The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is a consortium of 25 universities in Eastern and Southern Africa established in 2004. The consortium had previously operated as a program of the Rockefeller Foundation beginning in 1992. RUFORUM is registered in Uganda as a Not-for-Profit limited company and is currently in the process of registering as an International Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). It has a mandate to oversee graduate training and networks of specialization in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) countries.

Specifically, RUFORUM recognizes the important and largely unfulfilled role that universities play in contributing to the well-being of small-scale farmers and economic development of countries throughout the sub-Saharan Africa region. The consortium has several unique features for building Africa’s innovation capacity and for engaging universities in development process and practice:

1. It is owned and managed by Africans;
2. It derives its agenda largely from the continent wide policy frameworks especially of the African Union's New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), the NEPAD Science and Technology Framework, the African Union Policy Framework on Revitalising Higher Education in Africa, the Sub Regional Multi–Country Agricultural Productivity Programs, the National Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) of the Member States and Governments, constant review of global trends and foresight planning in order to ensure that Africa has the required capacity for global competitiveness;
3. It allows for joint action by the member universities. This is enhanced through joint faculty appointment for the 12 universities, payment of local fees by graduate students and  national mechanisms (National Forums) which ensure wide stakeholder participation in the RUFORUM programmes; and
4. The consortium provides a wide array of training opportunities for stakeholders, and is in the process of establishing credit transfer mechanisms among the member universities.

Organisation and Governance

The RUFORUM Governance structure is designed to promote ownership of the organisation by the member universities while at the same time ensuring good international practices and quality. There are seven main governance organs that are serviced by a Regional Secretariat as the management and service delivery unit. Each of these organs has distinct responsibilities that are interlinked or feed into each other. The governance structure of the consortium consists of the following elements:

Annual General Assembly

This is the annual meeting of RUFORUM member universities and other stakeholders and it is the supreme organ of the Organisation. The functions include:

• Guiding the overall orientation of RUFORUM mission and programmes
• Approving annual workplan and budget
• Receiving and consider external auditor’s report
• Appointing external auditor for the following year.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors (15 members) is composed of representatives of Vice Chancellors, Civil Society & Private Sector, NARS/Regional Research and Training Networks and Organisations, and Continental/International organisations as spelt out in the Articles of Association of RUFORUM. The Board meets at least once a year and undertakes the following functions:

• Legal representation of RUFORUM
• Approving policies
• Approving budgets
• Recruiting regional staff
• Nominating specialised committees, including the Technical Committee
• Supporting resource mobilization
• Linking to national governments
• Marketing of RUFORUM
• Approving guidelines for eligibility and grants awards.

Technical Committee

This Committee is composed of five elected representatives of the participating Faculties in RUFORUM and seven representatives of stakeholders from outside the university system (6 male & 6 females). The Committee has an elective chair who serves for 3 years and the Regional Coordinator is the Secretary to the Committee. The Committee meets usually twice a year. The functions of the Committee are:

• Reviewing and approving of grant proposals
• Advising the Secretariat on calls for proposals and emerging issues
•  Establishing proposal write up guidelines and related rules

International Advisory Panel (IAP)

This panel consists of six eminent international experts, 4 from within Africa and 2 from outside Africa. It is a new organ to support international recognition of RUFORUM and its programs. The IAP major functions are:

• Providing international oversight and Quality assurance
• Mobilizing international support and partnerships
• Providing policy advice to the Secretariat and Board
• Providing advice to the Board on research, training and outreach thrusts, and on the grant rules and guidelines.

Regional Coordinator and Secretariat The Secretariat operates as a facilitating unit and internal service provider to the organisation. Its main management functions are:

• Facilitating the implementation of Board, IAP  and Technical Committee deliberations
• Developing and implementing budgets and Financial Management
• Coordinating programs
• Linking the Board, National Forums and other stakeholders
• Facilitating Monitoring and Evaluation activities
• Providing documentation for use by members and general public
• Mobilizing resources and advocacy
• Organising learning and other events of interest to RUFORUM
• Brokering partnerships for the organisation.

The Secretariat is managed by a team of experienced international experts led by the Regional Coordinator as the Chief Executive. There is an efficient and transparent financial management system that is audited by an international firm (Deloitte & Touche). Because of this RUFORUM manages several regional and international programs such as those of NEPAD, FARA, COMESA and ASARECA.

Deans Committee

This committee consists of Deans of participating faculties. It meets at least twice a year. Its functions are:

• Reviewing issues from the National Forums and Regional Thematic Groups and providing feedback information to the Secretariat and Technical Committee
• Advising the RUFORUM Secretariat on activity progress and issues emerging at individual university and country levels.

National Forums

The National Forums (or RUFORUM chapters) are established at country level, according to the specificity of each country. Each is composed of representatives of participating universities, other actors such as policy makers, national farmer organisations, national agricultural research and extension systems, and members of the Technical Committee for that country. It is chaired by a distinguished person outside the university system and has a secretariat based in a member university. Each National Forum meets at least twice a year and has the following functions:

• Championing and coordinating activities and stakeholders
• Assessing the demand for university R&D, prioritising research, planning and monitoring of activities
• Analysing interventions, learning lessons and fostering adaptation of the research and training efforts
• Mobilizing resources and advocacy
• Documenting and publicizing the activities of RUFORUM both at national and international levels.