Application Deadline: July 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM East Africa Time (GMT+3).

Applications are now open for the 2025 AWARD’s African Women in Data Science Fellowship. African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) is pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural African Women in Data Science Fellowship. This timely initiative responds to the growing demand for data-driven leadership to tackle the pressing challenges of food insecurity and climate change across Africa.

The Fellowship aims to enhance the leadership and technical capabilities of African women professionals utilizing data science to foster inclusive, evidence-based innovation in agrifood systems and climate resilience. Building on AWARD’s proven track record in cultivating African women leaders in agricultural research and development, the program adapts our Fellowship model to meet the demands of an evolving data and technology landscape.

Eligibility Criteria

• Female citizens of one of the following countries: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia,
  Kenya, or Malawi.
• Hold at least a Master’s degree in one of the following: Applied Statistics, Biostatistics,
  Agricultural Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Data
  Science, Bioinformatics or related disciplines.
• Have 5 to 10 years of professional experience in a data-related role, ideally linked to
  agriculture, climate, or development sectors.
• Demonstrate intermediate proficiency in English (reading, writing, and speaking).
• Be committed to full participation in the 12-month program, including online and inperson activities.
• Resident in an African country throughout the Fellowship period
• Is not a selected Fellow for any other Fellowships offered by AWARD
• The program targets African women from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi with demonstrated experience in data-related roles and a commitment to applying data for development. Fellows will be drawn from diverse sectors, including government, academia, research, civil society, development agencies, and the private sector.

Program Details

As a Fellow, you will engage in the following core activities:

• Participate in a 7-day, face-to-face women’s leadership course designed to strengthen your confidence, influence, and capacity to lead data-driven solutions (November 2025).
• Join a 2-week immersive in-person data science training course covering Python programming, machine learning, data wrangling, visualization, and statistical analysis (February 2026).
• Complete a 2-month virtual course focused on the application of data science tools to real-world challenges in agrifood systems and climate resilience (April – May 2026).
• Design and implement a data-driven capstone project addressing a practical issue in agriculture or climate. You will receive modest seed funding and technical guidance for project execution (February – September 2026).
• Undertake a competitive short-term institutional placement (1–3 months), known as Advanced Science Training (AST), within your home country. This placement provides an opportunity to apply your skills in a real-world setting and further deepen your technical expertise (May – September 2026).
• Receive ongoing guidance from senior data science professionals through structured mentoring relationships, including orientation, check-ins, and goal setting (March – November 2026).
• Participate in knowledge-sharing sessions, storytelling activities, and professional engagement opportunities through AWARD’s network (Throughout the fellowship).

Call for Applications open – June 10, 2025

• Call for Applications closes – July 31, 2025
• Selected participants notified – October 2025
• Fellowship begins – November 2025 (In-person training in Kenya)
  
  Key Components Assessed
• Technical proficiency: demonstrated application of data science tools and reasoning
• Motivation and career goals: alignment with the Fellowship objectives
• Use-Case proposal: relevance, feasibility, and potential impact
• Practical data exercise: ability to interpret data and communicate insights
  Contact and Support
  For questions about the application or the Fellowship, please send an email to
  awardinfo@cifor-icraf.org

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the AWARD’s African Women in Data Science Fellowship