The Havener-Dowswell Scholarship is named after Robert Havener and Christopher Dowswell, a pair of dedicated friends and colleagues of the Nobel Laureate, Dr. Norman E. Borlaug. Robert Havener served as Winrock International’s first president, and had a long and illustrious career in agriculture. Havener and his wife, Elizabeth, both felt strongly that to improve socio-economic development and boost food security in Africa, more African women needed access to education including specialized agriculture extension training. Christopher Dowswell served as aide-de-camp (chief assistant) to Dr. Borlaug for more than 30 years, and, like Havener, was committed to the idea that agriculture could – and must ─ play a significant role in improving people’s lives, especially in the world’s most food insecure regions. Both Havener and Dowswell worked tirelessly on behalf of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), founded by the Japanese philanthropist Ryoichi Sasakawa and Dr. Borlaug in 1986 to support smallholder farmers and improved access to agricultural extension in Africa.
This Havener-Doswell Scholarship offers a simple and effective way to increase the number of qualified women agriculture extension agents in Africa. The scholarship enables women to pursue degrees in agricultural sciences and extension, with the goal of empowering women farmers through improved access to knowledge, more effective use of agricultural inputs, and links to training and other resources. As more women farmers gain access to better agricultural technology and production information, agricultural production and incomes will rise, resulting in reduced poverty and hunger.
The scholarships provide about 50% of the estimated stipend and research support required for recipients to pursue an advanced degree in the agricultural field in Africa. Scholarship funding can be used for any study-related expenses including tuition, examination fees, and/or research expenses. Scholarships are limited to students who are enrolled in educational institutions in countries in Africa where Winrock maintains project field offices.
To qualify for the scholarship, students must demonstrate the potential for future success in the field of agriculture, and meet the following criteria:
- Commitment to studying the field of agriculture, with priority given to the study of agricultural extension, as well as interest in pursuing a related job or career at an African institution(s);
- Desire to apply education in local communities in Africa;
- Academic achievement;
- Financial need;
- Currently located in a country where Winrock maintains a presence (e.g., through a project or activity field office).