Seventy women scientists from across Africa have just been awarded fellowships through the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) program.

“AWARD Fellows share a common vision: they want to translate their research and knowledge into tangible action that will benefit smallholder farmers—especially laudable in 2015, the African Union’s Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063,” says an article on the AWARD website.

The 70 laureates were selected from over 1,000 applicants from 11 African countries for their intellectual merit, leadership capacity, and the potential of their work to improve the livelihoods of African smallholder farmers, most of whom are women. Over the next 2 years, they will benefit from a career-development program that is focused on accelerating agricultural gains by strengthening their research and leadership skills.

“Agricultural research and development in Mozambique is an important tool for increasing production, and consequently reducing household malnutrition and poverty, particularly in children and women,” says Olivia Narciso Pedro, a lecturer and researcher at the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, Mozambique and one of the 2015 AWARD recipients.

“We have a long journey ahead with women still underrepresented in agricultural research and higher education in Africa,” said AWARD Director, Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg. She added how the laureates are making a difference in their chosen fields and how AWARD fellowships help to build the capacity of Africa’s women researchers to contribute to the continent’s food security.

Read the full story: Rising to the Challenge! 2015 AWARD Fellowship Winners Set to Impact Smallholders in the Year of Women’s Empowerment

Find out more about AWARD: http://www.awardfellowships.org/