Promoting women participation in Knowledge Management for agricultural development in Africa
Dorcas received a Certified Knowledge Manager for Sustainable Development Certificate
Story by Ms Dorcas Kabuya (Zambia)
An adage says, ‘When you educate a girl child, you educate the whole family.’ This statement is very true with the involvement of women in developing programmes, especially in the agricultural sector. Women are the agricultural sector’s major stakeholders, and their involvement cannot be over-emphasised. Women play a significant and crucial role in agricultural development, with the nature and extent of their involvement in agriculture varying greatly from region to region.
It is against this backdrop that the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), working with Sub-Regional Agricultural Research Organisations like the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA), Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) and the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), launched the Knowledge Management for Agricultural Development (KM4AgD) Challenge, ensuring active women participation. This deliberate effort aligns with the Malabo Commitment number four (4), which underscores the participation of women in agriculture, thereby promoting preferential entry for women in gainful and attractive opportunities.
If given full access to skills and opportunities just as men, it is certain that women would undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the fight against malnutrition and hunger, leading to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In this challenge, women from all the Sub-regional Agricultural Organisations participated in pushing the knowledge agenda forward through the development of Knowledge Management Strategies, Policies and identification of 10 major thematic challenges to effectively implement Knowledge Management in the agricultural sector across the African Continent.
Notable among these women are Elizabeth Asiimwe representing AFAAS and Uganda, Bridget Kakuwa (Zambia), Dorcas Kabuya (Zambia), Lorato Bailang (Botswana) and Vidah Mahava (Tanzania) representing the CCRADESA region, Ines Davakan (Benin), Marilyn Yeboah (CSIR-Ghana) and Zainab Adulai (MoFA Ghana) representing the CORAF region, with Phidel Arunga (Kenya), Victoria Mbigidde (NARO-Uganda) and Malala Rakotojaofeno (Madagascar) representing the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development. (YPARD).
These women will serve as “Evangelists” and Knowledge Champions in their respective Ministries, Organisations and Institutes and contribute to the “Knowledgisation” of agriculture in the African continent to accelerate the achievement of the CAADP Malabo targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Author’s Contact:
Dorcas Kabuya (BMC – UNZA),
Certified Knowledge Manager for Sustainable Development
Agricultural Information Officer,
National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS),
Ministry of Agriculture, Zambia
P.O BOX 350180,
Chilanga, Zambia
1 Comments
Africa, Africa, the jewel of the world, the wealth therein yet to be unveiled by her competent human resources, am passionate to see her fly and glorious, utilizing the embedded neglected potentials. I thirst to invest my strength and knowledge to be listed among the enumerable host of her daughters to make her great.