Application Deadline: January 31, 2026, East Africa Time (GMT+3).
Applications are now open for the 2026 She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship. 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.
ligibility Criteria
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 subregional 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.
Application Timeline:
- Call for Applications open December 16, 2025
- Call for Applications closes January 31, 2026
- Selected participants notified March, 2026
- Fellowship begins (in-person training in Kenya): April 2026
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship
