Turning support into opportunities for women scholars
April–June 2026
For women working in higher education, professional development often involves several demands at once: strengthening leadership skills, completing research, publishing and finding collaborators. HERS-EA’s second quarter of 2026 focused on building support across these connected parts of academic life.
Renewed funding, policy dialogue, alumnae achievements and international exchanges helped advance that work.
Sustaining leadership and research support
A renewed USD 300,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie Foundation provides support for HERS-EA’s work from April 2026 to March 2028.
The grant supports Leadership Academies, residential writing bootcamps, academic publishing and grant writing workshops, and an alumnae-led international conference. It also provides for targeted training and short courses.
These activities create opportunities for women to develop leadership projects, advance doctoral research and prepare manuscripts and grant proposals. The grant’s research and publication targets are goals for the funding period, with continued mentorship intended to help participants progress towards them.
Bringing evidence into education decisions
Through the GPE KIX Tuseme project, HERS-EA contributed to policy dialogues in Ethiopia and Kenya.
The Ethiopia dialogue on 29 April and Kenya meeting on 5 May brought research findings into discussions about learners’ access, participation, well-being and educational outcomes in refugee and internally displaced settings.
Leadership training in Debre Berhan on 30 June extended this work to school administrators, teachers, Tuseme Club leaders, officials and community representatives. Together, the engagements connected national policy discussions with the people supporting implementation in schools and communities.
Making allyship practical
The third Male Allyship Webinar, held on 8 May, examined how men could help address barriers to women’s leadership.
Participants proposed practical measures, including an allyship charter, targeted training and clearer accountability for gender equity. Discussions also considered workplace practices, supportive families and the role of cultural and institutional leaders.
The proposals offer directions for further work. Their value will depend on how they are developed, implemented and assessed.
Learning from alumnae and widening connections
Academy feedback highlighted the value participants placed on leadership self-awareness, financial management, career planning and grant writing. Respondents also requested more time for practical work, leadership projects and reflection.
The quarter brought academic promotions within the alumnae community, including Associate Professors Sidonia Angom, Hasifa Nampala and Harriet Kebirungi.
International engagements at InterPore2026 in France and the HERS Leadership Institute’s 50th Anniversary Reunion in the United States opened further connections in research, engineering and leadership development.
Together, these activities strengthened the support around women scholars while providing useful feedback on where HERS-EA’s programmes can improve.
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