Africa faces enormous health challenges from the persistent threats of malaria and HIV to neglected tropical diseases and maternal health crises. Addressing these challenges requires an inclusive and diverse scientific workforce, yet women remain vastly underrepresented in health research.
We are two African women scientists working in infectious disease and tropical medicine research. Over the course of our careers, we have led groundbreaking clinical trials, shaped policy, and contributed to life-saving diagnostic tools and treatments. We have mentored the next generation of African researchers, ensuring that the continent’s scientific progress continues.
Despite these achievements, we often find ourselves among the few, if not the only, African women in decision-making rooms where critical policies and scientific breakthroughs are discussed. This gender imbalance is not just a matter of fairness—it directly impacts the quality and relevance of research.
Women’s Underrepresentation in Research Has Dire Consequences
Women make up only 31% of researchers in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a report by UN Women. This lack of representation creates critical blind spots in scientific inquiry and healthcare policy.
Diseases such as schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths, which have severe reproductive health consequences, are under-researched from a gender perspective. Similarly, while women constitute 64% of adults living with HIV in Africa, there remains a gap in research focused on sex-specific responses to treatment and prevention.
One of the most glaring issues is the exclusion of women of childbearing age from clinical trials. This practice, based on outdated concerns about fetal health and legal liabilities, leaves many women without access to life-saving treatments or forces them to rely on limited or unsafe medical options. If science is to serve all of society, it must reflect the needs of all its members.
The Systemic Barriers Women Face in Science
African culture and societal norms significantly contribute to the gender disparity in science. Leadership—whether in politics, business, or academia—is still largely seen as a male domain. Many young girls are conditioned to be reserved, not to take up space, and to pursue supportive roles rather than leadership positions.
Even when women do break into the field, structural barriers persist. A 2022 study found that women submit fewer grant applications than men, and when they do, they receive significantly less funding. In fact, 63% of research awards go to men, and grants awarded to men tend to be of higher monetary value than those given to women.
Some African nations, including Ghana, Rwanda, and Mozambique, have attempted to address these disparities through hiring quotas and other policies. However, these efforts have not been enough to overcome entrenched cultural and systemic biases. Women in Africa continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of domestic responsibilities, often juggling careers in science with unpaid care work and household duties. Without affordable childcare, flexible work policies, and a cultural shift toward recognizing women as leaders, many women either abandon their scientific careers or fail to advance.
Accelerating Change: Solutions to Close the Gender Gap
1. Mentorship and Career Support
Mentorship is one of the most powerful tools for breaking barriers. Having role models and guidance can significantly change the trajectory of a woman’s career in science.
Consider Dr. Loyce Faith Nangiro, a young Ugandan doctor who received the 2025 Women in Global Health Award. Despite significant obstacles in her education, she found mentors who not only guided her but also helped pay her tuition. Instead of staying in the city to build a comfortable career, she returned to Karamoja, Uganda, to work at a local hospital treating visceral leishmaniasis—one of the deadliest parasitic diseases after malaria.
This story underscores the impact of mentorship. Initiatives such as the Women in Global Health Programme, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme, and the Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme are providing opportunities for African women in science—but we need more.
2. Male Allies and Institutional Support
Advancing gender equity in science is not just a women’s fight. Male allies—mentors, colleagues, and policymakers—must actively support their female counterparts. This means advocating for women in hiring processes, ensuring fair distribution of research funding, and challenging biases in academic and research institutions.
Research shows that women-led teams in science often produce more collaborative, innovative, and inclusive research. Institutions must take deliberate steps to increase female representation in leadership roles by offering leadership training, fair funding opportunities, and research grants specifically targeted at women-led projects.
3. Representation and Visibility
Women’s contributions to science must be celebrated and showcased. One of us leads Women in Vector Control, a program that highlights the work of female scientists tackling malaria and dengue. Research has shown that when women actively participate in disease vector control, community health improves.
Platforms such as the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) are also playing a critical role by recognizing young African women who are solving major health challenges. The more women are seen in leadership positions, the more young girls will be inspired to enter the field.
4. Gender Equality in Research and Funding
Institutions must implement clear policies and targets for gender equity in hiring, research funding, and academic publishing. Grant-awarding bodies must track and report on gender disparities to ensure that women researchers are not sidelined.
Research must also be more inclusive of women’s health needs, particularly in clinical trials. Women of childbearing age should no longer be automatically excluded from drug development research.
Africa’s Scientific Future Depends on Women Scientists
African women scientists have already demonstrated their ability to lead groundbreaking research and shape global health solutions. However, we cannot afford to wait another 133 years—the projected timeline for gender parity—to fully integrate women into Africa’s scientific workforce.
If we are serious about solving Africa’s greatest health challenges, we must accelerate action now. By investing in mentorship, challenging institutional biases, amplifying female leadership, and ensuring equitable access to research funding, we can build a scientific ecosystem that truly serves Africa’s entire population.
The future of African health research—and the lives it will save—depends on it.
About the Authors
Dr. Damaris Matoke-Muhia is a biotechnologist, a senior principal research scientist in infectious and neglected tropical diseases, and the Deputy Director of the Biotechnology Programme at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
Dr. Monique Wasunna is a physician, an infectious disease and tropical medicine specialist, and the Africa Ambassador for the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).
Cite this article as (APA format):
AR Managing Editor (2025). Why Africa Needs More Women Scientists to Tackle Health Challenges. Retrieved from https://www.africanresearchers.org/why-africa-needs-more-women-scientists-to-tackle-health-challenges/
The African Research (AR) Index is a comprehensive scholarly directory and database focused explicitly on journal publishers that publish and disseminate African research.
