Nominations open for Leading African Women in Food Fellowship Program

The Leading African Women in Food Fellowship (LAWFF) Program is a transformative initiative designed to empower and celebrate women leaders in the African food and agriculture sector. Over a six-month period, the program provides training, mentorship, and a supportive community for outstanding female disruptors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, chefs, trendsetters, and storytellers. The program’s comprehensive approach includes media engagement, global recognition, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure its effectiveness and impact.

LAWFF actively promotes gender equality, contributes to poverty reduction, and fosters sustainable economic growth, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Objectives

• Build a strong sisterhood of women leaders supporting each other as they advance their individual and collective efforts to transform the food ecosystem​.
• Facilitate access to critical resources and connections to advance the innovative work of female changemakers in the food ecosystem.​
• Amplify the voices of female changemakers via media engagement/Visibility for program fellows, both locally and internationally.
• Accelerate gender equity in the food and agriculture landscape.​

Award Categories

• Top Chefs in Africa: Culinary artists who, through their creativity and innovative cooking methods, are changing narratives about African food.
• Disruptors: Create or adapt tools, models, approaches, and/or harness technology to solve challenges within the food system (e.g., inventor, researcher, product developer, intrapreneur, etc.)
• Trailblazers: Accomplished change agents who have made ground-breaking contributions to the African food ecosystem and paved the way for others.
• Ecosystem Enablers: Private, public, and non-profit leaders who introduce and scale innovative products, ideas, and/or opportunities that contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive food system
• Food/Beverage Narrative Changers: Story-tellers and digital media gurus that create content, experiences, or products that amplify positive changes and opportunities in the ecosystem, change global narratives and connect people to different African foods and beverages (e.g., journalist, food blogger, food stylist, curator, content creator, consumer packaged goods entrepreneur, etc.).

Eligibility Criteria

• Women only
• Ages 25-40 years
• At least three years experience working in the agri-food sector
• Demonstrable impact
• A citizen of an African country
• Resident in an African country at the time of application
• They accept nominations from across the African continent. Their goal is to be inclusive and celebrate the diversity of women in the food industry.

Selection Process

• The selection process involves a comprehensive review by their expert panel.

Assessment Criteria

• They assess nominees based on their impact, innovation, and dedication to advancing the food and agriculture sector.

For more information, visit African Food Changemakers.