Accelerating African Women’s Leadership in Climate Action Fellowship

Through this Fellowship, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) aims to contribute to equitable rural livelihoods by increasing the number of women leaders in climate change producing innovations that address the diverse needs of smallholders in the African agrifood systems.

The ‘Accelerating African Women’s Leadership in Climate Action’ Fellowship will foster production and transfer of context-specific knowledge on climate adaptation technologies to different stakeholders including smallholders, extension workers, and policymakers.

Objectives

• Strengthen the leadership, mentoring and negotiation skills of African women climate change professionals.
• Enhance the capabilities of African women and men climate change professionals to incorporate gender in their research and practice.
• Amplify the voices and increase visibility of African women climate change professionals in global and regional climate change dialogues.

Benefits

• Fellows will receive world class training in leadership, negotiation and intergenerational mentoring. They will also attend a course on how to integrate gender in climate change interventions.
• The Fellowship will equip Fellows with the skills and techniques to develop gender-responsive and inclusive climate adaptation innovations, including climate smart technologies. Climate Fellows will be supported to conceptualize collaborative climate projects on gender and climate adaptation also known as Climate Research and Innovation Projects (CRIPs). The Climate Fellows will implement their CRIPs either with other Fellows or mentors or with colleagues from their institutions. This activity will foster peer learning and practical application of technical skills gained in the Fellowship.
• They will receive coaching by experts during the project design and implementation to further sharpen their skills in gender responsive climate change action. The program will facilitate access to a network of climate change professionals.

Activities

• The Fellowship is a blended (virtual and face-to-face interventions), non-residential program that will be delivered over a period of two years and will include the following activities:
  • Virtual and in-person training events including training in leadership, negotiation and intergenerational mentoring. They will also attend a course on how to integrate gender in climate change interventions.
  • Group and individual coaching
  • Mentoring program
  • Regular peer-to-peer learning sessions
  • Participate in regular masterclasses
  • Conceptualize and lead collaborative climate projects on gender and climate adaptation known as Climate Research and Innovation Projects (CRIPs).
  • Exposure on emerging trends in gender, climate change and agrifood systems
  • Speaking opportunities to give seminars and other events
  • In-country role modeling events

Who are they looking for?

• This Fellowship targets African women at different stages of their professional careers who are actively engaged in finding solutions to the effects of climate change.
• They should have at least 5 years of experience in climate related work in diverse areas such as research, policy, academia, extension and advisory services, climate information services, community mobilization, climate justice and advocacy among others.
• Women working in government, non-government organizations, community-based organizations, International and regional bodies, private sector are all eligible to apply.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Accelerating African Women’s Leadership in Climate Action Fellowship is open to applicants who meet the criteria below:
  • African women from Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal.
  • African women working various disciplines across gender and climate change.
  • Have at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline in agrifood systems.
  • Have at least five years working experience, demonstrated interest and contribution in gender and climate change.
  • African women at different stages of their professional careers who are actively engaged in finding solutions to the effects of climate change.
  • Participants working in national and international organizations including government agencies and non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
  • Applicants must reside in an African country throughout the Fellowship period to be eligible.

For more information, visit AWARD.