{"id":14473,"date":"2026-06-20T12:35:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T12:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/new-wires-initiatives-to-advance-womens-careers-in-science-and-research\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T21:26:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T21:26:17","slug":"new-wires-initiatives-to-advance-womens-careers-in-science-and-research","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/new-wires-initiatives-to-advance-womens-careers-in-science-and-research\/","title":{"rendered":"New WIRES initiatives to advance women\u2019s careers in science and research"},"content":{"rendered":"

Le CGIAR<\/a> Women in Research and Science (WIRES)<\/a> employee-led resource group recently had a virtual engagement to discuss the progress and new happenings in the group. The meeting, themed \u201cConnecting and Mentoring, What\u2019s new with WIRES!\u201d was held on 24 October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IITA
IITA women nutrition scientists perfecting a new recipe.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving the opening remarks,\u00a0The Alliance de Bioversity International et du CIAT<\/a> Knowledge Sharing Specialist Arwen Bailey stated that the group was launched in July 2020 to empower and increase the visibility of women research and science professionals across CGIAR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bailey and other co-coordinators, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)<\/a> Technical Program Manager Aparna Das, IITA<\/a> HarvestPlus Cassava Breeder Elizabeth Parkes<\/a>, et International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)<\/a> Communication Consultant Nada Abdelhamid, shared their reasons for volunteering in WIRES. Participants also highlighted their expectations for the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explaining the vision and mission of the group, Das stated that WIRES aims to provide tools and knowledge that support professional development. She added that this would create visibility for CGIAR women in science and research so their voices are heard and their contributions recognized. \u201cWe are an open community that accommodates both men and women who are willing to support the vision of WIRES,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"HarvestPlus
HarvestPlus Cassava Breeder Dr Elizabeth Parkes is one of the WIRES coordinator<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discussing her reason for sponsoring WIRES, CGIAR Executive Managing Director Claudia Sadoff<\/a> said she admires the efforts and engagement of the team in supporting women despite having other personal life activities. She added that the increase in the percentage of women scientists calls for more effort to train and empower these women. \u201cThanks for allowing me to be your sponsor,\u201d she said. Institut international de recherche sur l'\u00e9levage (ILRI)<\/a> Director General Jimmy Smith<\/a>, also a sponsor, stated that his motivation to join the cause stems from his experience raising daughters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlighting how intending volunteers can support WIRES, Das spoke on mentorship as a promising strategy to advance Gender, Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) in the workplace as it offers access and advocacy for women. Explaining the criteria for engagement, she stated that a mentor must be passionate about advancing GDI, while the mentee must be a middle to senior-level career woman researcher\/scientist with an appetite to learn. \u201cRegistration for the program will begin in November, and the program will kick off in December. Interested mentors and mentees who meet the criteria can register and be trained,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other new WIRES initiatives coming up before the end of 2022 include \u201cRandom coffee,\u201d where members can schedule to meet physically or virtually to build a vibrant relationship and network, and \u201cFocus groups\u201d for discussions that will ensure continuous improvement for WIRES.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing out the meeting, CGIAR Global Director of People and Culture, Fiona Bourdin-Farrel<\/a>l, summarized ways volunteers can help to advance women in science and research in CGIAR. She mentioned that it starts with joining the WIRES team, being a part of the mentoring program, engaging in the random coffee pilot, and joining focus groups. \u201cYou can contribute to the information in the newsletter. You can also register as both mentor and mentee as long as you meet the criteria,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contribu\u00e9 par Ochuwa Favour Daramola<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The CGIAR Women in Research and Science (WIRES) employee-led resource group recently had a virtual engagement to discuss the progress and new happenings in the group. The meeting, themed \u201cConnecting and Mentoring, What\u2019s new with WIRES!\u201d was held on 24 October.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":14474,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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