CAPDEV Consultants LTD was engaged to lead a team of three professionals to facilitate the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) in developing a new strategic plan (2023-27).  The strategy was intended to find a suitable niche for AWARD, among other organizations, to catalyze entrenchment of gender responsive agricultural research in the African continent.  In this regard, the strategy would leverage AWARD's tangible and intangible assets, building on existing experiences and achievements, to define a strategic pathway in which she would make significant contribution either alone or in partnership with others within the agricultural research for development (AR4D) eco-system.  The approach would be participatory to ensure ownership among AWARD staff, key partners, and stakeholders.

To initiate the strategy development process, an extensive context analysis was conducted, essentially covering literature review of AWARD’s internal documentation, and other relevant literature emanating from partner and stakeholder organizations, the broader agricultural research for development ecosystem and the overarching agri-food systems at national, sub-regional and regional levels. The context analysis report highlighted opportunities and challenges facing the agricultural research for development ecosystem and the associated policy issues at the agri-food systems. These findings were discussed with key informants representing AWARD as an organization, partner and stakeholder organizations, as well as development partners and policy makers.  The outcome of these consultations were strategic objectives that defined AWARD’s niche in relation to the other actors within the AR4D ecosystem and the broader agri-food system. Against this background a theory of change was developed and reviewed in a stakeholder workshop.  Based on the refined theory of change, the strategic plan was articulated, complete with a results framework and an implementation plan.

Keywords: African Women in Agricultural Research & Development (AWARD), Gender responsive agricultural research for development, Agri-food systems, Strategic planning, agricultural transformation.