She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship 2026 for African women

Application Deadline: January 31, 2026, East Africa Time (GMT+3)

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2026 cohort of the She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship. This fellowship is designed specifically for women from Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal who are seeking an intensive career development opportunity. The program integrates comprehensive leadership training, mentoring, network expansion, and technical skill enhancement tailored to agrifood systems.

The fellowship welcomes candidates from a wide array of sectors, including government ministries and agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic and research institutions, the private sector, civil society, as well as regional and sub-regional bodies. SHEAF aims to empower African women at various phases in their professional journeys who are actively engaged in addressing gender disparities within agrifood systems policies and initiatives.

Those selected will benefit from personalized training covering leadership, gender issues, and agrifood systems. The program additionally provides mentoring, coaching, and opportunities for peer learning to enhance fellows' abilities in crafting and executing gender-responsive policies and programs in agrifood systems. An important objective of the fellowship is to cultivate a dynamic network of African women professionals from diverse disciplines, united in their commitment to advancing equitable agrifood systems throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

A maximum of 25 fellows will be chosen, with particular consideration given to women affiliated with AGRA-supported organizations and initiatives.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship, applicants must be African women who meet the following criteria:

• Be a citizen of Kenya, Malawi, or Senegal;
• Possess at least a master’s degree in a relevant field related to agrifood systems;
• Have a minimum of five years of professional experience working within agrifood systems or related areas;
• Demonstrate a clear interest in and proven contributions toward addressing gender issues within agrifood systems;
• Currently employed in national or international organizations involved in agrifood systems, including the private sector, civil society, NGOs, farmers’ groups, government ministries or agencies, regional or subregional organizations, or academic institutions;
• Show intermediate proficiency in English (reading, writing, and speaking);
• Commit to full participation throughout the entire 18-month fellowship, which includes both online and face-to-face activities;
• Reside in Africa, specifically in Kenya, Malawi, or Senegal, for the duration of the fellowship;
• Not be engaged as a fellow in any other programs offered by AWARD.

Characteristics of Ideal SHEAF Fellows

The fellowship seeks women who:

• Have demonstrated leadership in developing, designing, and implementing policies or programs in agrifood systems, especially those addressing the intersection of agricultural development, food systems, and gender equality;
• Can clearly articulate ongoing policy or program challenges they are working on and the relevance of their contributions;
• Will personally complete the application without the use of artificial intelligence tools.

Important Dates

For additional details and to submit your application, please Visit the Official Webpage of the She Leads African Food Futures (SHEAF) Fellowship.