US boosts Africa

By Josephat Siror in Finland

The United States government has donated Sh170 million additional funding for agricultural programme targeting eleven countries in Africa.

The announcement for second phase of the fiver-year programme dubbed “AWARD” comes amid growing list of female applicants fighting for a share of sponsorship.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the $14 million and $5 million respectively (Sh1.6 billion in total) this week as part of widened support for growing needs.

USAID has previously funded the programme to the tune of USD3 million and it is expected that over 200 new female researchers would benefit from the joint programme, set to start early 2013.

AWARD director, Vicki Hilde, said cultivating new generations in research is strategically important for promoting innovations needed by rural folks to boost food security in the region.

“Cultivating a new generation of African leaders in food and agriculture is strategically important,” said Vicki Wilde, AWARD director. The director also acknowledged the effectiveness of women in agriculture saying they are better represented at high level of leadership.

“That leadership will be all the more effective when women are highly represented, especially by those technically competent and strategically positioned to generate and promote the innovations needed by rural women, and other smallholder farmers,” added Dr Wilde of the women researchers.

Top female researchers in the county have been part of the recipients but the number of applicants has swelled two-fold over the last four years. Out of the 70 places available, a thousand women have applied for the next phase of the fellowship programme.

The funders are however optimistic that despite the fraction of applicants would turn around smallholder farmers and boost food security through various scientific innovations.

“It’s clear that AWARD is a game-changer,” asserted Dr Wilde. “The new funding received today means even more African women will be empowered to be in the forefront of innovative gender-responsive agricultural R&D, where it is needed most.”

The grant is focused on top-notch female researchers with agility to improving food security in Africa through their innovative technologies.

Roy Steiner, Deputy Director for agricultural development at Gates Foundation, exuded confidence that the programme would bolster scientific research and significantly reduce hunger and poverty in Africa.

“We are thrilled to be extending our support for AWARD and this programme would help ensure that women are at the heart of agricultural development, advancing research and innovation to reduce hunger and poverty,” said Dr Steiner.

Kenyan researcher and University of Nairobi scholar, Sheila Okoth, said that more women need to be empowered through research. “I’m pleased that AWARD has the funding needed to empower even more African women researchers. It’s making a difference,” said Prof Okoth, who has also been involved in the research against dread aflatoxin disease.

The programme started in 2008 and more than 3,000 female applicants have been competing for slim consideration in the fellowship. According to AWARD, the second phase would kick off in February and it will be launched later in December.