1. Role of African women researchers in
nutrition and food security
Several African countries have recognized the important role of
women in the economic future of their country. They also have
recognized the importance of encouraging woman’s education,
training and research in science, technology, and innovation
Promoting the access of girls to science and high level education
automatically results in long-term positive effects on the person,
the family and the society as a whole
Nutrition and food security are key components of health, of
social and economic development, especially in Africa, but most
often, these areas are left behind in training and research
2. Role of African women researchers in
nutrition and food security
Constraints in African countries are dual and concern
1- The scarcity of scientific courses in the area of Agronomy,
Food security and Nutrition in African Universities
2- Women's access to these training
For example, country such as Senegal has no Agricultural
University, and agricultural and food technology research
institutes are not linked to the largest university of the
country i.e. UCAD. However, fortunately the situation is
changing by now
Nutrition and food security, which are broad areas including
several disciplines, are found partly in two Departments :
Animal Biology and Plant Biology of the Faculty of Sciences
of the university UCAD
3. Role of African women researchers in
nutrition and food security
The number of women researchers working as professional in these
Departments is still vey low; During the academic year 2012-13
Departments Professors
W/Total
Lecturers
W/Total
Assistant-professors
W/Total
Total
Animal Biology 1/9 3/7 5/12 28
Plant Biology 1/6 1/5 4/15 26
The major problem of women in science is not only women's access
to higher education but also their academic career
African women researchers can play an essential role by promoting or
initiating changes
4. Role of African women researchers in
nutrition and food security
How to promote changes
Each senior scientific woman can promote change in her specific
field through advocacy and her own image (woman’s success
boost the image of woman and make them more attractive as a model
for young female students) but the main challenge to promote change
is action
Actions in the field of nutrition and food security can be achieved by :
Supporting woman innovative research that meet the
community expectations in nutrition and food security (with
funding expected from internal and external sources)
Increasing human resources “by women training women” on
agriculture, nutrition and food security at the university level
5. Role of African women researchers in nutrition
and food security: Initiative at UCAD
Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar - Sénégal
Faculté des Sciences et Techniques
Département de Biologie Animale
Laboratoire de Nutrition
MASTER /DOCTORAT
in
FOOD AND HUMAN NUTRITION
Initiated and directed by Pr Salimata Wade, a senior woman researcher
Téléphone : +221 77 516 46 08
Email : secretariat.labonutrition@ucad.edu.sn
6. Role of African women researchers in
nutrition and food security
Background of the Training
Lack of expertise particularly in training and research are one of the
main reasons why malnutrition in West Africa is not sufficiently
tackled. In view of the size and seriousness of the problem in Sub-
Saharan Africa, investment in human resources is critical
In 1998, a senior women researcher and her colleagues decided to
implement the training at the Faculty of Sciences in the Department
of Animal Biology, then develop strategies to include more women
7. Role of African women researchers in
nutrition and food security
Objectives of the initiative
Strengthen capacity building in human nutrition (training,
research and innovation) in Senegal as well as in Sub-Saharan
region
Develop facilities to carry out locally laboratory-based research
or clinical and field studies
Maintain high standards endogenous research and training at the
university of Dakar
Generate a regional and valuable expertise in food and human
nutrition science
8. Role of African women researchers in
nutrition and food security
Results of the initiative
This innovation set up at the University of Dakar by a woman
researcher has paid off
From 2000 to 2014, 50 students were Master graduated in
Food and Human Nutrition , of them 31 were women (62%). All
graduates have found employment consistent with their skills
From 2001-2013, 7 women over 11 were PhD graduated in
Food and Human Nutrition and have found employment consistent
with their skills, one of them was hired by the university and is
working in the Nutrition laboratory
A reference laboratory was set up at the faculty, thanks to external
funds
9. Role of African women researchers in
nutrition and food security
FTIR for deuterium measurment
AAS for mineral analysis
HPLC for Vitamin A and E analysis
10. Role of African women researchers in
nutrition and food security
In conclusion, the African woman scientist , who has
acquired a high level of competence can impact on
women's access to crucial areas as nutrition and food
security
This is true for all other disciplines
Thank you for your attention
