Knowledge for Development

ACP young professionals and women


Launch of the 2012 - 2013 Africa-wide Women and Young Professionals in Science competitions

//**// UPDATE May 15th, 2012: the deadline has been extended to June 4th, 2012. More information here. //**//Call for Abstracts: ´Feeding 1 billion in Africa in a changing world´. Deadline: 14 May 2012.The CTA/ FARA/IFS/ ANAFE/ RUFORUM consortium, in collaboration with AGRA and NPCA, is pleased to announce the launch of its 2012-2013 Africa-wide women and young professionals in science competitions. With a population of approximately 1.03 billion in 2011, and a growth rate of 24 million per annum, Africa’s population is expected to double by 2050. The continent needs to increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner as well as find endogenous solutions to respond to the challenges. Africa’s investment in science and innovation remains low; and only one African university is listed among the top 500 in the world. Women are under-represented in all areas of policy, education and research and many of Africa’s youthful population; 70% aged 30 or younger, do not see a future in agriculture or science. The continent faces a knowledge and skills gap as ageing scientists and academicians retire. The 2012-2013 Africa-wide competitions will evaluate, recognize and reward the contributions of women and young professionals who are involved in: (i) Pioneering and innovative research; (ii) Communicating their research results and technological developments; and (iii) Advocating for policy change as well as influencing policy processes through their research. They will also raise awareness of the need for valuing and sustaining the engagement of women and young professionals and facilitating their contribution to Africa’s socio-economic transformation.Get the Women in Science competition announcement here (updated as of May 15th, 2012): English version http://knowledge.cta.int/en/content/view/full/15382Version française http://knowledge.cta.int/fr/content/view/full/15382Get the Young Professional in Science competition announcement here (updated as of May 15th, 2012)English version http://knowledge.cta.int/en/content/view/full/15383Version française http://knowledge.cta.int/fr/content/view/full/15383Read the related concept note here:English Version http://knowledge.cta.int/en/Media/Multimedia/Concept-Note-2012-2013-Africa-Wide-Women-and-Young-Professionals-in-Science-CompetitionVersion française http://knowledge.cta.int/fr/Media/Multimedia/Concept-Note-2012-2013-Africa-Wide-Women-and-Young-Professionals-in-Science-Competition

8/03/2012


Launch of the 2012 - 2013 Africa-wide Women and Young Professionals in Science competitions

//**// UPDATE May 15th, 2012: the deadline has been extended to June 4th, 2012. More information here. //**//Call for Abstracts: ´Feeding 1 billion in Africa in a changing world´. Deadline: 14 May 2012.The CTA/ FARA/IFS/ ANAFE/ RUFORUM consortium, in collaboration with AGRA and NPCA, is pleased to announce the launch of its 2012-2013 Africa-wide women and young professionals in science competitions. With a population of approximately 1.03 billion in 2011, and a growth rate of 24 million per annum, Africa’s population is expected to double by 2050. The continent needs to increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner as well as find endogenous solutions to respond to the challenges. Africa’s investment in science and innovation remains low; and only one African university is listed among the top 500 in the world. Women are under-represented in all areas of policy, education and research and many of Africa’s youthful population; 70% aged 30 or younger, do not see a future in agriculture or science. The continent faces a knowledge and skills gap as ageing scientists and academicians retire. The 2012-2013 Africa-wide competitions will evaluate, recognize and reward the contributions of women and young professionals who are involved in: (i) Pioneering and innovative research; (ii) Communicating their research results and technological developments; and (iii) Advocating for policy change as well as influencing policy processes through their research. They will also raise awareness of the need for valuing and sustaining the engagement of women and young professionals and facilitating their contribution to Africa’s socio-economic transformation.Get the Women in Science competition announcement here (updated as of May 15th, 2012): English version http://knowledge.cta.int/en/content/view/full/15382Version française http://knowledge.cta.int/fr/content/view/full/15382Get the Young Professional in Science competition announcement here (updated as of May 15th, 2012)English version http://knowledge.cta.int/en/content/view/full/15383Version française http://knowledge.cta.int/fr/content/view/full/15383Read the related concept note here:English Version http://knowledge.cta.int/en/Media/Multimedia/Concept-Note-2012-2013-Africa-Wide-Women-and-Young-Professionals-in-Science-CompetitionVersion française http://knowledge.cta.int/fr/Media/Multimedia/Concept-Note-2012-2013-Africa-Wide-Women-and-Young-Professionals-in-Science-Competition

8/03/2012


Women's empowerment in agriculture index

Women play a critical and potentially transformative role in agricultural growth in developing countries, but they face persistent obstacles and economic constraints limiting further inclusion in agriculture. The Index is a significant innovation in its field and aims to increase understanding of the connections between women’s empowerment, food security, and agricultural growth. It measures the roles and extent of women’s engagement in the agriculture sector in five domains: (i) Decisions about agricultural production; (ii) Access to and decision making power over productive resources; (iii) Control over use of income; (iv) Leadership in the community; and (v) Time use. It also measures women’s empowerment relative to men within their households. It allows us to identify women who are disempowered and understand how to increase autonomy and decision making in key domains.

8/03/2012


TWOWS Prizes 2011 for young women scientists in developing countries

Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDC) at Centres of Excellence in the South. Deadline for applications: 30 April of each year. The Fellowship is offered to women scientists to purse postgraduate research in the following fields of basic sciences: biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics.

10/02/2009


International Women's Day 2011 | CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program and AWARD

Eighth of March 2011 is International Women's Day. The theme for this International Women’s Day is “Equal access to education, training, and science and technology: decent work for women.” AWARD, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development, is one of the successful initiative that supports women’s equality and advancement in the field of agricultural R.& D.For the occasion, Vicky Wilde, Director, CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program and AWARD, writes:"AWARD Fellows understand just how important the connection is between access to science and meaningful, profitable work for women. That is why they have dedicated their careers to conducting innovative research that is directly benefiting women and other smallholders."Read below the full text of Vicky Wilde's announcement.

8/03/2011


International Women's Day 2011 | "Women Farmers: Voiceless Pillars of African Agriculture"

Eighth of March 2011 is International Women's day. On this occasion, Dr Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Mission Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), writes how the 'Network' is hard at work to make sure the critical role that women farmers play in ensuring household food security is recognized. She writes:"As we mark the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future, it is unfortunate that it is only those women who enjoy a space and platform in academics, science, economics and politics who are celebrated and yet in Africa there is a deserving group of extraordinary women who still have no voice – the African women farmers."Read the full announcement below by Dr Lindiwe Majele Sibanda.

8/03/2011


AWARD : Call for Applications for 2011 Fellowships

AWARD call for applications is open. The AWARD Fellowship is a two-year program that offers a series of career-development resources that: establish a mentorship for each fellow with a senior scientist build science skills develop leadership capacity AWARD’s training courses, held over a two-year period, take place in various locations in Africa.Women agricultural scientists who are nationals of Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, or Zambia, who have completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in the disciplines listed below, are eligible to apply. Applicants must be available in Africa throughout the fellowship period. There is no age restriction.(Deadline: 25 March 2011)

17/02/2011


Research shows women own 2 % of arable lands in West, Central Africa

A study conducted by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD) and published early November 2010 in Dakar, Senegal, found that women own less than two per cent of arable lands in West and Central Africa, although they are responsible for about 80 per cent of the agricultural production for the supply of households and markets. The study noted that women constitute about 70 per cent of agricultural workers and are producing 50 to 60 per cent of cattle breeding products. Ten per cent of agro-processors are women and they account for 60 to 90 per cent of trade in the rural areas. The study listed the problems women are confronted with including the burden of customary and traditional practices, the lack of access to credit, their limited participation in agricultural extension services and limited access to commercial facilities and services. The results will be used by WECARD to design the organization’s gender policy and strategy. (Source: Afriquejet, 6 November 2010).

1/12/2010


Women in Economic Research and Graduate Training in West Africa

In September 2010, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC, Nairobi, Kenya) published its ‘Special Paper’ No.46. It features an article by Abena D. Oduro (from the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana in Legon, Ghana) in which the authors analyze the representation of women in AERC research programmes. This report on women in economic research and graduate training in West Africa summarizes the findings of studies conducted in Ghana and Liberia (Geegbae, 2007; Oduro, 2007). The reports on Ghana and Liberia are intended to provide the AERC with data and the information required to design specific strategies and activities to increase the participation of women. In this report, the population statistics of women and men in undergraduate and graduate economics programmes in Ghana and Liberia are detailed, then used to explain, along with results from female student surveys, a variety of phenomena such as preferred areas of specialization, plans after graduation, barriers to professional growth, and other challenges, like family responsibilities. A series of recommendations is given as conclusion to the report, covering identified needs such as the strengthening of capacity in quantitative methods, the production of more core textbooks by local researchers, and the increase in short and specialized courses. (Source: AERC; September 2010)

1/12/2010


Support for women scientists grows as agencies seek pathways for development, diplomacy

The regional meeting of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) took place on 26-27 August 2010 at the headquarters of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington DC. Representatives from 11 countries, including England, Poland, France, Japan, South Korea, Rwanda, and Egypt attended the conference. The conference was ‘part of a much larger global effort to improve women's position in regard to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)...as well as to improve women's empowerment and development by way of STEM,’ said Shirley Malcom, director of Education and Human Resources at AAAS. It focused on workforce and economic development for women scientists and engineers. (Source: American Association for the Advancement of Science, 21 September 2010)

5/11/2010


3rd African Regional Youth Congress on Science and Technology: Call for papers

The African Youth Forum on Science and Technology (AYFST) and the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) in conjunction with the Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) announce the call for papers to the 3rd annual youth congress on science and technology, scheduled for 3 – 5 July 2007 in Kampala, Uganda. The annual youth congress on S&T is a forum for young professionals in agriculture, science, technology and innovation to discuss, share expertise and experiences on how to tap and utilize science, technology and innovation for Africa’s development. The theme for the 3rd Congress will be “enhancing the role of the youth in attaining the MDGs in Africa: implications for science, technology and innovation” and will showcase the contribution of the African youth towards attainment of the MDGs and suggest how their contribution can be enhanced and facilitated. Dealine submissions: 8 June 2007

25/05/2007


AYFST expands Opportunities for Youth Involvement in Science and Technology

The African Youth Forum on Science and Technology (AYFST) launched almost one year ago on 28th June 2006 has taken off to a flying start with national events to harness the views and expand opportunities for greater youth involvement in science and technology policy debates in their countries. AYFST has organized, through its national focal points, national youth workshops on science and technology in six African countries in the 1st quarter of 2007. These national level meetings have been designed to respond to national issues in Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Benin.

17/04/2007


Caribbean Youths say Yes to ST&I for Agricultural Development

The participants of the joint Caribbean Regional Youth Congress, 'Youth and Employment/Wealth Creation: Opportunities in Agriculture Science and Technology' hosted in Barbados from the 17th-19th July 2006, by CTA in collaboration with the Caribbean Council for Science and Technology (CCST) willingly accepted the challenge announced by Senator The Hon. Lynette Eastmond, Minister of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Business Development of Barbados at the opening ceremony to develop an action plan for pursuing the next great mission for creating wealth in the Caribbean through the application of science and technology. Read the communiqué and winning essays

25/08/2006


Winners of the Caribbean essay competition

CCST  and CTA are happy to announce the winners of their essay competition. The topic was Tapping the Potential of Science, Technology and Innovation in Agri-food Chains - Creating Employment & Wealth for Youths in the Caribbean.

6/09/2006


Essay by Silda A. James

'It’s all in the mind,' psychologists say, if we can control the mind then an obstacle will be turned into an opportunity. It translates that the solution to youth obstacles is to change their mind sets! This is not an easy task, it takes a determined effort by the youth to first recognize the need for a change and then make that change. In this essay the obstacles facing youth in attaining wealth and employment will be identified, proposals will be made at to alleviate these obstacles and an organization involved in helping youth obtain wealth and employment will be highlighted.

6/09/2006


Essay by Mc. Garret Magloire

Agriculture in the Caribbean has now become the second income earning activity in many of its countries and to some, agriculture is becoming extinct.  The Caribbean islands have now almost placed agriculture on the back burner while placing emphasis on other areas such as tourism and finance which is not a bad thing. However, this transition has significantly hampered the agricultural sector causing the rural communities to divert their attention to more or less urbanization because they believe that more money can be made through the other activities.  Because of this, some of the Caribbean countries go through severe socio-economic and political situations and with these problems; the countries are faced with a high population growth rate, while the economic growth remains some what stagnant.  In addition to the high population growth rate, the countries are then faced with unemployment, and a lack of food security thus creating greater ordeal for the country.

6/09/2006


Essay by Chelsa Fernander

'Getting unemployment down requires two things. It requires businesses to offer more jobs, and it requires the unemployed to have the needed skills to enable them to take the new jobs as they open.'  The Australian Chamber of Commerce puts the solution to unemployment simply and even though we know these answers are correct we also know that they are not as simple to achieve.

6/09/2006