiWARD: FMARD, FARA, FIIRO….. A number of other institutions
• Panel discussion by lead narrator of NiWARD, Prof Stella Williams @ 19th Economic Summit;
• Memoirs of NiWARD: Success stories of AWARD Fellows and Mentors
24
Expectations from partners/stakeholders
• Promotion of NiWARD’s activities nationally and internationally
• Need to bring NiWARD into the professional fold
• NiWARD envisions a participatory interaction for implementation
• Counterpart, supportive funding…..
25
Contacts
• NIWARD: http://niward.org/• CEGIST: http://cegist.futa.edu.ng • AWARD: http://awardfellowships.org
Centre for Gender Issues in Science and Technology (CEGIST) Federal University of Technology, Akure
PMB 704, 340001, Akure, Ondo State, NigeriaEmail: info@niward.org, cegistfuta@gmail.com
Phone: +234 807 6766673
26
Way Forward
• What does success look like? How do we make an impact?
• How do we scale and implement our gender responsive research in farming communities ?
• What kind of support ( financial and technical) exist?