Call for She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship 2026 is open now!!!
The She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship seeks to build a vibrant, highly connected network of African women professionals from diverse disciplines to drive policy and programmatic change for equitable agri-food systems in sub-Saharan Africa. The two-year Fellowship will integrate leadership development, mentorship and network development, and technical excellence to produce a network of African women committed and equipped to lead and drive gender-responsive agrifood systems programs and policies.
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The program seeks to drive equitable agricultural transformation through innovative, gender-responsive solutions in four broad areas:
- Strengthen leadership skills of African women in agri-food systems.
- Foster impactful mentoring relationships that will extend beyond the project’s duration and support long-term collaboration and growth.
- Build the technical capacities of the participants to integrate gender in agri-food systems.
- Establish a network of emerging women leaders and agri-food professionals working to drive gender responsive agricultural policies and programs.
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The Fellows will participate in an immersive, non-residential program that incorporates a blended approach of virtual and face-to-face activities, including individual and collaborative sessions designed to enhance their experience and expertise while fostering cross-learning. The activities will include:
Mentorship and Network Development
Structured eight-week Mentoring Orientation Workshop where they will be paired with seasoned mentors. Monthly mentoring meetings between Fellows and mentors, coupled with one-on-one tailored coaching sessions. Peer learning sessions to foster cross learning and deepen participants’ understanding. Curated policy dialogues and participatory discussions on equitable agri-food systems in Africa.
Leadership Development
Five-day face-to-face Women’s Leadership and Management Course focused on professional psychometric assessments and case studies to enhance communication, confidence building, leadership, and influence. Fellows will be supported to establish individual or joint role modelling activities that will enable them to apply and disseminate lessons from their leadership training.
Technical Excellence
Enhancing Fellows’ technical expertise in integrating gender in agriculture programs and policies through a virtual gender in agrifood systems course and development of gender analyses and action plans. Participate in in-country knowledge forums and networking activities geared towards forging collaborative partnerships among the Fellows. Convening Fellows and other stakeholders to connect, learn, and share in global and regional platforms, diversifying the voices represented in agrifood systems debates across Africa.
Fellowship is now open. The Fellowship targets applicants from Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal for an immersive career development program that will integrate leadership development, mentoring, network development, and technical excellence. Fellows will be drawn from diverse organizations, including government ministries and agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, research, the private sector, civil society, regional and sub-regional organizations, among others. SHEAF Fellowship targets African women at different stages of their careers who are actively engaged in finding solutions that address gender inequalities in agri-food systems policies and programs. Successful applicants will receive customized training in leadership, gender, and agrifood systems, coupled with mentoring, coaching, and peer learning support to sharpen their skills in designing and implementing gender-responsive agrifood systems policies and programs. The Fellowship will build a vibrant network of African women professionals from varied disciplines to drive policy and programmatic change for equitable agri-food systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Up to 25 Fellows will be selected, with a special focus on women working in AGRA-supported organizations and programs.
Benefits
The Fellows will participate in an immersive, non-residential program that incorporates a blended approach of virtual and face-to-face activities, including individual and collaborative sessions designed to enhance their experience and expertise while fostering cross-learning. The activities will include;
Mentorship and Network Development
Structured eight-week Mentoring Orientation Workshop where they will be paired with seasoned mentors. Monthly mentoring meetings between Fellows and mentors, coupled with one-on-one tailored coaching sessions. Peer learning sessions to foster cross learning and deepen participants’ understanding. Curated policy dialogues and participatory discussions on equitable agri-food systems in Africa.
Leadership Development
Five-day face-to-face Women’s Leadership and Management Course focused on professional psychometric assessments and case studies to enhance communication, confidence building, leadership, and influence. Fellows will be supported to establish individual or joint role modelling activities that will enable them to apply and disseminate lessons from their leadership training.
Technical Excellence
Enhancing Fellows’ technical expertise in integrating gender in agriculture programs and policies through a virtual gender in agrifood systems course and development of gender analyses and action plans. Participate in in-country knowledge forums and networking activities geared towards forging collaborative partnerships among the Fellows. Convening Fellows and other stakeholders to connect, learn, and share in global and regional platforms, diversifying the voices represented in agrifood systems debates across Africa.
Eligibilities
The She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship is open to African women who meet the criteria below:
• Citizens of one of the following countries: Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal
• Holds at least a master’s degree in a relevant discipline in agrifood systems
• Have at least 5 years of professional experience in agrifood systems related areas
• Demonstrated interest and contribution to addressing gender issues in agrifood systems
• Employed in national and international organizations in agrifood systems, including the private sector, civil society, non -governmental organizations, farmers’ organizations, government ministries and agencies, regional and sub-regional organizations, or academia
• Demonstrated intermediate proficiency in English (reading, writing, and speaking)
• Be committed to full participation in the 18-month program, including online and in-person activities
• Resident in Africa, specifically in the listed countries (Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal) for the entire duration of the Fellowship
• Not a Fellow of any other programs offered by AWARD
Ideal SHEAF Fellows
The ideal SHEAF Fellows will:
• Show how they have played a leadership role in agrifood systems policy development, program design, and implementation, particularly in projects at the nexus of agricultural development, food systems, and gender equality
• Convincingly explain ongoing programs and policy challenges or questions they are currently working on
• Not use artificial intelligence (AI) to fill out the application form
Pre-conditions for Participation in the SHEAF Fellowship
Notification of an offer to the successful applicant does not guarantee participation in the Fellowship. Participation will be guaranteed upon the applicant’s:
• Provision of details of the institution’s head or responsible supervisor and his/her endorsement of the applicant’s participation in the Fellowship
• Submission of the required documentation (copies of passport and academic certificates) to support the information provided in the application form
• Acceptance of the AWARD’s code of conduct
• Timely communication to AWARD on their participation in any other capacity- building programs
Eligible Regions: Kenya, Malawi and SenegalApplication Process
The call for the Fellowship opens on December 16, 2025, and closes on January 31,2026. Late and/or incomplete applications will NOT be considered. The application process will include the following steps:
Step 1
•Check eligibility criteria
•Applicants MUST meet ALL the eligibility criteria
Step 2
•Read the supporting documents
•Applicants should carefully read the eligibility criteria and the supporting documents before applying
Step 3
•Complete and submit your application online
•Application for the SHEAF Fellowship is via an online form on the Fellowship website
Application Deadline: January 30, 2026 (15 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
