In a powerful affirmation of women’s intellectual leadership across the continent, the Mawazo Institute hosted its 2025 Fellows event this past week in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Stepping into Your Spotlight.”
The event brought together 60 early-career African women researchers, an increase from 40 fellows in 2023-who are pursuing PhDs across 28 countries and working to solve critical local and global development challenges.
Founded and led by African women, the Mawazo Institute is a Nairobi-based organization dedicated to supporting emerging women researchers. Its fourth cohort represents a broad spectrum of disciplines essential to Africa’s progress, including Agriculture and Food Security, Climate Change and the Environment, Gender, Rights and Governance, Health Sciences, and Information Technology.
The youngest fellow in this year’s group is 26, while the oldest is 54, highlighting the program’s commitment to supporting scholars across life stages. The diversity in age, background, and research focus underscores one clear message: there is no single path to leadership, and the potential of African women is both vast and ageless.
Despite the achievements on display, a major challenge continues to hamper progress-funding. Interviews with several fellows revealed the heavy financial burden of academic research, often compounded by personal responsibilities and cultural expectations. Many fellows are not only scholars but also caretakers, mothers, and breadwinners. The lack of sustainable funding mechanisms remains a critical barrier to advancing their work and fulfilling their academic potential.
Fiona Wanjiku, CEO of the Mawazo Institute, emphasized the broader vision that drives the organization. “Our aim is to build a new reality where women don’t have to ask permission to lead, and researchers don’t have to leave the continent to be recognized,” she said. “African knowledge is not just included-it is central.”
The week-long event served as both a celebration and a call to action-a moment to spotlight the women who are breaking through traditional roles and leading the charge toward a more inclusive, innovative future for African research.
As the Mawazo Fellows step confidently into their spotlight, they are not only redefining who belongs in the lab, the lecture hall, or the policy arena-they are reshaping Africa’s narrative from within.
