The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) programme has received a second five-year grant of US 14 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and US 5 million from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The programme, which is hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre, provides leadership and scientific support to women in sub-Saharan countries.

SciDev.Net reports that the grant will allow for more effective innovations in agriculture through the empowerment of women scientists.

Women make up the majority of people producing, processing marketing Africa’s food but only one in four agricultural researchers is female and only one in seven, holds a leadership position in African agricultural research institutions.

The fellowships offered by the AWARD programme provide female scientists with courses on leadership and management, science skills and proposal writing. The awardees also partner with senior scientists as mentors.

Read the full story: Donors renew programme for African women researchers