2023 Newsletter Archive
Catch up on the stories and news you missed from past Newsletters.
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Thank you and Happy Holidays - December 2023
And so… just like that we come to the close of yet another remarkable year! As we reflect on 2023 and plan ahead for 2024, we are deeply thankful to you - our ever-growing network of champions and cheerleaders! Your support has seen Mawazo grow in courage and confidence in the impact our work is making on the lives of Africa’s women researchers and on the wider research ecosystem.
Mawazo Launches the Emerging Research Trends Report - November 2023
The Mawazo Institute launched the Emerging Trends Research Sector Brief in September 2023, the culmination of a study that sought to gain a deeper understanding of the emerging priorities, needs, and opportunities for research being conducted in Africa, for Africa. This move arose from the need to better identify applicants to the Mawazo Fellowship Programme pursuing high-level research.
Saluting Women Researchers in Climate Change - 9 October 2023
Climate change has an immense impact on women and girls in Africa where reliance on natural resources for livelihood and survival is especially pronounced. To compound the matter, the link between gender equity and climate is often overlooked in the search for solutions to the climate challenges. In this issue, we celebrate women leading climate action on the continent by profiling seven luminaries of the Mawazo Network, from those driving change in academia, energy, social justice and health, to the ones on the front line of addressing climate change related issues. Read more about some of the truly inspirational individuals playing a collective role in climate research.
Wellness Break to Recharge and Rejuvinate - 9 September 2023
We are back from our annual wellness break! Between 7 and 24 August 2023, the entire Mawazo Team went on their annual wellness break - which essentially is a period of relative “quietness” from the usual meetings and pressure to immediately respond to external emails. It means the team can slow down and work on the tasks that were pushed to the back burner as we dealt with more pressing needs to deliver on our programming.
But we are now back and excited to share what we’ve been up to!
Advancing the impact of African women researchers - 11 July 2023
We are thrilled to present our 2022 Annual Report. As our graduating Fellows shared their Commitments to Action, Mawazo doubled down on our own commitments as well. In 2022, Mawazo celebrated 5 years, graduated our 2nd cohort of Fellows, oversaw an unprecedented number of Mawazo Fellows Fund grants awarded, and increased our public engagement.
Unveiling Africa’s Future Thought Leaders and Changemakers - 6 June 2023
The Mawazo Institute is excited to introduce our third cohort of the Mawazo Fellowship Programme! The cohort consists of 40 Mawazo Fellows who are current PhD candidates at universities on the continent, representing 16 African nations: Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Each is pursuing innovative, local research in a range of fields including Agriculture; Technology; Climate Change; Engineering; Gender and Governance; Business, Entrepreneurship and Economics; Health; and Education.
Mawazo’s Strengthened Strategic Direction - 16 May 2023
The journey to the official launch of our new strategic plan began all the way back in June 2021 when we were able to bring on board a strategic planning consultant, On Think Tanks (OTT), thanks to an operational capacity-building grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
A Toast to Women Researchers - 4 April 2023
Kenyan women researchers, start-ups, innovators and the private sector shared a platform to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day at the British High Commissioner's residence in Nairobi on 8th March 2023. This year’s theme was “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”.
African Women Researchers and Feminist Movements - 7 March 2023
On 11th February 2023, the world celebrated the International Day for Women and Girls in Science. It was an opportunity to promote full and equal access to, and participation in, science for women and girls. Mawazo Alumna Elizabeth Benson marked this day by hosting over 75 young girls at Faith Premier High School, in Thika, Kenya, and gave them a talk to inspire them to take up STEM disciplines.
Calling for Big Ideas from African Women - 31 January 2023
Happy New Year and welcome back Mawazo Family! As we launch our new call for applications today, and begin the search for our 2023 cohort of Fellows, I’m struck by the importance of Mawazo’s mission to wholly support African women researchers - technically, economically, and emotionally - as they embark on their careers as change makers.