We-Star: the mobility scheme for Women Scientists in Africa is leaving a lasting mark on the careers of African women scientists, from mentorship to research collaboration.
Eight beneficiaries of the WE-STAR programme were among the attendees at the 2nd ICGEB Alumni Meeting held in June 2025. The meeting offered a valuable opportunity for them to connect, share their experiences, and reflect on how the programme has influenced their personal and professional journeys.
Launched in 2021 with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Directorate General for Development Cooperation (MAECI – DGCS), the WE-STAR programme is designed to support early-career African women scientists working in the Life Sciences and Biotechnology. It offers mobility fellowships at ICGEB laboratories, opportunities for South–South exchanges, and research grants aimed at strengthening scientific projects carried out in the beneficiaries’ home countries.
Over the past four years, key projects launched include PhD and postdoctoral mobility schemes for Women Scientists in Africa (2021-2023) and Enhancing Capacities in African Scientific Institutions (2021-2025).
To date, eleven African women scientists have received WE-STAR fellowships. Through mentorship, networking, and professional development, these researchers are driving progress toward a more gender-balanced and inclusive scientific community in Africa.
During the Alumni Meeting in Trieste, WE-STAR fellows shared how the programme helped transfer key skills, strengthen scientific expertise, and upgrade research infrastructure in their home institutions — fostering long-term impact and regional scientific growth.
“The WE-STAR fellowship gave me the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues internationally. I was able to broaden both my technical and communication skills. Thanks to this programme, my department is now considering including immunology and biochemistry in our curriculum. After completing the fellowship, I received a grant from the University of Cambridge — something that would not have been possible without the experience I gained during my time at ICGEB.” Catherine Ironya Ogar Ukam (Nigeria)
As the WE-STAR initiative continues to grow, its impact is already visible in the strengthened networks, research collaborations, and institutional changes led by its alumni. ICGEB remains committed to supporting women scientists across Africa, fostering inclusive excellence and empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.
ICGEB is also partnering with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Government of South Africa, for the WomEn ScienTists in AfRica (WE-STAR) Programme, to increase the participation of African women in the field of Life Sciences by providing an early career opportunity for a mobility fellowship of 12 months duration at the ICGEB laboratories in Cape Town, South Africa.
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