Looking for Africa’s Women in Science

Competition seeks winners with great impact on agriculture

A Women in Science competition is now being held to identify and recognise women scientists in sub-Saharan Africa who are engaged in innovative and pioneering research and communicating the outputs—knowledge, technologies, approaches—for enhancing agricultural performance in sub-Saharan Africa.

It also targets women who are repackaging and communicating existing knowledge to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods of rural communities.

Women scientists who are advocating for policy change to optimise the benefits of scientific and technological developments are also targeted.

The deadline for entries is 15 August 2008.

Who can participate?
Women scientists, researchers, educators, extension workers, agro-entrepreneurs and farmers are encouraged to participate. Individual and group entries will be accepted.
Entries should demonstrate the pursuit, documentation and dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge including technologies and approaches and effective partnerships with peers and/or rural communities, policymakers, farmers and agro-entrepreneurs.

What is the scope?
Entries can include existing or ongoing research work and projects or programmes undertaken within the last five years that show measurable impact (potential or demonstrated) on agricultural development and/or rural livelihoods of African communities, especially women farmers.

Entries should include gender responsive strategies that incorporate a strong element of communication and outreach.

Guidelines for entries
Entrants must submit a two page (A4) abstract (1500 – 2000 words) that clearly details the objectives, methodology, results and conclusion of the successful project/programme including the information and communication strategy and tools, and impact on agriculture and/or rural livelihoods.
Entries must include full contact details; name, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address on submissions.

Abstracts should be emailed to [email][email protected] and copied [email][email protected] The deadline is 15 August 2008. Abstracts received after the deadline will not be considered.

Evaluation and announcement of winners
Abstracts will be evaluated by a panel of experts including scientists, gender specialists and information and communication technologies (ICT) experts.
Successful entrants will be invited to submit full papers of not more than 4 – 6 pages by 30 September 2008 in keeping with competition guidelines.

Women scientists whose full papers are received by 30 September 2008 and approved by the panel will be supported to attend the Ministerial Meeting on Higher Education, which will be held in Lusaka, Zambia from 22-31 October 2008. The top five winners will be announced and prizes awarded at the Ministerial Forum.

Competition organisers
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (ACP-EU), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS).

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