The Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) provided additional contribution of $902,921 to reinforce the participation of women scientists from francophone West Africa in the One Planet Fellowship. This is in recognizance of the missing links and bottlenecks in building and enhancing research and leadership skills and increasing networking opportunities among African researchers, particularly women scientists.
Between 2008 and 2024, AWARD facilitated the growth and development of 253 researchers and leaders from Malawi. Out of the fellowship beneficiaries, 137 were fellowship beneficiaries. Twenty (20) Fellows were sponsored to partake in Advance Science Training (AST) research attachments. Additionally, AWARD has enhanced the skills of 117 trainees on leadership, science, mentoring, and gender, drawn from various institutions in Malawi, including but not limited to Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) among others.
AWARD invests in building a pool of capable, confident, and influential African scientists to lead critical advances and innovations in the agricultural research and development sector (ARD).
Through career development programs and other customized interventions, we equip African researchers with various skills including leadership, mentoring, science, grant writing, negotiation, gender in agri-food systems networking and communication skills.
Overview
The One Planet Fellowship Cohort 3 LEPARD course was conducted in Mombasa, Kenya and it targeted Laureate candidates and selected Mentors from the third cohort (2020) of One Planet Fellowship. This hybrid program comprised five days of face-to-face training and two post-training leadership webinars focusing on peer learning coaching and leading in the VUCA World. A total of 52 participants were present.
Lessons Learned
In September 2018, AWARD entered into an agreement with BNP Paribas Foundation, marking the commencement of the initial partnership to execute the activity plan outlined in the One Planet Fellowship initiative. PNB Paribas contributed $7,500,000 to support the fellowship.
Intervention | Period | Amount (USD $) |
One Planet Fellowship Co-funders: European CommissionThe European Commission (EC) provided an additional contribution of €3,000,000 grant (as part of the DeSIRA initiative) to support the European component of the One Planet Fellowship geared towards an increased involvement of European scientists and research institutions in the initiative. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)AWARD's impactful initiatives have been made possible thanks to the generous support provided by the renowned Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). By recognizing the significance of empowering individuals and fostering institutional change, BMGF has wholeheartedly dedicated substantial resources to further AWARD's mission. Their unwavering commitment is clearly reflected in the substantial financial contributions they have generously provided, amounting to an impressive $39,883,536, which constitutes 55.6% of AWARD's total funding. |
