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International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on 8 March with a global campaign theme that encourages action all year long. This year’s theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” recognizes the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all. The theme is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes.
BioInnovate Africa contributes to the global need to reduce carbon footprints of human activities to address climate emergency, by supporting scientific research and innovations that adopt eco-friendly sustainable production and consumption policies and practices. Our Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) plays a vital role in enhancing this contribution. They serve and advise on strategic issues for enhancing BioInnovate Africa’s effectiveness and contribution to the SDGs.
On this year’s IWD, we feature Dr Peggy Oti-Boateng and Prof Ruth Oniang’o, who are the two women members of the BioInnovate Africa PAC. These women are leaders in their organisations and profession and are involved in sustainability initiatives in Africa, and around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action.
Dr Peggy Oti-Boateng is the Director of the Division of Science Policy and Capacity Building in the Natural Sciences Sector at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris, France. Read Dr Oti-Boateng’s bio here.
Dr Oti-Boateng is passionate about youth and science in Africa. She believes that Africa’s youth can embrace science and use it to leapfrog Africa’s industrialisation and socio-economic development. She advises on strategies that BioInnovate Africa can make to enhance contribution of youth in Africa’s growth and development.
In a podcast we share here, Dr Oti-Boateng talks about science, climate change and the role of the youth.
Hon. Ruth Oniang’o is a Professor of Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Founder of Rural Outreach Africa (ROA), an organisation that is addressing rural poverty, food, and nutrition insecurity. She is also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), and the 2017 Africa Food Prize Winner. Read Prof Oniang’o’s bio here.
Prof Oniang’o is passionate about good governance, science and research, and believes that Africa has wonderful things to offer to the world, like innovative healthy food and feed, natural medicine, cultural diversity, and so much more. With her experience in policy, politics, and science, she argues for Africa’s transformation through better governance and more investment in research, and regional collaboration in science and innovation.
In a podcast we share here, Prof Oniang’o talks about BioInnovate Africa, and its contribution to sustainable bioeconomy development in Africa.
Click here to learn more about BioInnovate Africa, and here to learn more about icipe.
