The Mawazo Ideas Digest Issue 3: An International Women's Day Celebration of African Women in Science

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Welcome back to the Mawazo Ideas Digest where we unpack the big ideas related to science and research, with a focus on Africa. In our third issue, Mawazo marks International Women’s Day with a dive into some of the issues affecting women in science. Celebrated annually on March 8th, this year’s International Women’s Day is being held under the theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future,” The theme was chosen to align with the United Nations new campaign, “Generational Equality,” a visionary campaign which seeks to make tangible headway on women’s equality in all aspects of human life; from equal pay to an end to sexual harassment.

The sciences, and academia in general, remain one of the areas where much still remains to be done to close the gender gap.  But more than just a feel-good issue, the under-representation of women in the sciences is also a handicap to our centers of innovation and research, where women can bring in new talents, perspectives, and energy. As UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay noted in an article published for International Day of Women in Science, “If we are to be able to address the enormous challenges of the 21st Century – from climate change to technological disruption - we will need to rely on science and the mobilization of all our resources. It is for this reason that the world must not be deprived of the potential, the intelligence, or the creativity of the thousands of women who are victims of deep-seated inequality and prejudice.”

In 2018, a UNESCO report found that, on average, only 30% of researchers in sub-Saharan Africa are women. In Kenya, that number drops to 25%. Furthermore, it’s been shown that women who do go on to become researchers are typically paid less and do not advance as far as men in their careers.  

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In an op-ed published by Mawazo Institute’s CEO Dr. Rose M. Mutiso in Kenya’s Business Daily last month, she outlines the benefits that having more women in STEM would provide to development on the continent. Development agendas that do not take into account the experience and expertise of women who make up half the population, she argues, cannot be considered holistic or even effective. Dr. Mutiso called for both the public and private sector to step up their efforts in supporting, and promoting women in STEM: 

““To transform how the academic sector (and the whole of society) views women, and their role within it, we have to consistently push an agenda that says women and their contributions are valuable – we need to keep the volume turned up.””

Elsewhere, Dr. Esther Ngumbi, writing for the US’s National Public Radio (NPR),  remarks, “I didn’t think there were many African Women Scientists. Then I Checked Twitter.” In her op-ed, she asserts that while there are still significantly fewer African women researchers than their male counterparts, there are still more than most people perceive.

“I discovered Mbu Waindim, an aerospace engineer from Cameroon who's passionate about politics and gender issues; Farida Bedwei, a software engineer from Ghana who did not let cerebral palsy affect her work; and Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi, Ghana's first amphibian biologGhana's first amphibian bio,” Dr. Ngumbi writes.

While still facing many barriers to success, African women scientists are making remarkable strides, a triumph that is worth celebrating and that requires us to build spaces where the contributions of African women can be recognised, says Dr. Ngumbi. In this spirit of celebrating African women scientists, the Mawazo Institute is proud to be partnering with the Fondation LOréal to host the East African premiere of Women & Science in Africa: A S.

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The documentary film explores how three African women—from the Congo, Madagascar, and South Africa—are creating lasting change, using science as a tool for development. Screening at Nairobi’s Alliance Française, the documentary will be followed by a panel discussion with leading Kenyan scientists: Dr. Evelyn Gitau (Director of Research Capacity Strengthening at Africa Population and Health Research Centre), Gladys Mosomtai, (Researcher at icipe and Next Einstein Forum Ambassador for Kenya), Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development); and Dr. Jemimah Njuki, Senior Program Officer at Canada's International Development Research Centre-IDRC. The film and the discussion, provide a rare local opportunity to center the achievements and experiences of African women in science, while helping to demystify the ‘what’ and ‘who’ of science; necessary components if we are to encourage the uptake of science subjects and careers amongst girls and women.

As we think more broadly about what is needed to tackle gender inequality in the sciences—beyond increased visibility—it becomes clear that the actions of several players, across several sectors, are needed. From academic institutions assessing whether their programming is entirely accessible and supportive to women, to the dismantling of early childhood social gender stereotyping about career choices and interests, to government investment in gender-responsive teacher training. But beyond that, lies the need to get more African women in the sciences assuming seats at the table, where they can outline their ideas for change and be empowered to set them into motion.

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In celebration of International Women’s Day, we have curated a list of some of Mawazo’s best features on Kenyan women in science. Happy reading—and listening—and to all our female readers, we celebrate you. Happy International Women’s Day!

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