African Food Changemakers (AFC), a non-profit organisation, has appealed for assistance for women in agriculture in order to close the gender gap and overcome the challenges they experience in agriculture.
Cassandra Taiwo, Communications Officer for African Food Changemakers (AFC), made the announcement in Abuja.
According to Taiwo, the request became necessary since women confront severe gender-specific impediments in the field.
These hurdles, she explained, include restricted access to financing, knowledge, training, and sociocultural constraints, among others, and they impede productivity in the agrifood sector, contributing to underperformance in poor nations.
She stated that eliminating the gender gap in agriculture would have far-reaching implications for the industry.
Taiwo further stated that the agency sees the need to assist women’s advancement in the food ecosystem and raise awareness of their position as changemakers in the African agriculture industry.
She stated that in order to mitigate the consequences of these constraints on women, the AFC, in conjunction with the Skoll Foundation, would launch the African Women in Food Fellowship (LAWFF) in March 2023.
“The LAWFF programme has greatly benefited women by providing opportunities to bridge gender inequality in the industry.”
“The LAWFF Programme aims to amplify, celebrate, champion, and advance the work of female food changemakers in Africa.”
“It provides mentorship, training, peer-to-peer support, increased visibility through strategic media coverage, and connections to AFC partner networks for funding and scaling.”
“Together, these remarkable women are paving the way for a sustainable and inclusive food system in Africa, where the image of success is synonymous with flourishing female entrepreneurs rather than a hungry child.”
According to Taiwo, when these women emerge as leaders and advocates, their amplified voices will shape policies, impact narratives, and promote dramatic change in the African agriculture sector.
“The African ecosystem is a complex system with social-political, cultural, and religious idiosyncrasies, and in order to thrive as an enabler or a business, you must understand these layers of complexity and the people,” she said.
Taiwo stated that the fellows went through a rigorous nomination, application, and selection process led by industry professionals and executives, including representatives from significant organisations.
Among these are the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, Africa Region, IITA, AfDB, and the SDG2 Advocacy Hub, according to her.
She stated that 27 extraordinary fellows were chosen from over 640 nominations across five categories based on their match with qualifying criteria, impact, and growth potential, among other things.
She stated that the fellows came from nations such as Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda.
Taiwo stated that they participate in weekly interactive training sessions throughout the programme, and that the LAWFF programme would conclude at the 2023 Africa Food System Forum Summit in Tanzania.
