Leading African Women in Food Fellowship (LAWFF) has opened its 2025 nominations to spotlight Africa’s game-changing women in food and agriculture. Over a six-month period, the program will provide training, mentorship, and a supportive community for outstanding female disruptors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, chefs, trendsetters, and storytellers.
The transformative initiative empowers exceptional women leaders in Africa’s food and agriculture sector through its cutting-edge mentorship, and global visibility to scale their impact and transform food systems across the continent.
LAWFF actively promotes gender equality, contributes to poverty reduction, and fosters sustainable economic growth, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Criteria for eligibility
Eligible nominees for the LAWFF program are African women aged 25-45 with at least three years of impactful experience in the agri-food sector, and they will be selected across five categories: Disruptors, Trailblazers, Food/Beverage Narrative Changers, Top Chefs in Africa, and Ecosystem Enablers; highlighting their transformative contributions to reshaping Africa’s food systems.
“We encourage you to nominate a deserving candidate for the 2025 LAWFF program. Their journey could begin with your nomination,” said LAWFF. Nomination deadline is on 26th January 2025, at 11:59 PM WAT (GMT+1).
Nominate a changemaker
In 2023, LAWFF identified and celebrated 25 exceptional women from a highly competitive pool of 640 nominations, representing 12 African countries. These inspiring leaders were selected for their groundbreaking contributions to the food and agriculture sector.
Building on this success, the 2024 fellowship broadened its impact, recognizing 30 outstanding women from 639 nominations spanning 10 African countries. These women, representing various points across the food system’s value chain, exemplify the transformative power of African women driving innovation and change.
These achievements underscore the growing influence and reach of LAWFF as a platform for empowering women changemakers in Africa’s food systems.
“We invite you to nominate a deserving woman leader for the 2025 LAWFF program. Your nomination could mark the beginning of a transformative journey for someone making a meaningful impact on Africa’s food systems,” said LAWFF.
Impact in action
- Comprehensive Support: LAWFF fellows benefited from expert-led training, one-on-one mentorship, and access to invaluable networks and opportunities, empowering them to drive innovation and sustainable growth.
- Recognition of Excellence: Graduation events coincided with the 2023 and 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) in Tanzania and Rwanda, where fellows’ achievements were celebrated.
- Global Advocacy and Visibility: Fellows were nominated for prestigious speaking engagements, such as the Intra-African Trade Fair 2023, Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) 2023 in Egypt, the Gender & Inclusion Summit 2024, and the Sahel Food-Systems Changemakers Conference 2024.
- Increased Visibility: Fellows’ groundbreaking work have featured prominently in national and international publications, reinforcing the global narrative of African women driving transformation in food systems.
“We invite you to join us in celebrating and empowering exceptional women driving transformation in Africa’s food systems through the LAWFF program,” stated LAWFF. To nominate a changemaker, click HERE.
Source: LAWFF
Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He is as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
