AWLA

News & Events

The event brought together the Women in Science and Innovation Forum and the graduation ceremony of the fourth cohort of the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture Fellowship Program (AWLA), in conjunction with the International Year of Women Farmers 2026

24 June 2026

ICBA Graduates 21 Arab Women Leaders from AWLA’s Fourth Cohort in Alignment with the International Year of Women Farmers 2026

On International Women’s Day 2026, under the theme “Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls”, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) marked the completion of the fourth cohort of the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (AWLA) Fellowship Program, highlighting the growing role of women scientists in advancing agricultural innovation and climate resilience across the Middle East and North Africa.

8 March 2026

International Women’s Day: ICBA Concludes Fourth Cohort of the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (AWLA) Fellowship Program

Third cohort of Arab women scientists graduates from ICBA’s regional fellowship program

7 March 2024

Third cohort of Arab women scientists graduates from ICBA’s regional fellowship program

AWLA aims to help early- and mid-career professionals in agriculture to secure leadership roles by encouraging gender-responsive working cultures and creating platforms to showcase their intellect, capability, and contribution.

8 March 2023

Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (AWLA) fellowship program opens call for applications

Launched on 8 March 2021 by H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, the second edition of AWLA brought together 16 women scientists from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and the UAE on a seven-month online program.

8 March 2022

Aspiring Arab women scientists graduate from ICBA’s regional fellowship program

The 2021-2022 cohort comes from different backgrounds and countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the program aims to encourage diversity and inclusion and enable fellows to exchange their perspectives and experiences.

23 September 2021

New cohort of Arab women scientists starts ICBA’s dedicated fellowship program

20 September 2021

AWLA Workshop I

AWLA aims to help early- and mid-career professionals in agriculture to secure leadership roles by encouraging gender-responsive working cultures and creating platforms to showcase their intellect, capability, and contribution. AWLA’s fellows will help establish a unique R&D forum for women scientists in the MENA region to address pressing agricultural challenges and take part in a regional networking platform for women researchers across agricultural disciplines.

8 March 2021

Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (AWLA) fellowship program opens call for applications

The association was launched by Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi, Deputy Director-General of ICBA during the first virtual session of the network, which was attended by 18 of 22 members of the alumnae, in addition to ICBA scientists; the inaugural session was symbolized by a digital code (phoneword) for AWLA, 2952.

4 May 2020

ICBA launches virtual alumnae network to support Arab women researchers

ICBA celebrates Arab women scientists’ graduation from regional fellowship program

8 March 2020

ICBA celebrates Arab women scientists’ graduation from regional fellowship program

Why to invest more in women and girls in science

11 February 2020

Why to invest more in women and girls in science

Two of the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (AWLA) fellows have recently concluded a study tour of Australia. They were selected from the AWLA’s inaugural cohort, which includes 22 women scientists from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia.

23 December 2019

AWLA fellows learn innovative agricultural research practices in Australia

Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and CGIAR Research Program on Wheat, Awla is a regional leadership and research development program led by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).

25 July 2019

Arab women scientists set sights on transforming R&D in regional agriculture and food security

Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (Awla) fellowship program opens call for applications

8 March 2019

Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (Awla) fellowship program opens call for applications

Islamic Development Bank, ICBA present new initiative to empower Arab women scientists

16 May 2017

Islamic Development Bank, ICBA present new initiative to empower Arab women scientists

ICBA partners with Gates Foundation and Islamic Development Bank to pilot pioneering leadership program for Arab women scientists

2 May 2017

ICBA partners with Gates Foundation and Islamic Development Bank to pilot pioneering leadership program for Arab women scientists

Tamkeen program paves the way for young Arab women leaders

8 March 2017

Tamkeen program paves the way for young Arab women leaders