This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Accelerate Action, is a call to urgently dismantle the systemic barriers that continue to hinder women, ensuring they have the opportunities, resources, and recognition they deserve. The Mawazo Institute is shining a light on the critical role African women researchers play in shaping the future of the continent.
At the current pace, we are 134 years away—nearly five generations—from achieving full gender parity. That’s over a century of lost potential, with millions of women locked out of opportunities that could transform their lives and communities.
Dr. Marilyn Ronoh remembers the moment she hesitated to apply for her PhD. “I was a new mum, and it felt daunting to pursue my academic career,” she shares. The uncertainty was overwhelming. Like Dr. Ronoh, many early-career researchers in Africa—especially women—hold back, waiting for ideal conditions or full funding before taking the leap. This hesitation doesn’t just slow their careers—it delays progress for the entire continent.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks the lowest in educational attainment. Solving the region’s most complex educational challenges requires research and evidence. At Imaginable Futures, we are committed to addressing the stark underrepresentation of African research—where the continent accounts for just 3% of global research. This imbalance stifles local innovation and limits the reach of homegrown solutions, preventing transformative change.
Central to this effort is partnering with organizations like The Mawazo Institute —Swahili for "Ideas"— an organization that is actively bridging the gaps in research funding, mentorship, and policy engagement for African women scholars.
For many early-career African women researchers, the path to success is filled with obstacles such as funding gaps, lack of networks, and the challenge of balancing personal responsibilities with academic ambition—leading to high dropout rates. In Kenya alone, research attrition rates range from 5% to 50% across institutions, meaning valuable talent and innovation are lost before they can make an impact.
Recognizing what’s at stake and the barriers to success, The Mawazo Institute intentionally selects fellows from underserved backgrounds and provides a powerful support system to propel them forward. Their fellowship program provides training, mentorship, and financial support through the Mawazo Learning Exchange (MLEx) e-learning platform, equipping them with the skills to excel. Meanwhile, the Mawazo Voices Programme amplifies their ideas and voices to inform policy, industry, and public discourse. Recognizing their caregiving responsibilities, Mawazo supports mothers by facilitating travel with their children and nannies, allowing them to fully engage in academia.
Dr. Marilyn Ronoh took a leap of faith and applied for Mawazo’s Fellowship Programme, which provides mentorship, specialized training, and funding. Through Mawazo, she gained more than just research skills. She learned how to budget, write winning grant proposals, and engage with policymakers—skills that no one teaches but are crucial for making an impact. “Mawazo gave me confidence,” she says. “It opened doors I never imagined.” She is currently piloting an AI-powered multilingual tool to educate communities on HIV/AIDS—an innovation with the potential to change lives.
In May 2025, Mawazo will welcome its 5th cohort of African women researchers, further advancing its mission to empower women in academia. In 2023, the fellowship supported women from 16 countries, with 70% utilizing the Fellows Fund to enhance their research through data analysis, data collection, and other essential academic resources.
Mawazo gave me confidence,” she says. “It opened doors I never imagined.
Imaginable Futures invested in Mawazo because we recognize that empowering women in research goes beyond funding—it’s about unlocking solutions that drive national progress and sustainable development. True impact requires more than financial support; it demands policy integration, mentorship, and visibility to ensure women move from the margins to the center of changemaking.
This commitment to holistic support is already driving impact, with Mawazo Fellows leading change. In 2024, Dr. Elizabeth Mutua addressed Kenya’s parliament, advocating for gender equality in the Robotics Bill. Prossy Namuwulya presented her proposal for a multisectoral approach to measles prevention to policymakers in Uganda. Dr. Miriam Elisha Loivotoki from Tanzania is amplifying awareness of the learning experiences of children with autism—she was named a 2024/2025 Obama Foundation Africa Leader.
Stated Dr. Fiona Wanjiku Moejes, CEO. of The Mawazo Institute, "We are not just filling a gap - we are defining what a truly effective research and innovation ecosystem should look like to address Africa’s needs - women researchers are at the heart of this vision, driving the knowledge and relevant solutions that will shape the continent’s future.”
Learn more on how to partner with The Mawazo Institute in giving women researchers across Africa the opportunity to further their work and implement their big ideas in their fields.