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8 PHILANTHROPY MAGAZINEFEATURE8assembly. %u2018It%u2019s not enough to simply conduct research in isolation. We must work with communities, co-creating knowledge and solutions that make a difference on the ground.%u2019Chitja%u2019s leadership has also helped UKZN secure a prominent role in a groundbreaking international initiatives: the African Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems (ARUA-SFS). This ambitious partnership, comprising 22 institutions across Africa and Europe, aims to transform how research is conducted on the continent %u2013 placing equity, inclusiveness and context at the core of collaborative science.UKZN is one of the selected institutions that will contribute expertise to the Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Sustainable Food Systems. These clusters, launched recently in Brussels, are designed to foster high-impact research aligned with the African Union-European Union Innovation Agenda and Africa%u2019s 2063 vision. She recently participated in a Core SFS workshop in Italy aimed at exploring partnerships and funding.Chitja, representing UKZN%u2019s African Centre for Food Security, will spearhead contributions that include food systems research, curriculum development and capacity-building across Africa. The collaboration will also support the training of emerging researchers and provide access to high-level infrastructure, positioning UKZN as both a beneficiary and a contributor to global knowledge production.%u2018This is a monumental opportunity for African institutions like ours to shape the research agenda around food systems and food security,%u2019 said Chitja. %u2018It enables us to collaborate equitably with international partners while prioritising the unique needs and challenges of African food systems.%u2019Beyond her scholarly and leadership achievements, Chitja is also an inspiring figure for women in science. Recognised as a %u2018Wonder Woman in Science%u2019 in 2018 and a recipient of numerous accolades, she continues to advocate for increased participation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. She also is part of STEMher that hosts and support young women in STEM at high school level allowing the learner direct contact and time with an academic.%u2018Women play critical productive and leadership roles naturally and effectively,%u2019 she said. %u2018It is unwise and costly to exclude them from science. If we want holistic solutions to complex problems, women must be fully part of the scientific enterprise.%u2019Her message to aspiring female scientists is both practical and profound: %u2018Know your purpose and let it guide your decisions. Stay humble, stay open and never stop learning.%u2019%u2018This is a monumental opportunity for African institutions like ours to shape the research agenda around food security. It enables us to collaborate equitably with international partners while prioritising the unique needs and challenges of African food systems.%u2019PROFESSOR JOYCE CHITJAProfessor Joyce Chitja seen with a a local farmer.