Science and gender equality are both crucial to a country’s development. In many societies, women often face exclusion in forest-based activities and initiatives resulting from social, economic, and cultural inequalities that limit their ability to fully participate in and benefit from REDD+. It is therefore crucial that deliberate and meaningful efforts are taken to ensure REDD+ actions are inclusive, fair and gender-responsive both in policy and in practice.

An essential step on the path to quality is to recognize and act upon the fact that despite having no innate cognitive differences, women are underrepresented in many scientific and technical fields, particularly in leadership roles. Among various causes, one can identify a lack of inspiring female role-models, limited exposure of girls to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, gender-biased stereotypes, and preferences for different learning styles between genders. Its time to appropriately recognize, and to champion, the contributions that women make to STEM-related careers.

On the occasion of the International Women's Day (IWD), we are talking to Anwar SidAhmed, the Head of the Department of Monitoring and Mapping of Natural Resources at the Remote Sensing and Seismology Authority (RSSA) in Sudan.

A forester by education, Anwar started her career as a part-time lecturer at the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Khartoum, teaching the topics of plant taxonomy, dendrology and plant physiology. She joined the Remote Sensing Authority (RSA) in 2008 as a research assistant. Since then, Anwar earned an MSc and started her PhD on Inference of Tree Biophysical Parameter, Volume and Carbon using Synthetic Aperture Radar data at the Institute of Environmental Studies of the University of Khartoum. At the moment, while waiting to defend her PhD dissertation, Anwar supports remote sensing activities under the framework of the project “Support for the design of the MRV System in the framework of REDD+ Readiness in the Sudan” supported by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) of the World Bank. The objective of the project is to support the Government of Sudan in the development of a robust National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) to obtain up-to-date, reliable, transparent and accessible information about the state of the country’s forests and guide decision- and policymaking for sustainable management of Sudan’s forest resources.

Anwar was always interested in remote sensing and its applications in the forestry sector:

I really liked science and how it made studying natural resources and forestry interesting and easy. I prayed to get the job at the RSA. Since I joined the RSA in 2008, I conducted remote sensing of natural resources for numerous studies and projects. Requests usually arrive from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and Wildlife Protection Authority.

Anwar SidAhmed at the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) workshop, Khartoum, Sudan. Photo: ©Maryia Kukharava

Now Anwar is the head of the Department of Monitoring and Mapping of Natural Resources producing data to identify and address national climate and forestry priorities:

With support provided by FAO, we have recently finalized the activity data component for Sudan Sub-national forest reference emission level (FREL) for deforestation using Open Foris SEPAL. At the moment, we are waiting to respond to the comments provided by the reviewers at the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In addition, I am working with UNDP’s Sudan Climate Risk Finance Project that aims to create an enabling environment for climate risk management of smallholder farmers and pastoralists in rain-fed areas.

Anwar considers her work to be crucial for Sudan’s sustainable development:

Remote sensing and GIS is particularly important for the information on the spatial distribution and limitations of Sudan's natural resources, as the Sudanese people depend heavily on their natural resources (agriculture, water, pasture and forest) for a living. There is an urgent need to speed up the completion of our resources database to be able to prepare realistic plans for meeting the growing demand for food and fuel and to reduce the hazard of drought and fluctuations of the rain. RS data can also support disaster risk reduction and recovery efforts.

Sudanese Forests: © Forests National Corporation Sudan

Anwar doesn’t have any female role models, but she believes that women should have the same opportunities as men:

I just believe that women are strong and powerful. We have to look inside ourselves and fight those oppressive and discriminatory stereotypes that society has assigned to women. I always tell myself that I am not vulnerable and I don't need to be protected by others.

While talking about current opportunities and challenges for women in science, Anwar notices that the success of African women has not been always reflected in employment rates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM):

There are indeed difficulties and obstacles for women to overcome if they are to engage in STEM fields. Among these obstacles are factors related to women themselves as well as political, social and cultural factors. There is pressure on family, kids and their needs. It is often difficult to achieve a work-life-family balance as all of these elements require time and effort. Having big dreams and goals and fighting to achieve them can often be a headache too.

Nevertheless, Anwar encourages more girls and women to get involved in STEM subjects:

One potential strategy is to help girls change their mindsets and help them believe that they have the ability to learn whatever they want, ensure them that there are no limits to their abilities. Stereotypes can also be challenged by exposing girls to examples of women who have succeeded in STEM-related fields. This can be done by portraying these women as relatable and by highlighting how they became scientists. This will make it easier for girls to envision themselves following a similar path to success. In addition, governments should provide opportunities for girls to work and help them to succeed in STEM-related tasks to build their confidence.

Anwar is excited about future opportunities and goals:

I am eager to advance my expertise and skills in remote sensing and GIS further. I wish to continue working in this field and support more institutions in Sudan in the use of remote sensing data and GIS to help them implement and design their projects effectively and sustainably.

My ultimate goal is to participate in one of the European Space Agency (ESA) projects.

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