A new generation of African agrifood leaders is stepping into the spotlight, as the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) announces a 25-member cohort of its She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship.
This initiative positions women at the centre of the continent’s food systems transformation.
Spanning Kenya, Malawi and Senegal, the 2026 cohort reflects a growing shift across Africa’s $1 trillion agrifood economy, where leadership, innovation and climate resilience are increasingly being driven by women operating at the intersection of science, policy and enterprise.
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment. According to the African Development Bank, agriculture employs over 60% of Africa’s workforce, yet women who make up nearly half of that labour force remain structurally excluded from leadership and capital access. Programmes such as SHEAF are designed to close that gap, not incrementally, but systemically.
A Strategic Intervention in Africa’s Food Systems
AWARD’s SHEAF Fellowship is more than a leadership programme. It is a targeted intervention aimed at reshaping how Africa produces, distributes and consumes food in the face of climate shocks, population growth and shifting global supply chains.
“We are thrilled to introduce the new cohort,” AWARD said, describing the fellows as “25 inspiring women leaders… shaping the future of Africa’s agrifood systems.”
The cohort combines policymakers, scientists, entrepreneurs and development practitioners, each working on scalable solutions across value chains, from agroforestry and livestock to agri-fintech, nutrition and climate-smart agriculture.
The Fellows: Leadership Across Borders
From Senegal, Aminata Beye, an agroforestry specialist and PhD candidate, leads national landscape restoration efforts at ASERGMV, advancing climate-resilient agrosylvopastoral systems. Her work integrates livestock productivity with environmental sustainability.
Also from Senegal, Deks Pouye Deguene, a gender specialist at CORAF, drives youth employment and seed system innovation across West Africa, embedding gender equity into agricultural transformation frameworks.
Gomis Marie Noel, co-founder of Freslia in Senegal, is building nutrition-driven agribusiness value chains, producing natural food products while integrating women farmers into sustainable supply systems.
Khady Sene, CEO of Value Crops Africa & Trade (Senegal), bridges agriculture and digital innovation, applying logistics and quality-monitoring technologies to improve efficiency and market access.
Mame Sana Cheikhou Oumar Diop, Country Director at Tree Aid (Senegal), leads nature-based solutions that restore degraded land while building rural livelihoods.
Dr. Mariam Amadou Diallo, a macroeconomist at FAO (Senegal), focuses on translating data into actionable policy for equitable agrifood systems.
Ndeye Bouba Mbengue, a senior researcher at ISRA (Senegal), brings nearly two decades of expertise in plant breeding and biofortified crops, with a strong emphasis on rural women’s inclusion.
From Malawi, Andikuza Litete-Makhumula, CEO of Greenleaf Investments, leverages over 25 years of experience to design inclusive agribusiness models that empower women and strengthen value chains.
Babettie Abigail Juwayeyi, a value chain specialist under the IFAD-funded PRIDE programme, has reached over 19,000 households and facilitated more than $500,000 in financing.
Dr. Babra Ntapara, National Coordinator of the TRADE programme, leads multi-sector agricultural diversification strategies connecting farmers to markets.
Harriet Jenala Gausi, Chief Animal Health Officer, focuses on livestock genetics and sustainable production systems to boost food security.
Jane Tumanyene Mwamlima, Programme Manager at the Farmers Union of Malawi, integrates nutrition, climate resilience, and rural development across communities.
Mercilina Lwanda, working with UNDP Malawi, strengthens agricultural commercialization systems and market access for smallholder farmers.
Yamikani Malunga, a climate-smart agriculture specialist, advances agroforestry adoption and sustainable farming practices through research and farmer training.
Tadala Mtimuni, a chemical engineer and lecturer, develops water treatment technologies and AI-driven environmental health solutions.
Tawonga Nyirenda, founder of SeedBiz, is pioneering circular economy solutions using Black Soldier Fly Larvae to convert waste into livestock feed and fertiliser.
From Kenya, Dorah Kwamboka Momanyi, a CIFOR-ICRAF researcher, explores how agroforestry improves nutrition and livelihoods, while also innovating in indigenous grain value chains.
Dr. Mirasine Meigura, a regional specialist at Action Against Hunger, oversees resilience programmes across seven countries, with nearly two decades of experience.
Florin Kwamboka Nyakawa, CEO of Alpharise Network Ventures, develops clean energy solutions from agricultural waste, linking climate action with enterprise development.
Jayne Achieng Wasonga, CEO of FIDIPA, has led programmes reaching over 5,000 rural women, focusing on inclusive economic empowerment.
Joyce Ndunge Musyoka, a research associate at ILRI, strengthens food safety systems through scientific research and policy influence.
Naanyu Manei, Head of Programmes at PELUM Kenya, drives agroecology, climate action, and gender integration in food systems.
Pauline Atieno Owiti, Organising Secretary of the World Food Forum Kenya Chapter, promotes youth-led climate-smart agriculture initiatives.
Pauline Wambui Irungu, Manager at MicroSave Consulting, develops inclusive financial systems for women and underserved entrepreneurs.
Veronica Muthoni Murage, Principal Publications Editor at KIPPRA, transforms research into policy-relevant insights that shape national development.
Entrepreneurship at the Core of Transformation
What distinguishes this cohort is not just expertise, but entrepreneurial execution. Many fellows operate ventures or programmes that directly link farmers to markets, embed technology into agriculture or unlock financing, areas widely recognised as bottlenecks in Africa’s food systems.
From Malawi’s SeedBiz to Senegal’s Freslia, these are not theoretical interventions. They are operational businesses and programmes already delivering measurable outcomes in productivity, income generation, and climate adaptation.
The SHEAF Fellowship aligns with the rise of mission-driven African entrepreneurship tackling systemic challenges in food security, climate resilience and inclusive growth.
Across Africa, venture capital into agritech and climate-focused startups has grown steadily, yet funding remains concentrated in a handful of markets. Initiatives like SHEAF are expanding the pipeline, particularly for women leaders who have historically been excluded from capital networks.
By combining leadership development with technical expertise and cross-border collaboration, AWARD is effectively building a distributed innovation network one capable of scaling solutions beyond national boundaries.
From Fellowship to Systemic Change
For many fellows, the programme represents a transition from participation to leadership.
“Through the Fellowship, I hope to design agrifood systems where women entrepreneurs don’t just participate but lead,” said Babettie Juwayeyi.
Others echo a similar ambition, moving from implementation to influence, from local impact to systemic transformation.
Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050. Feeding that population sustainably while creating jobs and mitigating climate risk will require more than incremental reform.
It will demand leadership.
With this cohort, AWARD is placing a strategic bet that Africa’s next agrifood revolution will not only be driven by innovation, but by women equipped to lead it.
