In 2025, the Mawazo Institute started a Communities of Practice (COP) initiative where members of our alumni Connects Network can collaborate on an interdisciplinary project and apply for funding under the Connects Fund to finance the project.
One such COP initiative is a mentorship programme being led by 2023 Mawazo Fellow Dr. Johra Ali, with six other Mawazo alumni in Jacinta Kinyunzu, Josephine Mwafuka, Dr. Margaret Muriuki, Nanchin Kazeh, Dr. Judith Koskey, and Joanne Adero. The COP invited 45 emerging young women scientists from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe to participate in several months of in-person and virtual workshops, with dedicated mentors, designed to address the holistic development of young African women in STEM.
The seven alumni offered the group academic and professional tools as well as personal support and cross-continental connections with a two phase strategy. In phase one, which took place from April to May 2025, the focus was on participants building foundations. It began with an onboarding session centered on work-academic-life balance, emphasizing well-being as a cornerstone of success. This was followed by a roundtable discussion with key stakeholders from government, academic organizations, and industry, addressing systemic challenges in mentorship, including the lack of structured frameworks and policy gaps.
A pivotal moment in phase one was a hands-on in-person workshop hosted in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria, which delved into the essentials of academic writing and conducting effective research. Participants were taken through the entire research process, learning to navigate potential pitfalls and master the tools provided.
Phase two ran from June to October 2025 and focused on professional advancement, leadership, and personal branding. At the end of phase one, participants had been encouraged to create collaborative capstone projects, and phase two began with a critical review of their presentations. The alumni offered several specialised sessions, each led by experts in their respective fields. The topics ranged from science communication and public engagement, to the responsible use of AI in research, to transitioning from academia to the job market. The sessions were all well attended but what was especially impactful was the in-person session that touched on mental health wellbeing, held simultaneously in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.
Though the mentorship programme may have concluded on October 2nd, with a live webinar where CEO Dr. Fiona Wanjiku Moejes shared about her own career journey, the seven alumni are by no means finished with their initiative to increase access to mentorship and support for the next generation of African women scientists.
The roundtable discussion in phase one has led to the establishment of a policy brief focused on creating a structured mentorship program in the higher learning institutions across the four countries. This COP initiative is anticipated to mark the beginning of mentorship policy reforms at higher levels, including national and supranational stages. By uniting participants from four African countries, it fostered a sense of community and collaboration that transcends borders, creating a lasting impact on these young scientists’ personal and professional journeys.
