About OWSD
About OWSD
OWSD provides research training and networking opportunities for women scientists throughout the developing world at different stages in their careers.
What is OWSD

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OWSD 25th Anniversary

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Fellowships
OWSD has a programme or activity at each stage of your career.
PhD Fellowship
Current PhD Fellows

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Early Career Fellows
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Awards
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News and Events, Publications, Opportunities and Organizations of Interest: find all this and more in our Resources section.
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OWSD has been working hard in Africa since 1997 to improve the number and quality of women scientists. Our first President, Lydia Makubu was from Swaziland. Our fellowships programme has provided full PhD scholarships to over 270 women from sub-Saharan Africa. We have 53 host institutes in 16 African countries..

Africa

Coordinator: Olubukola Babalola

There is so much scientific knowledge and talent to be harnessed in Africa.

In 40 Countries

News & Events

See all the News & Events

Countries

Nigeria

2095 Members

10 PhD Fellows

57 PhD Graduates

8 Awardees

The OWSD Nigeria National Chapter was founded in 2010 and is based at the Department of Physics, University of Uyo. There are sub-chapters based at Oau Ife, Ibadan, Covenant, Ekiti State, Kogi State, University of Nigeria Nsukka, and Benin universities.

Contact person:

DR. (MRS.) ENO E. ITUEN
enoeituen@uniuyo.edu.ng

South Africa

300 Members

1 PhD Graduate

1 Awardee

Contact person:

Ms Elzarie Swanepoel, Liaison Officer for Gender - Science, Technology and Innovation, ASSAf
elzarie@assaf.org.za
T.+27 123496605

Kerstin Jordaan

Mathematical sciences

Silindile Ngcobo

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Moliehi Mothae

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Muneiwa Tshikuvhe

Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology

Ntombekhaya Nqumla

Biological Systems and Organisms

Clarietta Chagwiza

Social and Economic Sciences

Gciniwe Mercy Sithole

Biological Systems and Organisms

Thuthuzelwa Stempa

Agricultural Sciences

Kenya

313 Members

12 PhD Fellows

17 PhD Graduates

1 Early Career Fellow

The OWSD Kenya National Chapter was established in August 2014. Its primary focus is on mentorship and encouragement of girls and women in Science and Technology. It is also involved in partnerships with the private sector, networking and capacity-building of members through regular meetings and activities, including the organization of OWSD regional conferences.

Contact person:

Zipporah Wanjiku
owsdke@gmail.com

Ghana

275 Members

8 PhD Fellows

7 PhD Graduates

3 Early Career Fellows

1 Awardee

Originally established in 1988, the Ghana National Chapter was re-launched in November 2018. It organizes workshops and other activities to develop the careers of female scientists. It also promotes the visibility of OWSD programmes and activities in local high schools to encourage young women to take up studies in the sciences. It is based at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Contact person:

Vivian Etsiapa Boamah
etsiapa@yahoo.com

Cameroon

262 Members

17 PhD Fellows

24 PhD Graduates

2 Early Career Fellows

1 Awardee

The OWSD Cameroon National Chapter was established in March 2019, hosted at the University of Yaounde I. Among its activities are: setting up STEM clubs in secondary schools; collecting data on gender statistics and participation of women in STEM research; teaching and governance; advocating for policies for gender mainstreaming in science and women's equal access to educational training and resources; and providing training and resources for women scientists, for career development and work-life balance.

Contact person:

Nangah Che Randy
r5nanga@yahoo.com

Kusi Micheline Michelle-Alexia Ngum

Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences

Nyobe Emilienne Carine

Agricultural Sciences

Tchoudjin Gertrude Loveline

Wainachi Fortune Ndim

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Mvodo Meyo Elise Stephanie

Agricultural Sciences

Bikie Mindang Danièle Roseline

Engineering sciences

MANEFOUET KENTSA BERTILLE ILALIE

Engineering sciences

Luciane Marlyse Moungang

Biological Systems and Organisms

Zimbabwe

262 Members

13 PhD Fellows

12 PhD Graduates

The OWSD Zimbabwe National Chapter, hosted at the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences, was launched in November 2018. Among its objectives are: to facilitate research collaborations nationally and internationally; to initiate research projects relevant to national development; to familiarize members with patent procedures and other aspects of entrepreneurship; and to generate scholarship funding for girls to study science.

Contact person:

Fortunate Farirai
owsdzimbabwe@gmail.com

Tanzania

220 Members

6 PhD Fellows

9 PhD Graduates

4 Early Career Fellows

The OWSD Tanzania National Chapter was established in February 2019. It is hosted at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) in Dar es Salaam. Among the National Chapter's activities are outreach to young women in secondary schools and universities to encourage their participation in STEM, organizing training and workshops on career advancement for early career women scientists, fostering peer mentorship programmes for women scientists and engineers, and conducting research on STEM-related projects.

Contact person:

Zainab Katima
zaykatima@hotmail.com

Uganda

103 Members

3 PhD Fellows

13 PhD Graduates

2 Early Career Fellows

1 Awardee

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Elizabeth Naluminsa

Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences

Blessing Musiimenta

Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences

Priscilla Muheki

Catherine Namayega

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Alice Gertrude Litta-Mulondo

Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology

Ritah Nakayinga

Biological Systems and Organisms

Naome Turyahabwe

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Esther Nabadda

Rwanda

90 Members

8 PhD Fellows

2 PhD Graduates

1 Early Career Fellow

The OWSD Rwanda National Chapter is hosted by the Rwandan Association of Woman in Science and Engineering. It promotes women’s participation in STEM professions, scientific leadership, and decision making processes, by providing local training and seminars, conducting school outreach, organizing events for members to share their research, and other activities. https://www.facebook.com/STEMWomenRwanda/

Contact person:

Dr. Emelyne Gasana Umunoza
emygasana@gmail.com
T.+250788896323

Kankindi Janviere

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Jeanne d'Arc Chinama Rusizana

Agricultural Sciences

Gemma Maniraruta

Engineering sciences

Umuhire Ange Cynthia

Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences

Jennifer Batamuliza

Computing and Information Technology

Elyse Sandrine Ishimirwe

Interdisciplinary

Pascaline Nyirabuhoro

Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences

Sandrine Guhirwa

Ethiopia

76 Members

8 PhD Fellows

11 PhD Graduates

3 Early Career Fellows

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Zambia

70 Members

3 PhD Fellows

4 PhD Graduates

The Zambia National Chapter of OWSD was established in July 2019, and is hosted at the School of Engineering at Copperbelt University in Kitwe. Among its activities are supporting professional development and providing career guidance to female students, promoting multidisciplinary research collaborations between women scientists and engineers, disseminating information on fellowships, training and other opportunities for women scientists and engineers, and conducting outreach activities to girls at primary and secondary school levels.

Contact person:

Gerry Siampondo
gmcsiampondo@yahoo.com

Senegal

54 Members

3 PhD Fellows

2 PhD Graduates

1 Early Career Fellow

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Malawi

50 Members

1 PhD Fellow

4 PhD Graduates

1 Early Career Fellow

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Mauritius

43 Members

1 PhD Graduate

The OWSD Mauritius National Chapter was launched in February 2018 and is hosted by the Food and Agricultural Research Extension Institute (FAREI). The National Chapter works to enable its members to access research training, career development and networking opportunities that OWSD offers to women scientists throughout the developing world at different stages of their career.

Contact person:

Devika Saddul
womeninsciencemauritius@gmail.com

Maleika Heenaye- Mamode Khan

Computing and Information Technology

Nawaal Benazir Bint RAMAN IBRAHIM

Agricultural Sciences

Devina Lobine

Interdisciplinary

Brinda Oogarah-Pratap

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Bibi Zaynab Toorabally

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Rubina Bunjun

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Teenah Jutton

Social and Economic Sciences

Hudaa Neetoo

Agricultural Sciences

Benin

39 Members

3 PhD Fellows

7 PhD Graduates

2 Early Career Fellows

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Botswana

33 Members

1 PhD Fellow

2 PhD Graduates

Contact person:

Boammaaruri Malemenyane
bmalemenyane@gmail.com

Janes Mokgadi

Chemical Sciences

Bellah Oreeditse Pule

Chemical Sciences

Rebaone Bay Lechuti-Tlhalerwa

Engineering sciences

Maduo Mosothwane

Engineering sciences

Pulane Koosaletse-Mswela

Biological Systems and Organisms

One Stephen

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Kebaneilwe Lebani

Biological Systems and Organisms

Edith Khumoyame Mabona

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Madagascar

30 Members

3 PhD Fellows

2 PhD Graduates

1 Early Career Fellow

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Vololonirina Rasoamalala

Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences

Santatra Ravelomanantsoa Santatra

Biological Systems and Organisms

Rabetokotany Rarivoson Nantenaina Volamahefa

Engineering sciences

Volatsara Baholy Rahetlah

Agricultural Sciences

Solofo Nasandrata Ravonjiarison

Agricultural Sciences

Razzakamanarivo Herintsitohaina

Agricultural Sciences

Hasina Marie Irèna RAKOTONIRIANA

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Seheno Andriantsaralaza

Biological Systems and Organisms

Eswatini (Kingdom of)

28 Members

2 PhD Graduates

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Namibia

21 Members

2 PhD Graduates

The Namibia National Chapter of OWSD was established in June 2019 at the University of Namibia in Windhoek. Among its objectives are promoting girls' participation in STEM, organizing workshops and an annual conference for women in STEM in the country, establishing a mentorship programme to link women scientists both locally and internationally, creating a database of women in STEM fields in the country, and disemminating information about opportunities for girls and women in STEM.

Contact person:

Theopholine Amushendje
tamushendje@unam.na

Burundi

23 Members

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Mozambique

21 Members

5 PhD Fellows

1 PhD Graduate

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

OTHER COUNTRIES

162 Members

Here are all the countries in this region that currently have less than 20 members. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Ntabugi Kikongo

Congo, Dem. Rep

Mariem Ahmed Baba

Engineering sciences

Maria Chimpolo

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Success stories

OWSD's guidance and support allowed me to uncover hidden courage and realize aspects of myself that I never thought I possessed.

Mohamed Elhag Muna

Agricultural Sciences

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Winning this award opened many doors for me. It has led to success in acquiring local funding.

Badal Simone

Chemical Sciences

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“Am very proud to say that I am encouraging other Cameroonian female scientists to apply for the OWSD fellowship programme and some of them have obtained the grant."

Nyamen Mbong Linda Dyorisse

Chemical Sciences

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All this has broadened my knowledge for this domain of science, gave me an open mind and also allowed me to learn many things.

Dzesse Tekouo Christelle Noelle

Chemical Sciences

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" I can boldly declare that OWSD rewarded my brilliance thus giving me recognition and confidence in my professional arena and placed me in national and international scientific communities.”

Mahfuza Mahfuza Begum

Agricultural Sciences

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OWSD fellowship represents a real empowering difference in my life and career

Basaleem Huda

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

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When I got my OWSD fellowship, it was an amazing feeling. Before getting the letter, my academic career was a dream, the letter made it possible.

Eassa Nashwa

Physics

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I really want to do something for my country. Being part of the Sudan national chapter has given me that chance.

Saad Dalia

Chemical Sciences

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OWSD has provided tremendous support in shaping my career as a researcher, science ambassador, role model for women scientists and a "think high" human being.

Mumtaz Tabassum

Biological Systems and Organisms

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The long-awaited dream

Bancole W. Bernice Armelle

Agricultural Sciences

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"I owe ‘what’, ‘who’ and ‘where’ I am in my career and professional practice today to OWSD because without the PHD Fellowship, all my achievements today would have been nothing but bleak"

Baba Marycelin

Biological Systems and Organisms

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The OWSD award helped me not only to become the researcher I am today, but also to become a leader in research.

Banu Salina Parvin

Agricultural Sciences

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