The documentary “The Science of African Women” is now available on YouTube.

Madrid, February 11, 2026. On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are pleased to announce that the documentary “The Science of African Women” is now available on YouTube. The film highlights the talent, challenges, and contributions of African women scientists.

The documentary looks back at the first eight years of the Science by Women program, a flagship initiative of the Foundation that has enabled dozens of African women scientists to carry out research stays at some of Spain’s leading scientific centers, strengthening networks of knowledge and scientific cooperation between Africa and Europe.

Using first-hand accounts from female scientists from various African countries, the film reveals personal and professional experiences marked by scientific excellence, but also by significant structural obstacles. The protagonists address key issues such as gender inequality in science, barriers to career development, the gap between African and Western scientific systems, difficulties in accessing industry, and the lack of technical and financial resources to carry out their research work.

In addition, these researchers present the projects they are currently involved in, the vast majority of which have direct and significant applications in their own communities. Despite resource constraints, many of them have found innovative alternative paths, often unexplored in the Western world, which not only enriches their work but also brings new perspectives and knowledge to the global scientific community.

The documentary highlights the transformative impact of this program not only for African women scientists, but also for the institutions that host them and their colleagues who collaborate with them for six months. This aspect underscores the importance of scientific cooperation as a fundamental element for progress in any field.

Beyond its audiovisual value, “The Science of African Women” has established itself as an essential educational tool for encouraging scientific careers, promoting diverse female role models, and contributing to critical reflection on science from a gender and international cooperation perspective. Its free distribution reinforces the Women in Africa Foundation’s commitment to accessibility to knowledge, culture, and science.

The documentary premiered at the Palacio de la Prensa in Madrid, at an event attended by representatives from the scientific, institutional, and cultural spheres. Since then, the film has been screened in Angola thanks to ACESDA and the Spanish Embassy in the country, as well as in Nigeria thanks to our embassy there.

The documentary in Spanish can be viewed on the YouTube channel of the Women for Africa Foundation: