"It is a plain fact that the young woman scientist continues to face a scary and tormenting situation in deciding whether she should pursue her career or resign herself to serving as a lesser mortal than her male counterpart, so that she can maintain her family. I believe it should not be so. I believe that with the right balance, she can succeed in both."
--Miriam G Kinyua (Associate Professor of Agriculture, Moi University, Kenya). An Awardee of the G&D-Rockefeller Fellowships, 2005-2007.
G&D-Rockefeller three year pilot fellowship program to enhance the careers of East African women scientists successfully came to an end in April 2008. The innovative fellowship program was designed to support professional growth in both scientific expertise and people management, thus facilitating the development of female science leaders and strengthening their institutions.
21 female East African crop scientists and one agricultural entrepreneur benefited directly from the highly competitive two year fellowships. 21 younger women scientists and 20 female and male mentors as well as a substantial number of East African national agricultural research institutes and universities realized indirect benefits.
The fellows were selected by a Steering Committee composed of representatives from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, the Rockefeller Program, the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, the Ford Foundation and G&D.
Major Impacts
• about 80% of all fellows and two thirds of round one junior mentees reported to have published at least one paper (mostly two or more) in refereed journals over the fellowship period
• some 30% of all junior mentees embarked on a MSc program and around one quarter finalized their MSc faster than anticipated
• increased leadership and negotiation skills resulted in getting better jobs (over 20% of fellows and one third of round one junior mentees) or promotions (one third of fellows and round one junior mentees)
• almost 80% of the fellows and more than half of round one junior mentees successfully submitted proposals for funding of their research
• half of round one junior mentees won other fellowships or awards
• three fellows and two mentors have started systematic mentoring initiatives in their institutions
• ten out of eleven round two fellows reported that they helped farmers with their improved skills, particularly women groups to attract funding for their projects
• one third of the fellows have started private development initiatives in their rural home areas or in urban slums, mainly benefiting women and girls
• over 30% of fellows held successful role modeling events in secondary schools or at community level, encouraging girls to take up science careers.
The Fellows
Both 2005 and 2006 fellowship winners comprised a dynamic group of scientists specializing in areas of crop science such as entomology, plant breeding, seed production, biotechnology, horticulture, crop protection, and agro processing. Close links and networks with CGIAR women scientists were established during training sessions and through the extensive electronic networking with women in agricultural sciences worldwide.
The 2006 fellows were:
Kenya:
1. Margaret A. Mulaa- Senior Principal Research Scientist (Entomology), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
2. Lusike A. Wasilwa- Programme Officer (Horticulture & Industrial Crops), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
3. Florence M. Olubayo- Senior Lecturer (Plant Science & Crop Protection), University of Nairobi.
4. Charity K. Mutegi- Research Officer (Aflotoxin & Nutrition Studies), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
5. Linnet S. Gohole- Lecturer (Agricultural Entomology), Moi University, Eldoret.
Uganda:
6. Josephine A. Okot- Managing Director (Seed Production), Victoria Seeds Ltd.
7. Jolly M. Kabirizi- Senior Research Officer (Nutrition), National Agricultural Research Organization.
8. Jane Nabawanuka-Oputa- Research Officer (Agro-Processing), Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute.
Tanzania:
9. Everina J. Lukonge- Agricultural Research Officer (Plant Breeding), Agricultural Research Institute-Ukiriguru.
10. Agnes M. S. Nyomora- Lecturer (Plant Biology), University of Dar es Salaam.
11. Kiddo J. Mtunda- Senior Agricultural Research Officer (Plant Breeding & Crop Protection), Sugarcane Research Institute, Kibaha
The 2005 fellows were:
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Annet Namayanja (Bean Breeder, National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda)
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Christine Akoth Onyango (Senior Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, Kenya)
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Jane Ininda (Principal Research Officer, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya)
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Jenipher Biskiwa (Lecturer in Crop Science, Makerere University, Uganda)
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Josephine Moraa Songa (Principal Research Scientis, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya)
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Kallunde Pilly Sibuga (Professor, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania)
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Mary Oyiela Abukutsa Onyango (Associate Professor, Maseno University, Kenya)
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Miriam Gaceri Kinyua (Chief Plant Breeder and Center Director, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya)
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Rose J Mongi (Wheat Breeder, Uyole Agricultural Research Institute)
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Virginia Gathoni Gichuru (PhD Candidate studying bean root rot, Makerere University, Uganda)
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Wariara Kariuki (Senior Lecturer in Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, Kenya)
"When you look at hunger and poverty, it overwhelms and overshadows you. But how do you eat an elephant? A bite at a time. I believe in having an impact. I see hunger and poverty and I'm aware that I cannot solve the problem alone, but I can contribute to solving the problem."
--Jenipher Bisikwa (Lecturer, Department of Crop Science, Makerere University, Uganda). An Awardee of the G&D-Rockefeller Fellowships, 2005-2007.
Profiles of the First Round fellows
Media Releases
2005 Media Release
Long Version
Short Version
About the Fellowship...
For each of the women selected, the two-year fellowship offered a promising package aimed at increasing her skills, visibility and contributions to science and development, including:
• enhanced scientific expertise through a two-year mentoring relationship with a senior
scientist in her field, plus funds to support presentation of her research at a major
scientific conference each year;
• development of team management and leadership skills through participation in the
CGIAR women's leadership and negotiation courses;
• improved access to knowledge and support via linkages to regional and global
networks of women scientists and researchers; and,
• opportunities to practice her newly acquired skills via mentoring junior women
scientist in her instititute during the second year of her fellowship, and thus expanding
the program benefits.
More background details on the G&D-Rockefeller Fellowships
What the Fellowship Offerered. . .
Mentoring
Mentoring was at the core: the fellowship program started with a Mentoring Orientation Workshop for both mentors and mentees.
Facilitation: Normala and Phil Merry of Philip Merry Consulting Group Pte Ltd.
More on G&D's Mentoring Program
In addition to mentoring, the awardess also attended the CGIAR Women's Leadership and Management Course and the Women's Negotiation Course.
Women's Leadership Course
This leadership course is designed to reinforce the skills needed to build leadership and managerial effectiveness of women scientists and professionals working in research and development in the CGIAR and partner organizations. Gender and its implications are woven throughout the course, but there is also focus on specific skills areas, including: sustaining team performance, managing conflict, and building alliances to achieve research and business results. Nearly 300 CGIAR women have attended this highly-valued course thus far, and demand remains high.
Facilitation: The Training Resources Group (TRG)
More on the CGIAR Women's Leadership and Management Course
Women's Negotiation Course
When a woman fails to negotiate for what she needs to be successful, the potential for the accumulation of disadvantage magnifies. As we bargain over issues, a parallel discussion--or shadow negotiation--is simultaneously taking place. The shadow neogtiation is where relationships; perceptions of power and control; and hidden agendas are most likely to surface. To manage successfuly in these shadow negotiations requires a set of strategic moves that help the negotiatior establish her place at the table; enlist the other party to work with her; and to deal with challenges that can potentially derail negotiations.
The Gender and Diversity Program offers this course in collaboration with the Center for Gender in Organizations (CGO) and it is led by Prof Deborah Kolb, co-author of The Shadow Negotiation: How Women Can Master the Hidden Agendas That Determine Bargaining Success.
More on the CGIAR course on Enhancing Leadership: Negotiation Skills for Women
G&D Resources on Women in Science
G&D News, our free electronic newsletter, to which you can subscribe. See the following isssues on women in science and leadership: Nos 40, 38, 37, 31, 29b, 20 and 17.
G&D Working Papers in PDF
- First the Good News . . . Staffing in the CGIAR, 2003 (PDF 1.25 MB). G&D Working Paper No 40.
- Female and Male CGIAR Scientists in Comparative Perspective (2002) (PDF 4,808 KB). G&D Working Paper No 37.
- Gender and Diversity in Times of Change: Staffing Trends and Organizational Change Strategies in the CGIAR (2002) (PDF 4,405 KB). G&D Working Paper No 35.
- Updated Analysis of Future Harvest Center Demographics (2002) (PDF 1,900 KB). G&D Working Paper No 33.
- Selected Trend Data on Gender and Diversity in the Future Harvest Centers, 1995-2001 (PDF 5,367 KB). G&D Working Paper No 32.
- Executive Selection in the CGIAR: Implications for Gender and Diversity. (PDF 1,934 KB). G&D Working Paper No 30.
- Center Self-Assessment for a Woman-Friendly Workplace (PDF 1,953 KB). G&D Working Paper No 29.
- Gender and Diversity in the CGIAR: A New Baseline (2000) (PDF 4,369 KB). G&D Working Paper No 25.
- Engendering Organizational Change: A Case Study of Strengthening Gender Equity and Organizational Effectiveness in an International Agricultural Research Institute (PDF 844 KB). G&D Working Paper No 21.
- Taking Stock of Gender Staffing in the CGIAR, 1998 (PDF 719 KB). G&D Working Paper No 20.
- Gender Staffing in the CGIAR: Lessons Learned and Future Direction: Report of an Inter-Center Consultation, April 1998 (PDF 1,092 KB). G&D Working Paper No 19.
- Toward Gender Equity: Model Policies (PDF 441 KB). G&D Working Paper No 18.
- 'Strangers in a Strange Land': A Literature Review of Women in Science (PDF 441 KB). G&D Working Paper No 17.
