By Henk Knipscheer | Senior Associate
In many African cultures, there is very limited communication between male extension agents and female farmers. Consequently, only five percent of rural women receive agriculture extension services.
The Christopher Dowswell Scholarship Program aims to increase the pool of female extension agents by providing modest financial support during their mid-career degree academic program. During the program’s first three years, the number of scholars has grown to 60. Furthermore, the number of participating countries has increased from four to five, as the Distant Learning Program of the Extension Department at the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) in the Republic of Benin has been included in the program. Winrock is currently evaluating more than 40 applicants from its five target countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania and Benin.
During a recent meeting, the board of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), the key partner in the implementation of the Christopher Dowswell Scholarship Program, recommended that the program expand to all nine countries and 23 universities and colleges where the Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE)’s mid-career extension degree program is active. Winrock wholeheartedly supports this strategy. However, the implementation of this strategy depends on our funding base, including your contributions. Please donate and help us reaching women farmers in Africa, thereby securing sufficient and healthy food in the whole continent.
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