Jeanne is an assistant lecturer at the College of Agriculture, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine (UR-CAVM). She has previously worked as the programme coordinator of the crop sciences department, at the University of Rwanda. As an educationist, Jeanne contributed to the enhancement of the education sector in Rwanda by being part of reviewers and developers of the Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) curriculum program in the domain of Crop production, level 3, 4, 6, and 7 Rwanda TVET Qualification Framework (RTQF).  She holds a master’s degree in Horticulture, plant production from Writtle College, University of Essex, United Kingdom, a bachelor’s degree in Crop Production and Horticulture from the former National University of Rwanda, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D in Plant Biotechnology at Egerton University, Kenya. She is a member of the Rwandan Association of Women in Science and Engineering (RAWISE) and the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD).

Clarisse is an assistant lecturer of human resources management, labor law, social security and citizenship’s education of the higher institute of business at the National University of Burundi. She is also an independent consultant in human resources management, project management and public and international law. She has previously work as a legal advisor at the Office of the Ombudsman of Burundi. She is passionate about youth and entrepreneurship and is a member of the support unit for young entrepreneurs at the National University of Burundi and is part of the team of coaches and mentors for young entrepreneurs in the association for progressive African youth. She is also a member of the roster on African Union standby force. Clarisse holds a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Management Private Institute in Senegal, a Master of Science degree in International Relations from SAHEL University in Dakar, Senegal, and a bachelor’s degree in law from Bujumbura Light University. She is currently a Ph.D candidate at the National University of Burundi.

Alice is a research scientist working with the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI) under the National Agricultural Research Organisation in Uganda. Her goal is to explore the locally available diversity of plants for alternatives to antimicrobials used for both humans and livestock. Her focus areas are on microbiology, molecular biology and biotechnology which she has contributed to standards formulation and development in Uganda and provided solutions to pests and diseases in important food crops, through molecular breeding. She holds a Ph.D in Life and Environmental Sciences (Biomolecular Sciences) from Polytechnic University of Marche in Ancona, Italy and a Master of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the Free University of Brussels in Belgium.

Desta is a lecturer and researcher at Hawassa University, Wondo Genet College of Forestry, and Anjibara University in Ethiopia. Her focus areas are in agroforestry systems and technology, silviculture of natural forest and woodland, plantation establishment & technology, and forest mensuration. Her current research interest is on renewable energy production, specifically bioethanol gel fuel from waste and ecosystem services. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Farm Forestry and a Master of Science degree in Agroforestry, both from Hawassa University, and is pursuing her Ph.D in Climate Change and Bioenergy Development at the institution.

Elsa is an industrial biotechnology researcher at the Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute. She works on developing and executing industrial biotechnology-related research projects, data collection, and analysis, writing scientific articles to the local and scientific communities, and giving professional consultancy services to stakeholders. Her research focus is on the industrial application of microorganisms, microbial biotechnology, enzyme technology, bacterial biofilms, and exploring novel bioactive molecules. Currently, she is actively participating as a research team leader in two key projects: isolation, screening, and characterization of extremophile lipase producing microorganisms from Lake Bogoria; and developing smart biotechnology processes for the transformation of molasses and bagasse to bioethanol in Ethiopian sugar factories. She holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Microbiology from Addis Ababa University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor from Mekelle University, Ethiopia.

Agnes is a senior zoologist in the ministry of agriculture, seconded to Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council as the regional coordinator of the western region of Kenya. She oversees planning and coordinating of tsetse and trypanosomiasis control activities, working closely with other stakeholders in fostering adoption of new trypanosomiasis control strategies by communities in tsetse endemic areas. She has worked as a field officer for International Child Support Fund and Innovations for Poverty Action, Kenya where she received experience in data collection from individuals and groups as a tool for decision making. She holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Parasitology from Kenyatta University, Kenya and a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and Botany from Makerere University, Uganda.