2011 AWARD Participants,
Linda Stout, Dr. Mick O'Neill

Service Learning for Women (SLW) program and the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) teamed up to bring four African women to New Mexico State University for a month-long period, during September to October 2011, to develop career enhancement opportunities through workshops, mentoring, and training in Extension and research methodologies.

The NMSU Service Learning for Women (SLW) program seeks to inspire and empower women in agricultural careers so that they can excel as leaders in local and global communities. The program brings together opportunities to learn in areas, such as Agricultural Extension methodologies, leadership skills, and the latest agricultural technologies. Their career development is encouraged by opportunities to gain proficiency in presenting, teaching, research, and publishing. They are mentored by NMSU's College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences faculty with the intention of broadening their professional network and world perspective, the women are introduced to agricultural leaders, local community members, and cultural events.

AWARD is a professional development program that strengthens the research and leadership skills of African women in agricultural science, empowering them to contribute more effectively to poverty alleviation and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. The program's mission is to build an effective and transferable career development program for women in agricultural research and development of sub-Saharan Africa.

Established in 2008, AWARD is a project of the Gender & Diversity Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It was launched following a successful three-year pilot program in East Africa with support from the Rockefeller Foundation from 2005-2008. AWARD has 180 fellows in its program who have been chosen from a large pool of applicants from 10 sub-Saharan African countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia).

The four SLW-AWARD Fellows for 2011 included:

• Anabela Da Piedade Manhica, Veterinarian and Head of Technology Transfer Department, Mozambique Agricultural Research Institute.
• Chikondi Chabvuta, Eco-health Research Assistant, Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi.
• Esther Wamono, Nutrition Officer, The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Uganda.
• Meaza Abawari, Manager, Development Grant and Private Non-Sponsorship Grant Department, World Vision, Ethiopia.

AWARD 2011 Participants

Name: Anabela da Piedade Manhica Position: Senior Researcher and head of Technology Transfer Dept. Institution: Mozambique Agriculture Research Institute (IIAM) Country: Mozambique MSc: Veterinary Medicine, University of Pretoria Details: As head of technology transfer, she coordinates all activities related to technology transfer of agricultural research to farmers and extension staff. Additionally, she coordinates gender activities at the institute and is currently acting as the coordinator of the Gender Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Name: Chikondi Precious Chabvuta Position: Eco-health Research Assistant Institution: University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture Country: Malawi BSc: Environmental Science, University of Malawi Details: In addition to working with the Farmers Union, Precious is a student at University of Malawi, Chancellor College, studying for a MSc in Environmental Science. Her greatest satisfaction is helping rural and low-income urban women farmers practice the use of Ecosan manure in their field and seeing their crop yields greatly improve.

Name: Esther Betty Kakai Wamono Position: Nutrition Officer Institution: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Country: Uganda MSc: Applied Human Nutrition, Makerere University, Kampala (Uganda). Details: Esther is helping women of the Karamoja region, which is the most disadvantaged area in Uganda with poor socio-economic conditions, devastated infrastructure, and high levels of illiteracy and malnutrition.

Name: Meaza Melkamu Abawari Position: Manager for Development Grant and Private Non-Sponsoring Grant Department with World Vision (Ethiopia) Institution: World Vision Country: Ethiopia MSc: Horticulture, Haromaya University Details: Maeza leads the food security program, gives technical guidance and supervises staff in the field. She is also responsible for natural resource management for six NGOs, working on food security for which she conducts studies and provides guidance for policy makers, development practitioners and communities in conserving natural resources.