Jobs

Contact

Subscribe

Cowpea Breeding Program

Why Cowpea Breeding Program

The IITA Cowpea Breeding Program develops improved cowpea varieties that enhance food security, nutrition, and livelihoods across sub-Saharan Africa. Cowpea is a vital grain legume widely grown and consumed in West and Central Africa, providing affordable protein for millions of people and income for smallholder farmers. However, cowpea production faces major constraints including pests, parasitic weeds such as Striga, drought stress, and low soil fertility.

The program combines advanced breeding methods, genomic tools, and participatory testing with farmers to develop high-yielding, climate-resilient, and market-preferred varieties. Working closely with national agricultural research systems, seed companies, and development partners, the program ensures rapid delivery and adoption of improved varieties. Over the past decades, IITA and its partners have released numerous improved cowpea varieties that have significantly increased productivity and strengthened the cowpea value chain across the region.

Objectives

  • Develop breakthrough cowpea varieties that are high-yielding, climate-resilient and adapted to diverse African agroecologies.
  • Utilize cutting edge tools including genomics, genome editing, and genetic transformation to improve resistance to major pests and diseases, including aphids, pod borers, bacterial blight resistance and parasitic weeds such as Striga.
  • Enhance nutritional quality and grain market traits to meet consumer and market demands.
  • Accelerate genetic gains through modern breeding technologies, including genomic selection and marker-assisted breeding.
  • Strengthen seed systems and partnerships to ensure rapid dissemination and adoption of improved cowpea varieties.

Focus Areas

Enhancing the performance of agricultural value chains through market systems development, private sector partnerships, and
scalable agribusiness solutions that improve livelihoods and food security.

Breakthrough Product Development Using Modern Breeding Technologies

The program is developing next-generation cowpea varieties through the Cowpea Breeding Breakthrough Project, supported by the Gates Foundation.

This initiative integrates advanced breeding tools such as marker validation and deployment in marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection, gene editing, and genetic transformation to accelerate genetic gains and deliver high-impact varieties with improved yield, resilience, and pest resistance.

Climate Resilience through Genebank Allele Mining

 IITA researchers are leveraging global cowpea germplasm collections to identify valuable alleles for adaptation to climate stress.

established and approved SOPs. We measure traits such as yield, agronomic performance, pest and disease resistance and quality in both the germplasm and hybrids to select superior parents and new varieties. Image based phenotyping is under development for all traits.

Mutation Breeding for Insect Resistance

The program is exploring mutation breeding to create novel genetic variation for resistance to key insect pests such as the Maruca pod borer

one of the most destructive pests of cowpea. Using gamma irradiation, breeding lines are treated to induce beneficial mutations, which are then screened for improved resistance and agronomic performance. This work is conducted in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Integrated Pest and Disease Resistance Breeding

Breeding efforts prioritize resistance to major cowpea constraints including aphids, flower thrips, bacterial blight, and parasitic weeds such as Striga.

Molecular markers and advanced phenotyping are used to accelerate the identification and deployment of resistance genes.

Market-Driven and Nutrition-Sensitive Breeding

The program focuses on developing varieties that meet the preferences of farmers, consumers, and markets.

Traits such as grain size, seed coat color, cooking quality, and nutritional value are integrated into breeding pipelines to ensure improved varieties are widely adopted

Achievements

Over the past decade, IITA and its national partners have made remarkable progress in developing, releasing, and promoting improved cowpea varieties that respond to the needs of farmers, processors, and consumers across West and Central Africa.

More than 20 IITA improved cowpea varieties have been released in collaboration with National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, and Cameroon. Below are some of the improved cowpea varieties developed and released in the past 10 years:
Variety Country Key trait Release
IT17K-1279-3-1 (SAMPEA 22) Nigeria High yield 2.8 t/ha, Early maturing (64 to 72) days, Resistant to Striga, Resistant to Bacterial blight 2026
IT15K-2445 (SAMPEA 23) Nigeria High yield 2.5 t/ha, Early maturing (63 to 74) days, Tolerant to Striga, Resistant to Bacterial blight, small to medium sized seeds good for flour making 2026
IT17K-2357-1 (SAMPEA 24) Nigeria High yield 2.9 t/ha, Dual purpose, medium maturing (76 to 86) days, Tolerant to Striga, Resistant to Bacterial blight 2026
IT16K-2556-2 (SAMPEA 25) Nigeria High yield 2.7 t/ha, Dual purpose, medium maturing (76 to 86) days, Resistant to Striga, Resistant to Bacterial blight 2026
IT13K-1308-5 (SAMPEA 21) Nigeria Early, medium white seed, Striga resistant, high yield 2.5 t/ha, pods above the canopy 2022
IT14K-1424-12 (SARI-tuya) Ghana Early, large, white seeds, high yielding (2.2 t/ha), pods above the canopy, resistant to Striga 2022
IT10K-817-3 (Tuzievallenga) Ghana Early, brown seeds, high yield, resistant to Striga 2022
IT08K-150-12 (SAMPEA 19) Nigeria Early, drought tolerant, white seed, striga & Alectra tolerant Yield potential 2.7 t/ha 2018
IT07K 297-13 (SAMPEA 18) Nigeria Early, drought tolerant, white seed,Bacterial blight resistant, Yield potential 2.5 t/ha 2018
IT99K-573-1-1 Ghana Early, white seed, striga resistant, Fusarium wilt resistant, Yield potential 2.6 t/ha 2017
IT99K-573-2-1 Ghana Early, white seed, Striga resistant, drought tolerant Yield potential 2.5 t/ha 2017
IT07K-211-1-8 (AGRAC-216) South Sudan High stable grain yield (2.0t/ha), insect field resistant 2016
IT90K-277-2 (AGRAC- 116) South Sudan High stable grain yield (2.4t/ha), white, large seeded 2016
IT07K-318-33 (SAMPEA 17) Nigeria Early maturity, brown seed, tolerant to striga and drought, resistant to Alectra. (2,557kg/ha) 2015
IT07K-292-10 (SAMPEA 16) Nigeria Early maturity, white seed, resistance to Alectra, tolerance to striga and drought. (2,595kg/ha) 2015
IT99K-1122 Tanzania Early, vigorous, high biomass 2015
IT82E-18 Swaziland Early maturing, drought tolerant 2015
IT99K-390-2 Swaziland  Yield potential of up to 1,370 kg/ha, matures in about 92 days, Tolerant to drought, leaf spot, and bacterial diseases, produces reddish-brown seeds, has a high carbohydrate content 2015

Improved cowpea varieties developed by IITA and partners have been widely adopted in target production zones of West Africa. Field studies and program monitoring show substantial uptake. Plot-level studies report adoption rates of ~38% in some sampled areas, while DNA-verified surveys in Nigeria report adoption around ~24% in sampled states, demonstrating tangible reach and impact across farming communities.

Released varieties combine early maturity (65–75 days), high yield potential (1.5–2.5 t/ha), and resistance to major stresses including Striga gesnerioides, aphids, flower thrips, bacterial blight, and drought. The present cowpea breeding fucus at IITA is to increase the grain yield potential of incoming varieties up to 25% above current commercialized varieties. Hundreds of potential lines are in advanced testing stages.

  • Deployment of marker-assisted and genomic selection tools to accelerate genetic gain and improve trait integration.
  • Development of AI-driven phenotyping and robotics for more accurate, high-throughput data collection.
  • Establishment of market-segmented breeding pipelines aligned with defined Target Product Profiles (TPPs) to ensure products meet user demand.
  • Deploying mutation breeding to generate novel genetic variations to tackle difficult constraints, especially insects that lack natural resistant sources
  • Capacity Strengthening: Several NARS scientists and technicians have been trained in modern cowpea breeding tools, especially the use of molecular markers for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC).

These achievements contribute directly to improved food security, incomes, and climate resilience for millions of smallholder farmers.

Amiga Robot deployed in cowpea phenotyping at IITA research farm Minjibir, Kano State Nigeria

IMPACT SPOTLIGHT

SAMPEA 21

Transforming Cowpea Production for Striga-Prone Areas

In the dry savannas of northern Nigeria, Striga gesnerioides, a parasitic weed has long devastated cowpea fields, reducing yields by up to 80%. Farmers had struggled to get any good yield and economic gains from cowpea cultivated in infested soils.

Learn More

Related Resources

Related News

See all news

Scroll to Top
Abolore Bello

Bello Abdulrazaq Abolore is a Senior Research Supervisor at the Cassava Breeding Unit of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. Specialising in crop varietal development using inclusive, informed gender and social participatory breeding approach. Abolore holds a Master’s degree in Crop Science and a B.Tech (Hons) in Agronomy. Abolore is a Fellow of Gender Responsive Researchers Equipped with Agricultural Transformation (GREAT) and has attended the Plant Breeding 2 Fight Hunger (PB2FH) Training Program at Michigan State University, USA and Quantitative Methods in Plant Breeding at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), United Kingdom to enhance his breeding skills. He is currently completing the Post Graduate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business in Collaboration with Great Learning. Abolore current roles include monitoring and evaluation of promising cassava genotypes in pre-released and On-farm trials to present for release by the Nigeria Crop Variety Release Committee. He also engages in multi-disciplinary research on social and transformative gender studies to improve the decision-making process by value chain actors and stakeholders. Abolore has in-depth knowledge to conduct consumer testing, participatory processing and varietal selection to elicit trait preferences preferred by crop users to inform breeders.

He works with IITA breeders, and gender/social scientists on the implementation of CGIAR Accelerated Breeding Initiatives and Genetic Programs, RTB Breeding Projects, Gender Initiatives Program and 1000farms Project.

Recent publications

de Sousa, K., van Etten, J., Manners, R. Bello, A., Teeken, B., Olaosebikan, O., et al. 2024. The tricot approach: an agile framework for decentralized on-farm testing supported by citizen science. A retrospective. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 44, 8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-023-00937-1

Bello, A. A., Agbona, A., Olaosebikan, O., Edughaen, G., Dufour, D., Bouniol, A., Iluebbey, P., Ndjouenkeu, R.*, Rabbi, I. Y., Teeken, B. 2023. Genetic and environmental effects on processing productivity and food product yield: drudgery of women’s work in: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, pages 1 – 32, ISSN 0022-5142, 5

Olaosebikan, O.; Bello, A.; Utoblo, O.; Okoye, B.; Olutegbe, N.; Garner, E.; Teeken, B.; Bryan, E.; Forsythe, L.; Cole, S.; Madu, T. 2023.  Stressors and Resilience within the Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria: Preferred Cassava Variety Traits and Response Strategies of Men and Women to Inform Breeding. Sustainability 15, 7837. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107837

Olaosebikan, O., Bello, A. A., de Sousa, K., Ndjouenkeu, R., Adesokan, M., Alamu, E. O., Agbona, A., van Etten, J., Kegah, F. N.*, Dufour, D., Bouniol, A., Teeken, B. 2023. Consumer acceptability of cassava gari-eba food products across cultural and environmental settings using the triadic comparison of technologies approach (tricot) in: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture,

Teeken, B., Olaosebikan, O., Bello, A. A., Madu, T.*, Cole, S. M. 2023. Qualitative assessment on the positionality and preferences of dyads in relation to cassava-related activities: working with tricot trial citizen scientists https://hdl.handle.net/10568/138326 Type: Manual

Bouniol, A., Ceballos, H., Bello, A. A., Teeken, B., Olaosebikan, O., Owoade, D., Agbona, A., Fotso Kuate, A., Madu, T.*, Okoye, B.*, Ofoeze, M.*, Nwafor, S.*, Onyemauwa, N.*, Adinsi, L.*, Forsythe, L., Dufour, D. 2023. Varietal impact on women’s labour, workload and related drudgery in processing root, tuber and banana crops: focus on cassava in sub-Saharan Africa in: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, pages 1 – 25, ISSN 0022-5142,

Cavicchioli, M., Zimbiti, T., Teeken, B., Nwanze, D.O., Liani, M., Parkes, E. & Bello, A. 2023. IITA-Gender Responsive Breeding Training Report. Genetic Resources Center, IITA-HQ, Ibadan, 21-23 September, 2022. Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA, (34 p.).https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131368

Agbona, A. Peteti P., Teeken B., Olaosebikan O., Bello, A. A., Parkes, E., Rabbi, I. Y., Mueller, L., Egesi, C., Kulakow, P. 2022. Data Management in Multi-disciplinary African RTB Crop Breeding Programs. In: Williamson, H.F., Leonelli, S. (eds) Towards Responsible Plant Data Linkage: Data Challenges for Agricultural Research and Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13276-6_5

Teeken, B., Garner, E., Agbona, A., Balogun, I., Olaosebikan, O., Bello, A., Madu, T., Okoye, B., Egesi, C., Kulakow, P. and Tufan, H.A. 2021. Beyond “Women’s Traits”: Exploring How Gender, Social Difference, and Household Characteristics Influence Trait Preferences. Frontiers Sustainable Food Systems 5:740926. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.740926

Teeken, B., Agbona, A., Bello, A., Olaosebikan, O., Alamu, E., Adesokan, M., Awoyale, W., Madu, T., Okoye, B., Chijioke, U., Owoade, D., Okoro, M., Bouniol, A., Dufour, D., Hershey, C., Rabbi, I., Maziya‐Dixon, B., Egesi, C., Tufan, H. and Kulakow, P. (020. Understanding cassava varietal preferences through pairwise ranking of gari‐eba and fufu prepared by local farmer–processors. Int J Food Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.14862

Bela Teeken, Olamide Olaosebikan, Ireti Balogun, Benjamin Okoye, Tessy Madu, Steven Cole, Abolore Bello, Elizabeth Parkes. (2020). Piloting the G+ customer and product profile tools for gender-responsive cassava breeding in Nigeria. Nigeria: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/13000

Fortunatha Petro Mollel

Ms. Fortunatha Petro Mollel is a seasoned Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) professional who joined International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in May 2026 as a Gender Research Associate, based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  She is working under the Muhogo Bora (Better Cassava for All) project mainly focused on supporting the design and implementation of gender transformative interventions towards fostering an enabling social, economic, institutional environment that supports the engagement of women and youth to successfully thrive as Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs in Tanzania. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Development Management from University of Dar es Salaam; Bachelor of Arts Degree in Gender and Development, and a Diploma in Gender and Development both from Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy, Tanzania. She is also a trained associate in project management (CAPM).

Ms. Mollel is committed to advancing inclusive, evidence-based, and community-driven approaches that promote equity, dignity, and sustainable change. She has nine years of progressive experience in designing, implementing, and strengthening gender-transformative and inclusive development programmes across Tanzania. Her technical expertise includes women’s and youth economic empowerment, Results-Based Financing (RBF), safeguarding, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, behaviour change campaign, and the operationalization of the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle across agriculture, education, livelihoods, renewable energy, climate resilience, and health sectors. She is also experienced with integrating project management skills into income-generating activities, inclusive entrepreneurship development, and facilitating access to startup kits and economic opportunities for women and youth.

Prior to joining IITA, Ms. Mollel worked with leading international development organizations such as CARE International, SNV Tanzania, TechnoServe, and Heifer International, where she  led and supported the development of GESI strategies, Gender Action Plans, gender-sensitive value chain analyses, and social norms transformation initiatives aimed at promoting equitable participation and sustainable development outcomes for marginalized populations, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, young mothers, and survivors of gender-based violence.

Helio Gurué

Hélio Gurué is a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Officer at the International Institute of Agriculture (IITA), working on the Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) based in Nampula, Mozambique. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Childhood Development and Education from the Psychology Department of the Faculty of Education at Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique. Mr. Gurué has four years of cumulative experience working in the development sector the context of emergencies. His scope of work mainly focused on Humanitarian Aid to Internally Displaced People in Cabo Delgado, where he worked as a Gender and Child Protection Officer in Emergencies (SOS Children’s Village Mozambique); Child Protection Assistant with Family Health International (FHI) 360; Child Protection Coordinator with Save the Children International; and Protection Assistant against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse with UN-Migration. Prior to joining IITA, he worked as a Gender Officer with Plan International based in Nampula, Mozambique. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Gender and Development at Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique.

Adeola Alabi

Adeola Alabi, a Nigerian, is a Gender Research Associate with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). He is based in Ibadan, Nigeria. His research efforts is focused at addressing the most important social bottlenecks constraining the development of VPC seed systems in target countries on Program for Seed System Innovations for Vegetatively-propagated crops in Africa (PROSSIVA).

He has a Master of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 2017. Upon completion of his masters program, he volunteered as a Junior Research Assistant with the Department of Social Policy and Governance with the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ibadan. Before joining IITA, Adeola has functioned as a Learning and Development Manager with a private consultancy firm, where he had the privilege of working on different World Bank Assisted social investment projects including Business Advisory Service Provision for Nigeria for Women Project; Conduct of Disability Assessment for National Social Safety Nets Projects; Partial Data Update, Validation and Reallocation of Geo-Coordinates for Poor and Vulnerable Households in the Social Registry; and Data Structuring, Field Validation and Enumeration on Output-Based Disbursement among others. At another time, he has functioned as Social Safeguard Expert on a World Bank Assisted Flood Management Project titled “Second Pool of Long-Term Investments for Flood Control in Ibadan City of Oyo State”.

Publication (Journal Article)

ADEGOKE, O.O., ALABI, A.I., and JEGEDE, A.S. (2018). Cultural Conception of “Eniyan L’aso Mi” and the changing roles of family in Social Production of Care for the Elderly in Yoruba Setting. The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology (NASA). Vol. 16, No. 2,2018.

Faustina Obeng Adomaa

Faustina Obeng Adomaa is a Consultant for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ghana. She is the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Lead for the Accelerating Impacts of CGAIR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA), Ghana cluster. She obtained her PhD in Social Science (inclusive value chains) from Wageningen University & Research. She also holds an MPhil and BA in Geography and Resource Development, from the University of Ghana with specialization in the Geography of Gender. Her research is at the intersection of broad processes of agriculture value chain development and their ramifications on agrarian gender, land, and labour relations. She has expertise in unpacking rules in use, including norms and conventions, across multiple domains and designing agriculture interventions to transform these rules to foster inclusivity. Her latest research integrates critical agrarian studies perspectives into value chain research. In her current work, she integrates gender-transformative perspectives into an instrument mix for inclusive climate smart agriculture.

Recent publications

Torvikey, G. D., Dalaa, M. A., Obeng Adomaa, F., Saeed A., Amoah, A.I., Kofituo, R. K., Tetteh, A. & Asare, R. (2024). Making climate smart cocoa inclusive: Towards a framework for gender transformation. Southern African Review of Sociology. Forthcoming.

Nguyen-Perperidis E., Obeng Adomaa F., Nguyen P.M & Kyeretwie B.N.S. (2023). Advancing a Gender-Responsive Delivery Model for Mitigating Climate Impacts in Ghana’s Cocoa Landscape. FARA Research Report Vol 7(19):196-213. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370341773_Advancing_a_Gender-Responsive_Delivery_Model_for_Mitigating_Climate_Impacts_in_Ghana’s_Cocoa_Landscape

Obeng Adomaa, F. (2022). Improving Rural Women’s Access to Productive Resources: Are the Low Hanging Fruits Too Low to Make a Difference? Feminist Africa 3 (2) 99-108 https://feministafrica.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/06.Feminist-AfricaNovember-2022_Volume-3-Issue-2_Revisiting-Gender-in-Rural-Livelihoods-and-Development-Intervention_Standpoint.pdf

Obeng Adomaa, F., Vellema, S. & Slingerland, M. (2022). Justice and Inclusiveness: The Reconfiguration of Global–Local Relationships in Sustainability Initiatives in Ghana’s Cocoa Sector. Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Ethics 35, 22 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-022-09895-2 

Chiputwa B, Obeng Adomaa F, Ihli JH, Rusinamhodzi L. (2021). Gender equality as a pathway to sustainable development of cocoa and coffee value chains in East and West Africa. In: Minang PA, Duguma LA, van Noordwijk M, eds. 2021. Tree commodities and resilient green economies in Africa. Nairobi, Kenya: World Agroforestry (ICRAF). https://worldagroforestry.org/publication-chapter/gender-equality-pathway-sustainable-development-cocoa-and-coffee-value-chains?pid=115886

Obeng Adomaa. F, & Apatinga G. A. (2019). Women’s economic empowerment in the midst of precarious Export processing zone employment: Evidence from Ghana. Labour, Capital and Society. 49:1 (2019) http://www.lcs-tcs.com/PDFs/49_1/49_1%20-%20Adomaa%20&%20Apatiga.pdf

Obeng Adomaa, F. Wrigley-Asante, C. & Teye J. K (2015). Working conditions in Ghana’s Export Processing Zone and implications on women’s empowerment. Work Organisation, Labour and Globalisation. 9 (2) 64-78 https://ucl.scienceopen.com/document_file/6520b116-3e6e-4ba7-b517-99a33fc2bb57/ScienceOpen/workorgalaboglob.9.2.0064.pdf

Olajumoke Adeyeye

Olajumoke Adeyeye, a Nigerian, is a Postdoctoral Fellow (Gender Research) with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). She is based in Ibadan, Nigeria. Her research focus is on micro-level analysis of multidimensional empowerment, gender, and youth empowerment, especially in agriculture and rural livelihoods.

She has a doctoral degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2018. Before taking up the Postdoctoral position, Olajumoke worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria where her responsibility includes teaching, research, and advocacy on gender, development, and social policy issues. As a Postdoctoral Fellow (Gender Research) at IITA, Olajumoke coordinates the research activities of the CGIAR Gender Equality (HER+) Initiative Work Package 1 (TRANSFORM: Gender transformative approaches – GTAs) and Work Package 3 (PROTECT: Gender responsive Social Protection) in Nigeria and Mali respectively.

Olajumoke has vast experience in conducting research and has led and worked with multidisciplinary teams on projects funded by IDRC, BMGF, etc. in different contexts across Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania. She has hands-on experience in gender analysis, mainstreaming, and integration; gender norms and gender transformative approaches, gender policy design, implementation, and review.

She is a recipient of different fellowships and grants including the African Women in Agriculture Research and Development (AWARD) Fellowship (2011), the INASP AuthorAid Gender Workshop Grant (2015), and the IITA Graduate Research Fellowship (2016). She has published in reputable academic outlets as well as attended and facilitated conferences, seminars, and webinars, locally and internationally.

 Publications

Journal Articles

  1. Ayansina Ayanlade, Isaac A. Oluwatimilehin, Oluwatoyin S. Ayanlade, Olajumoke Adeyeye & Sa’adatu Abatemi-Usman (2023). Gendered vulnerabilities to climate change and farmers’ adaptation responses in Kwara and Nassarawa States, Nigeria. Humanities and social sciences communications, 10 (1)1-15
  2. Abraham Akyala, Ayansina Ayanlade, Olajumoke. Adeyeye, and Isaac Ayo Oluwatimilehin (2023). Gender-responsive approaches to rapid climate warming among smallholder farmers. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2023.100219
  • Olofinyehun, A., Adeyeye, J., Egbetokun, A., Olomu, M., Oluwadare, J., Sanni, M., & Orisadare, M. (2023). Pooled Longitudinal Dataset on the Assessment of an Apprenticeship-Based Entrepreneurship Intervention in Nigeria. Research Data Journal for the Humanities and Social Sciences, 8(1): 1- 48
  1. Adeyeye, O., Orisadare, M.A., Atijosan, A.B., and Olajide, O.O.C. (2022) Gender-Inclusive development in rural settings: Reframing the issues in African context. In L. Amusan (Ed), Food Security and Food Sovereignty Challenges in Africa. Ethics Press
  2. Adeyeye, O., Fabusoro, E., Sodiya, C. I., & Fapojuwo, O. E. (2021). Gender differences in time-poverty among rural households in Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, 122 (2) 193-205. https://doi.org/10.17170/kobra-202107134323
  3. Adeyeye, O. (2021). Bridging the gender gap in empowerment of rural households: is technology the solution? Development in Practice, https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2021.1911937
  • Adeyeye O., Oluwatope O.B., Ilevbare E. and Oyeniran O (2019). Gender, time poverty and health outcome among rural households in Southwest Nigeria. Gender and Behaviour, 17(2), 13014 – 13117
  • Adeyeye, O., Njuki, J. and Miruka, M. (2018). Does women’s agency influence agricultural technology adoption? Food Chain, 7(1), 1 – 17.

Policy Briefs

  1. Seymour, G., Cole, S., Costenbader, E., Mwakanyamale, D., Adeyeye, O., Feleke, S., Ferguson, N., Heckert, J., Msita, S., Litvin, K. and Johnson, T.P. (2023). Measuring gender and social norms in agrifood systems: Evidence from Nigeria and Tanzania. Nairobi, Kenya: Gender Equality Initiative. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/135665
  2. Adeyeye, O. and Fischer, G. (2023). Exploring links between social protection, gender, and climate resilience in the Sahel region. Nairobi, Kenya. Gender Equality Initiative. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136045
  • Cole, S., Adeyeye, O., Msita, S., Mwakanyamale, D., & Liani, M. (2023). How to integrate gender transformative approaches into social protection in agrifood systems. Policy Brief. Gender Equality Initiative. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/135167

Thomas de Hoop, Jumoke Adeyeye, Osasuyi Dirisu, Akinwumi Akinola, Aline Meysonnat, Garima Siwach and Leigh Anderson (2021). Taking stock of the evidence on women’s groups in Nigeria. Evidence Consortium on Women’s Groups (ECWG).

Msita, Sarah

Sarah Msita is a Gender Research Assistant at the International Institute of Agriculture (IITA) based in Tanzania. She began her journey with IITA in 2020 as a consultant, where she contributed to the implementation of the BEST Cassava Project, specifically focusing on the advocacy and mainstreaming component. During her tenure, she played a significant role in the study titled “Assessing gender inequalities in access to and benefits derived from the cassava seed system in Tanzania.”

Sarah holds a Master of Arts degree in Project Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, both obtained from the University of Dar-es-Salaam. Her educational background and professional experience reflect her commitment to addressing gender disparities and promoting equality, particularly within the agricultural sector.

She is part of the team that implements Work Package 1 of the One CGIAR HER+ Initiative, in Tanzania which aims to achieve climate resilience by strengthening gender equality and social inclusion, through gender transformative approaches. Passionate about effecting positive change through research, Sarah is dedicated to leveraging her expertise at the intersection of gender and agriculture to drive impactful outcomes.

 

 

Publications

  • Seymour, G., Cole, S., Costenbader, E., Mwakanyamale, D., Adeyeye, O., Feleke, S., Ferguson, N., Heckert, J., Msita, S., Litvin, K. and Johnson, T.P. (2023). Measuring gender and social norms in agrifood systems: Evidence from Nigeria and Tanzania. Nairobi, Kenya: Gender Equality Initiative. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/135665
  • Cole, S., Adeyeye, O., Msita, S., Mwakanyamale, D., & Liani, M. (2023). How to integrate gender transformative approaches into social protection in agrifood systems. Policy Brief. Gender Equality Initiative. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/135167
  • Kitalyi, A., Mjachakwe, E., Jeremiah, A., Alessandra, G., Cole, S.M., Adeyeye, O., Mwakanyamale, D. and Msita, S. 2023. Stakeholder Workshop on Social and Gender Norms in the Cassava, Chicken, and Fish Value Chains in Tanzania. CGIAR Gender Equality Initiative. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/132812
  • Achandi, E., Bullock R., Galie, A., Jeremiah, A., Msita, S., Mwakanyamale, D. and Obuolo, E. 2023. Normative constraints and opportunities for women’s economic resilience to climate change in chicken, cassava and fish value chains of selected sites in Tanzania. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR Gender Equality Initiative. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/134933
Rashida Chantima Ziblila

Rashida Chantima Ziblila is a Gender Specialist with International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for the SI-MFS initiative based in Tamale-Ghana. Ms. Ziblila has an Mhil degree in Innovation Communication (2019) and a BA degree in Development Communication (2015), both obtained from the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale Ghana.

Rashida has about seven years work and research experience from her own studies and other related studies in the area of Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) in transdisciplinary research spaces with a focus on gender.

She has interest in integrating gender transformative tools into projects that are critical to enhancing the well-being and inclusive growth of all especially women.

Publications

Ziblila, R.C., M. Lelea, J.A. Ayelazuno, E. Mumini, and B. Kaufmann. 2019. Rural Women’s Access to Land and Household Food Security: Implications of Agricultural Intensification in Ghana. Tropentag, Kassel, Germany.

Konlan, L.M., R.C. Ziblila, M.A. Lelea and B. Kaufmann. 2019. Entrepreneurial Potentials of Rural Women’s Groups to Process Underutilised Species in Northern Ghana. Tropentag, Kassel, Germany.

M.A. Lelea., L.M. Konlan, R.C. Ziblila L.E. Thiele, A. Amo-Aidoo, B. Kaufmann. 2022. Strategies to Promote Sustainable Development:The Gendered Importance of Addressing Diminishing African Locust Bean (parkia biglobosa)  Resources in Northern Ghana’s Agro-ecological Landscape.

Mwakanyamale, Devis

Devis Mwakanyamale is a Senior Research Associate at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). His training background is in agricultural economics, but he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Development Studies with a focus on gender at the University of Dar es Salaam. Devis earned a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Sokoine University of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from the same university. As part of a team, Devis contributed to setting up a transdisciplinary process that aimed at developing a mixed-methods research tool for improving the measurement and understanding of intrahousehold decision-making. Presently, he is actively involved in coordinating activities for the One CGIAR Gender Equality (HER+) Initiative for Tanzania. The Initiative seeks to transform agrifood systems by addressing structural gender inequalities, such as harmful social and gender norms.

Journal article

  • Liani M.L., Cole S.M., Mwakanyamale D.F., Baumung L., Saleh N, Webber A., Tufan H.A. and Kapinga R. (2023). Uneven ground? Drivers of intersectional gender inequalities in cassava seed entrepreneurship in Tanzania. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7: 1155769, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1155769

Working papers, published reports, blogs, and policy briefs

  • Cole, S., Ferguson, N., Heckert, J., Mwakanyamale, D., Seymour, G., Feleke, S., Fischer, G., John, I., Lija, Z., Nyaa, M., and Zacharia, H. (2023). How do couples in rural Tanzania make decisions? Findings from a novel mixed-methods approach for understanding intrahousehold decision making. CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform Working Paper #016. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/135722
  • Greg Seymour, Steve Cole, Elizabeth Costenbader, Devis Mwakanyamale, Olajumoke Adeyeye, Shiferaw Feleke, Nathaniel Ferguson, Jessica Heckert, Sarah Msita, Kate Litvin, and Tina Phillips Johnson. (2023). Measuring gender and social norms in agrifood systems: Evidence from Nigeria and Tanzania. Brief. Nairobi, Kenya: Gender Equality Initiative. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/135665
  • Achandi, E., Bullock R., Galie, A., Jeremiah, A., Msita, S., Mwakanyamale, D. and Obuolo, E. 2023. Normative constraints and opportunities for women’s economic resilience to climate change in chicken, cassava and fish value chains of selected sites in Tanzania. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR Gender Equality Initiative. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/134933
  • Cole, S., Adeyeye, O., Msita, S., Mwakanyamale, D., & Liani, M. (2023). How to integrate gender transformative approaches into social protection in agrifood systems. Policy Brief. Gender Equality Initiative. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/135167
  • Mwakanyamale, D., Cole, S., Seymour, G. and Heckert, J. (2023, February 21). Better understanding of intra-household decision-making with a locally informed mixed-methods research tool. Engendering Data (Blog).

https://gender.cgiar.org/news/better-understanding-intra-household-decision-making-locally-informed-mixed-methods-research

  • Mwakanyamale, D., Cole, S., Heckert, J., John, I., Fischer, G., Seymour, G. and Feleke, S. (2022). A process guide for the development of a mixed-methods research tool for measuring and understanding intra-household decision-making https://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/136594/filename/136801.pdf
  • Cole, S., Mwakanyamale, D., Ssendi, L. & Elias, M. (2021). A dyadic interview guide to explore intra-household decision-making. Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA, (45p.)

https://doi.org/10.25502/jgdq-pg69/p

  • Mwakanyamale, D.F., Baumung, L., Cole, S.M., Webber, A., Saleh, N. & Kapinga, R. (2021). Gender barriers and success factors that shape women’s involvement in and benefits from cassava seed production businesses in Tanzania. Ibadan: IITA, (27p.)

https://doi.org/10.25502/376c-gh81

Liani, Millicent

Millicent Liani is a Post-Doctoral Gender Research Fellow with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She has a disciplinary training background in anthropology and gender studies with strong skills in qualitative research methods. She obtained her PhD in Social Sciences from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. She holds a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts (First class honors) degrees in Anthropology and Gender Studies, all from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She has over ten years of work experience in gender integration in research and development projects across Sub-Saharan Africa in the fields of agriculture, global health, and climate change. Before joining IITA, she worked as a Gender Research Associate with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), where she provided technical support with the implementation of the CGIAR Research Programs’ gender research strategies for the respective institutions.

At IITA, her research is aimed at integrating gender and social inclusion considerations in the Muhogo Bora (Better cassava) gender-responsive cassava seed systems project in Tanzania; the USAID-funded Great Lakes Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative Rapid Delivery Hub focused on inclusive scaling of agricultural innovations; as well as the One CGIAR Initiative on “Ukama Ustawi (UU): Diversification for Resilient Agrifood systems in East and Southern Africa (ESA)”.

Publications

  • Liani M.L., Cole S.M., Mwakanyamale D.F., Baumung L., Saleh N, Webber A., Tufan H.A. and Kapinga R. (2023). Uneven ground? Drivers of intersectional gender inequalities in cassava seed entrepreneurship in Tanzania. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7: 1155769, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1155769

 

  • Robinson Karuga, Rosie Steege, Inviolata Njoroge, Millicent L. Liani, Neele Wiltgen Georgi, Lilian Otiso, Nelly Muturi, Linet Okoth, Rachel Tolhurst, and Sally Theobald (2022). Leaving no one behind: A photovoice case study on vulnerability and wellbeing of child-headed households in two informal settlements in Nairobi. Social Sciences 11 (296): 1-22. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11070296
  • Liani, L.M., Nyamongo, K.I., Pulford, J., and Tolhurst, R. (2021). An intersectional gender analysis of familial and socio-cultural drivers of inequitable scientific career progression of researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Global Health Research and Policy Journal, Volume 6 (30): 1-16. Available at https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s41256-021-00213-3.pdf
  • Liani, L.M., Nyamongo, K.I., Pulford, J., and Tolhurst, R. (2021). Institutional Level Drivers of Gender Inequitable Scientific Career Progression in Sub-Saharan Africa. Health Research Policy and Systems, Volume 19 (117):1-18. Available at https://health-policy-systems.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12961-021-00767-1.pdf
  • Liani, L.M., Nyamongo, K.I., Pulford, J., and Tolhurst, R. (2021). Enablers of gender equitable scientific career progression in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from the DELTAS Africa Initiative. AAS Open Research, 4(42). Available at https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-42/v1 DOI: 12688/aasopenres.13243.1
  • Liani, L.M., Nyamongo, K.I., and Tolhurst, R. (2020). Understanding intersecting gender inequities in academic scientific research career progression in sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Gender Science and Technology, Volume12(2):266-288.Available http://genderandset.open.ac.uk/index.php/genderandset/article/view/652
  • Waithanji, E., Wanyoike, S. and Liani, M. (2019). The Role of Gender and Other Socioeconomic Factors in the Adoption of the Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia Vaccine: A Literature Review. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, Volume 83 (3): 221-238. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00128325.2019.1604195
  • Esther M Njuguna, Millicent L. Liani, Meseret Beyene and Chris O. Ojiewo (2016). Exploration of cultural norms and practices influencing women’s participation in chickpea participatory varietal selection training activities: A case study of Ada’a and Ensaro districts, Ethiopia. Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security, Vol. 1 (3) pp 40-63. http://agrigender.net/uploads/JGAFS-132016-3-Paper.pdf
  • Ochago, R., Ouma, E., and Liani, M. (2015). CGIAR Livestock and Fish Uganda partner gender capacity assessment brief. http://bit.ly/20WqL50
Teeken, Béla

Béla Teeken is a social science and gender researcher at the International Institute of tropical agriculture. He holds a PhD in social science and an MSc in crop physiology and rural development sociology from Wageningen University. He has a major interest in how ecology, local institutions, culture and gender shape and determine local innovations and agricultural practices and how these innovations and practices related to relates to those of formal scientific research.

He has specific expertise in participatory field trials and food product quality evaluation in rice as well as cassava in relation to socio-cultural segmentation and gender. This includes qualitative as well as quantitative data analysis using insights and tools  from anthropology; sociology; crop agronomy/physiology; breeding, genetics and history. Studies cover work in Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, RD Congo and Cameroon.

He is currently working within breeding teams of roots, tubers and banana crops to inform and reform CGIAR breeding programs to make them more socially inclusive with specific attention to integrating gender responsive and transformative approaches.

Recent publications

McGuire, E., Leeuwis, C., Rietveld, A.M. and Teeken, B. (2024). Anticipating social differentiation and unintended consequences in scaling initiatives using GenderUp, a method to support responsible scaling. Agricultural Systems, Volume 215, 103866  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103866

de Sousa, K., van Etten, J., Manners, R. Abidin, E., Abdulmalik, R.O., Bello, A., Acheremu, K., Angudubo, S., Aguilar,  A., Arnaud, E., Babu, A., Barrios, M., Benavente, G., Boukar, O., . Cairns, J.E., Carey, E., Daudi, H., Dawud, M., Edughaen, G., Ellison, J., Esuma, W., Mohammed, S.G., van de Gevel,  J., Gomez, M., van Heerwaarden, J., Iragaba, P., Kadege, E., Assefa, T.M., Kalemera, S., Kasubiri, F.S., Kawuki, R., Kidane, Y.D., Kilango, M.,  Kulembeka, H., Adofo, K.,Madriz, B., Masumba, E., Mbiu, J., Mendes, T., Müller, A., Moyo, M., Mtunda, K., Muzhingi, T., Muungani, D., Mwenda, E.T., Nadigatla, G.R.V.P.R.,Nanyonjo, A.N., N’Danikou, S., Nduwumuremyi,  A., Nshimiyimana, J.C., Nuwamanya, E., Nyirahabimana, H., Occelli, M., Olaosebikan, O., Ongom, P.O., Ortiz-Crespo, B., Oteng-Fripong, R., Ozimati, A., Owoade, D., Quiros, C.F., Rosas, J.C., Rukundo, P., Rutsaert, P., Sibomana, M., Sharma, N., Shida, N., Steinke, J., Ssali, R., Suchini, J.G., Teeken, B., Tengey, T.K., Tufan, H.A., Tumwegamire, S., Tuyishime, E., Ulzen, J., Umar, M.L., Onwuka, S., Madu, T.U., Voss, R.C., Yeye, M. & Zaman-Allah, M. (2024) The tricot approach: an agile framework for decentralized on-farm testing supported by citizen science. A retrospective. Agronomy and Sustainable Development. 44, 8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-023-00937-1

Bello, A., Afolabi, A., Olamide, O., Gospel, E., Dufour, D., Bouniol, A., Iluebbey, P., Ndjouenkeu, R., Ismail, R. and Teeken, B. (2023), Genetic and environmental effects on processing productivity and food product yield: drudgery of women’s work. J Sci Food Agric. Accepted Author Manuscript.  https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.13079

Bouniol, A., Ceballos, H., Abolore, B., Teeken, B., Olaosebikan, D.O., Owoade, D., Afolabi, A., Fotso Kuate, A., Madu, T., Okoye, B., Ofoeze, M., Nwafor, S., Onyemauwa, N., Adinsi, L., Forsythe, L. and Dufour, D. (2023), Varietal impact on women’s labour, workload and related drudgery in processing root, tuber and banana crops. Focus on cassava in sub-Saharan Africa. J Sci Food Agric. Accepted Author Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.12936

Olaosebikan, O., Bello, A., de Sousa, K., Ndjouenkeu, R., Adesokan, M., Alamu, E., Agbona, A., Van Etten, J., Kégah, F.N., Dufour, D., Bouniol, A. and Teeken, B. (2023), Drivers of consumer acceptability of cassava gari-eba food products across cultural and environmental settings using the triadic comparison of technologies approach (tricot). J Sci Food Agric. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.12867

Takam Tchuente, H.N., Fongang Fouepe, G.H., Mbwentchou Yao, D.C., Mathe, S. and Teeken, B. (2023), Varietal diversity as a lever for cassava variety development: exploring varietal complementarities in Cameroon. J Sci Food Agric. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.12899

Olaosebikan, O.; Bello, A.; Utoblo, O.; Okoye, B.; Olutegbe, N.; Garner, E.; Teeken, B.; Bryan, E.; Forsythe, L.; Cole, S.; Kulakow, P.; Egesi, C.; Tufan, H., Madu, T. (2023) Stressors and Resilience within the Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria: Preferred Cassava Variety Traits and Response Strategies of Men and Women to Inform Breeding. Sustainability,  15, 7837. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107837

van Etten, J., de Sousa, K., Cairns, J. E., Dell’Acqua, M., Fadda, C., Guereña, D., van Heerwaarden, J., Assefa, T., Manners, R., Müller, A., Enrico Pè, M., Polar, V., Ramirez-Villegas, J., Øivind Solberg, Svein., Teeken, B. & Tufan, H. A. (2023). Data-driven approaches can harness crop diversity to address heterogeneous needs for breeding products. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(14), e2205771120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2205771120

Agbona, A., P. Peteti, B. Teeken, O. Olaosebikan, A. Bello, E. Parkes, I. Rabbi, L. Mueller, C. Egesi, and P. Kulakow.Data Management in Multi-disciplinary African RTB crop breeding programs  (2023) in: towards responsible plant data linkage: data challenges for agricultural Research and Development, HF Williamson and S Leonelli eds. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 85–103. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13276-6_5

Alamu, E.O., Teeken, B., Ayetigbo, O., Adesokan, M., Kayondo, I., Chijioke, U., Madu, T., Okoye, B., Bello, A., Njoku, D., Rabbi, I., Egesi, C., Ndjouenkeu, R., Bouniol, A., De Sousa, K., Dufour, D. and Maziya-Dixon, B. (2023), Establishing the linkage between eba’s instrumental and sensory descriptive profiles and their correlation with consumer preferences: implications for cassava breeding. Journal of the Science Food and Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.12518

Teeken, B. & Marina Padrão Temudo (2021) Varietal selection in marginal agroecological niches and cultural landscapes: the case of rice in the Togo Hills, Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 45:8, 1109-1138. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2021.1878405

Teeken, B., Garner, E., Agbona, A., Balogun, I., Olaosebikan, O., Bello, A., Madu, T., Okoye, B., Egesi, C., Kulakow, P. and Tufan, H.A. (2021). Beyond “Women’s Traits”: Exploring How Gender, Social Difference, and Household Characteristics Influence Trait Preferences. Frontiers Sustainable Food Systems 5:740926. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.740926

Teeken, B., Agbona, A., Bello, A., Olaosebikan, O., Alamu, E., Adesokan, M., Awoyale, W., Madu, T., Okoye, B., Chijioke, U., Owoade, D., Okoro, M., Bouniol, A., Dufour, D., Hershey, C., Rabbi, I., Maziya‐Dixon, B., Egesi, C., Tufan, H. and Kulakow, P. (2020). Understanding cassava varietal preferences through pairwise ranking of gari‐eba and fufu prepared by local farmer–processors. Int J Food Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.14862

Cole Steven

Steven Michael Cole is a Senior Scientist and Gender Research Coordinator for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. He obtained his PhD in Biological Anthropology from the University of Arizona. He also holds a MSc degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics and a BSc in Health and Nutrition. His research employs both quantitative and qualitative methods to better understand the social and gender dynamics in agricultural contexts in low-income countries. He has extensive experience designing and piloting transformative approaches to overcome gender inequalities in agricultural development outcomes. His latest research integrates gender and other social science perspectives in biophysical research, including in research that aims to achieve gender-responsive breeding and seed systems outcomes and more inclusive value chains.

Recent publications

Liani, M., Cole, S.M., Mwakanyamale, D.F., Baumung, L., Saleh, N., Webber, A., Tufan, H.A., and Kapinga, R. (2023). Uneven ground? Intersectional gender inequalities in the commercialized cassava seed system in Tanzania. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7:1155769. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1155769

Quisumbing, A., Cole, S., Elias, M., Faas, S., Galiè, A., Malapit, H., Meinzen-Dick, R., Myers, E., Seymour, G., and Twyman, J. (2023). Measuring women’s empowerment in agriculture: Innovations and evidence. Global Food Security, 38, 100707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100707

Tufa, A.H., Alene, A.D., Cole, S.M., Manda, J., Feleke, S., Abdoulaye, T., Chikoye, D., and Manyong, V. (2022). Gender differences in the adoption of improved agricultural technologies and crop productivity: Evidence from Malawi. World Development, 159, 106027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106027

Avadí, A., Cole, S.M., Kruijssen, F., Dabat, M-E, and Mungule, C.M. (2022). How to enhance the sustainability and inclusiveness of smallholder aquaculture production systems in Zambia? Aquaculture, 547, 737494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.737494

Elias, M., Cole, S.M., Quisumbing, A., Meinzen-Dick, R., Perez, A.-M., and Twyman, J. (2021). Assessing women’s empowerment in agriculture. In: Pyburn, R. and A. van Eerdewijk (eds.). Advancing gender equality through agricultural and environmental research: past, present and future. IFPRI, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896293915

Cole, S.M., Feleke, S., Manda, J., Gondwe, T., and Akinwale, G. (2021). Who does what and why? Intra-household roles and explanatory models for sourcing soybean seed in Malawi. Outlook on Agriculture, https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270211033918

Cole, S.M., Kaminski, A.M., McDougall, C., Kefi, A.S., Marinda, P., Maliko, M., and Mtonga, J. (2020). Gender accommodative versus transformative approaches: A comparative assessment within a post-harvest fish loss reduction intervention. Gender, Technology, and Development, Special Issue on Gender and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1080/09718524.2020.1729480

Kaminski, A.M., Kruijssen, F., Cole, S.M., Beveridge, M.C., Dawson, C., Mohan, C.V., Suri, S., Karim, M., Chen, O.L., Phillips, M.J., Downing, W., Weirowski, F., Genschick, S., Tran, N., Rogers, W. and Little, D.C. (2020). A review of inclusive business models and their application in aquaculture development. Reviews in Aquaculture. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12415

Cole, S.M., McDougall, C., Kaminski, A.M., Kefi, A.S., Chilala, A., Chisule, G. (2018). Post-harvest fish losses and unequal gender relations: drivers of the social-ecological trap in the Barotse Floodplain fishery, Zambia. Ecology and Society 23(2), 18. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-09950-230218

Cole, S.M., Puskur, R., Rajaratnam, S., and Zulu, F. (2015). Exploring the intricate relationship between poverty, gender inequality, and rural masculinity: A case study from an aquatic agricultural system in Zambia. Culture, Society and Masculinities, 7(2), 154-170. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/235

Olaosebikan, Olamide

Olamide Deborah Nwanze is a Senior Research Associate specializing in gender mainstreaming research to inform participatory and inclusive breeding, variety development, and seed systems policies regarding root, tuber, and banana (RTB) crops in the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Headquarters, Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Ibadan and holds an MSc and B. Agric in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. Olamide is a fellow of the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development – Gender Responsive Agricultural Systems Policy (AWARD-GRASP) and the Gender Responsive Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation (GREAT). She seeks to apply her gender-mainstreaming learnings, gender-responsive research, and policy development, and review expertise to facilitate women, youth, children, and vulnerable social group’s access to and adoption of agricultural Innovations that guarantee food, nutrition, income, and livelihood security in Africa. Her current roles include mentoring research fellows, development of guides and training manuals, implementation and adaptation of gender frameworks and tools, value chain actors’ engagement as citizen science partners, policy review and redesign, data management, and analysis. Her current research explores mixed methods and participatory and interdisciplinary approaches to capture and highlight gender dynamics, needs, preferences, and challenges stakeholders face within the agricultural livelihood value chain to prioritize gender-inclusive strategies in breeding programs, policy design, and implementation.

At IITA, she contributes to the implementation of the CGIAR Accelerated Breeding Initiative and Genetic Innovation Programs; participatory and gender research within the NextGen Cassava, HarvestPlus, RTBFoods, and Tricot-ClimMob 1000Farms Projects; and gender knowledge communication via the G-LENS webinar series, video documentary, policy briefs, publications, and blogs.

 

Recent publications

de Sousa, K., van Etten, J., Manners, R. Bello, A., Teeken, B., Olaosebikan, O., et al. 2024. The tricot approach: an agile framework for decentralized on-farm testing supported by citizen science. A retrospective. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 44, 8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-023-00937-1

Madu, T., Onwuka, S., Nwafor, S., Onyemauwa, N., Ejechi, M., Ofoeze, M., Ukeje, B., Eluagu, C., Olaosebikan, O., Okoye, B., 2024. Gender-Inclusive Consumer Studies Improve Cassava Breeding in Nigeria in: Frontiers in Sociology, volume 9, number: 1224504, doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1224504

Olaosebikan, O.; Bello, A.; Utoblo, O.; Okoye, B.; Olutegbe, N.; Garner, E.; Teeken, B.; Bryan, E.; Forsythe, L.; Cole, S.; Madu, T. 2023.  Stressors and Resilience within the Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria: Preferred Cassava Variety Traits and Response Strategies of Men and Women to Inform Breeding. Sustainability 15, 7837. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107837

Okoye, B., Ofoeze, M., Ejechi, M., Onwuka, S., Nwafor, S., Onyemauwa, N., Ukeje, B., Eluagu, C., Obidiegwu, J.*, Olaosebikan, O., Madu, T.* 2023. Prioritizing preferred traits in the yam value chain in Nigeria: a gender situation analysis in: Frontiers in Sociology, volume 8, number: 1232626, pages 1 – 9, ISSN 2297-7775, 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1232626/full

Olaosebikan, O., Bello, A. A., de Sousa, K., Ndjouenkeu, R., Adesokan, M., Alamu, E. O., Agbona, A., van Etten, J., Kegah, F. N.*, Dufour, D., Bouniol, A., Teeken, B. 2023. Consumer acceptability of cassava gari-eba food products across cultural and environmental settings using the triadic comparison of technologies approach (tricot) in: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture,

Teeken, B., Olaosebikan, O., Bello, A. A., Madu, T.*, Cole, S. M. 2023. Qualitative assessment on the positionality and preferences of dyads in relation to cassava-related activities: working with tricot trial citizen scientists https://hdl.handle.net/10568/138326 Type: Manual

Bouniol, A., Ceballos, H., Bello, A. A., Teeken, B., Olaosebikan, O., Owoade, D., Agbona, A., Fotso Kuate, A., Madu, T.*, Okoye, B.*, Ofoeze, M.*, Nwafor, S.*, Onyemauwa, N.*, Adinsi, L.*, Forsythe, L., Dufour, D. 2023. Varietal impact on women’s labour, workload and related drudgery in processing root, tuber and banana crops: focus on cassava in sub-Saharan Africa in: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, pages 1 – 25, ISSN 0022-5142,

Bello, A. A., Agbona, A., Olaosebikan, O., Edughaen, G., Dufour, D., Bouniol, A., Iluebbey, P., Ndjouenkeu, R.*, Rabbi, I. Y., Teeken, B. 2023. Genetic and environmental effects on processing productivity and food product yield: drudgery of women’s work in: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, pages 1 – 32, ISSN 0022-5142, 5

Cavicchioli, M., Zimbiti, T., Teeken, B., Nwanze, D.O., Liani, M., Parkes, E. & Bello, A. 2023. IITA-Gender Responsive Breeding Training Report. Genetic Resources Center, IITA-HQ, Ibadan, 21-23 September, 2022. Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA, (34 p.).https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131368

Agbona, A. Peteti P., Teeken B., Olaosebikan O. Bello, A. A., Parkes, E., Rabbi, I. Y., Mueller, L., Egesi, C., Kulakow, P. 2022. Data Management in Multi-disciplinary African RTB Crop Breeding Programs. In: Williamson, H.F., Leonelli, S. (eds) Towards Responsible Plant Data Linkage: Data Challenges for Agricultural Research and Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13276-6_5

Lora Forsythe, Pricilla Marimo, Sarah Mayanja, Olamide D. Olaosebikan, Esme Stuart, Bela Teeken, Benjamin Okoye, Tessy Madu, (2021). Cross-product Gender Analysis of RTBfoods Step 2 Gendered Food Mapping on RTB Products. Understanding the Drivers of Trait Preferences and the Development of Multi-user RTB Product Profiles, WP1. London, UK: RTBfoods Field Scientific Report, 30 p.

Teeken, B., Garner, E., Agbona, A., Balogun, I., Olaosebikan, O., Bello, A., Madu, T., Okoye, B., Egesi, C., Kulakow, P. and Tufan, H.A. 2021. Beyond “Women’s Traits”: Exploring How Gender, Social Difference, and Household Characteristics Influence Trait Preferences. Frontiers Sustainable Food Systems 5:740926. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.740926

Teeken, B., Agbona, A., Bello, A., Olaosebikan, O., Alamu, E., Adesokan, M., Awoyale, W., Madu, T., Okoye, B., Chijioke, U., Owoade, D., Okoro, M., Bouniol, A., Dufour, D., Hershey, C., Rabbi, I., Maziya‐Dixon, B., Egesi, C., Tufan, H. and Kulakow, P. (020. Understanding cassava varietal preferences through pairwise ranking of gari‐eba and fufu prepared by local farmer–processors. Int J Food Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.14862

Bela Teeken, Olamide Olaosebikan, Ireti Balogun, Benjamin Okoye, Tessy Madu, Steven Cole, Abolore Bello, Elizabeth Parkes. (2020). Piloting the G+ customer and product profile tools for gender-responsive cassava breeding in Nigeria. Nigeria: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/13000