Training Consultant for African Women in Agricultural Research and Development

About African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)

Since its establishment in 2008, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) has continued its career-development program for emerging African women scientists through a leading capacity-strengthening initiative shaping gender-responsive agricultural research and development (AR4D) across the continent. Guided by three interdependent pillars—investing in individuals, strengthening institutions, and influencing an enabling environment—AWARD delivers comprehensive programs that advance women’s leadership, deepen gender responsiveness in AR4D institutions, and catalyze systemic change across the agrifood ecosystem.

A core component of our mission is the delivery of high-quality, world-class training that equips AR4D professionals and institutions with the competencies required to lead transformational change. To maintain the excellence and relevance of our programs, AWARD relies on a robust network of outsourced expert trainers and process facilitators who bring specialized knowledge, practical experience, and multilingual capabilities to our learning and capacity-building initiatives.

As the agrifood sector continues to evolve, with increasing demand for gender-responsive, context-specific, and innovative capacity strengthening, AWARD has expanded its pool of professional trainers.

About the Consultancy Role

We are seeking seasoned, proficient, and dedicated training experts and facilitators proficient in English and/or French to collaborate with us on a short-term, assignment-based basis. These consultants will support the design, delivery, and evaluation of AWARD’s training and capacity-building programs, contributing directly to strengthening Africa’s AR4D leadership and institutional resilience.

Areas Of Expertise Required

• Gender Equity in agrifood systems
• Gender responsive agriculture policies
• Gender and Climate Sciences
• Gender Equity and Social Inclusion
• Innovation and technological development
• Leadership and management development
• Negotiation skills
• Executive leadership coaching
• Mentorship
• Curriculum design and delivery (virtual and in-person programs)

Duties and Responsibilities

Expected Key Training Tasks And Responsibilities

The training consultants will play a critical role in the delivery of high-quality capacity strengthening training programs across Africa. During this period, consultants will be engaged periodically based on programmatic demand and expertise required. As part of AWARD’s distinguished network of international trainers, the consultants will join a dynamic community of AR4D professionals committed to fostering gender-responsive agricultural innovation in Africa. In addition to assignment-based engagements, the experts will benefit from access to AWARD’s knowledge resources, collaborative platforms, and professional networking opportunities, strengthening their connection to a continent-wide ecosystem of practice. The experts will be engaged in training activities including:

• Design and carry out training needs assessments
• Design course programs and objectives based on assessment analyses
• Develop interactive, engaging, and impactful course content and methodology
• Prepare, deliver, and co-facilitate the trainings in line with the schedule and objectives set
• Actively participate in debrief sessions with other trainers
• Plan, prepare and/or facilitate training related meetings
• Design and conduct course evaluations
• Prepare and submit comprehensive training reports

Education, Knowledge and Experience Requirements

Consultant Qualification And Knowledge Requirements

• Advanced university degree in education, adult learning, agricultural sciences, social sciences, natural sciences, and other relevant disciplines.
• Subject matter expertise in one or more of these areas: gender in agriculture, policy, climate science, innovation and technology, research proposal writing, scientific writing and publishing, research methods, women’s leadership, organizational development, mentoring, and coaching.
• A minimum of ten years’ working experience in designing and delivering capacity development programs regionally and/or internationally.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles in capacity development programs and experience in the development and design of curricula and course materials.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Relevant experience and knowledge of the African Agriculture Research for Development landscape.
• Experience working with diverse teams, including different nationalities, gender, cultures, age groups, and across sectors.
• Familiarity and knowledge in the use of ICT tools in course delivery (demonstrated ability to create professional PowerPoints, organize webinars, work with different online tools/applications, experience with Open-Source Learning Systems such as Massive Open Online Course MOOCs, ability to manage tutorial chat rooms, etc.).
• Trainers with certification in leadership, mentoring, gender training (e.g., Meyers Briggs Type Indicator-MBTI, BELBIN, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Circle, 360-degree feedback programs, or others) will have an added advantage.
• Formal certification in inclusive education, special needs education, or disability studies is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating mixed-ability groups respectfully and effectively.
• Proficiency in English and/or French.

Personal Attributes and Competencies

• A positive professional attitude: ability to work independently, work under pressure, and manage tight deadlines with a degree of flexibility.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: communications, working productively in diverse teams, client relations, positive collaboration with colleagues and partners at all levels.
• Proactive, creative problem solver.
• Values sharing of information, constructive learning for continuous improvement.
• Passion for capacity building and supporting social impact development.
• Strong ethical standards, including confidentiality and impartiality.

Terms and Conditions

Qualified and interested training experts are invited to submit expressions of interest and curriculum vitae to: AwardTraining@cifor-icraf.org. Expressions of interest will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submissions are strongly encouraged. Successful candidates will be formally notified and added to CIFOR-ICRAF - AWARD’s pool of approved training experts. Inclusion in the pool does not guarantee immediate engagement but provides eligibility for assignment-based consultancy opportunities aligned with program needs.

Application Process

The application deadline is 18 Jun 2026.

We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.

Key skills/competency

• Training Design
• Capacity Building
• Facilitation
• Gender Equity
• Agricultural Research
• Curriculum Development
• Leadership Development
• Adult Learning
• Mentorship
• Project Management