Dr. Moji Edema

NiWARDNIGERIAN WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT

Transforming agriculture for development

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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

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• 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

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• 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

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To fight hunger and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa through

women professionals involved in agricultural research

Goal:

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What does AWARD achieve?

• Leadership• Improved visibility• Professional growth• Enhanced networking

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– 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:

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• 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

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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)

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AWARD sensitization seminar at FUTA by Prof Williams

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NIWARD seeks to bridge the gap between these two classes of women

Launched on May 4th, 2013With about 60 AWARD fellows, mentors and mentees

NIWARD declared by the Hon. Minister of Agriculture at FUTA’S Foundation Day Lecture

NiWARDNIGERIAN WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT

Transforming agriculture for development

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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

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Objectives of NIWARD

organize women farmers as change agents of sustainable agricultural development in their communities

mainstream gender into agricultural policy and programmes

She can do about any farm work!

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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

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NIWARD interventions

• Workshops for target groups on value-addition;

• Support for Rural Farming Cooperatives, especially Women Farmers;

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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

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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

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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…..

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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

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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?

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Way Forward

• Build a network of Nigerian AWARD Fellows, Mentors, Mentees, and Interested Partners including small scale farmers.

• Funding.

• Projects/proposals.

• Monitoring and Evaluation.