By: Evaline Acan Across the globe, gender inclusion and safeguarding have become central to development agendas, with institutions of higher learning being recognized as critical agents of transformation. International frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 on Gender Equality, Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Continental Education Strategy emphasize that societies cannot achieve sustainable development without the full participation and protection of all genders (United Nations, 2015). Although the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underscore the importance of inclusive and equitable education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5) as cornerstones of sustainable development, barriers still […]

Background As a result of the challenges posed by climate change issues, developing an evidence-based, sustainable and resilient food system is urgently needed. However, the entire Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) produces only about 3% of the global research on food systems, a very minimal contribution compared to the Global North (e.g., UK 10%, Italy 6%). According to the National Research Outlook Report of Uganda, “Global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, water contamination, food insecurity, global health, poverty, and the refugee influx, amongst others, cannot be tackled without international research collaboration.” A research capacity gap currently exists in interdisciplinary topics such as […]

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In the opulent green fields of northwestern Liberia, rice farmers have long wrestled with the paradox: despite rice being Liberia’s staple food, the country spends nearly USD200 million annually importing it[1]. It is striking that the very crop which is primarily consumed remains inaccessible to many of its farmers. Why? The challenges are many: less than 6% of rice farmers use certified seeds[2] and there is just one (1) agricultural extension worker for every 33,000 farmers[3]. Added to that is poor infrastructure, limited electricity (only 32.5% of Liberians have access[4]), insufficient institutional support, and almost no access to credit – […]

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The RUFORUM Board has approved the establishment of regional hubs aimed at improving integration, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of RUFORUM operations at the regional level. The official launch of these hubs will take place during the RUFORUM AGM scheduled for 1 – 5 December 2025 in Gaborone, Botswana. A meeting of Principals and Deans from Southern Africa has been scheduled for 6th October 2025 from 14:00 to 16:00 CAT (15:00 to 17:00 EAT) to provide insights for the operationalization of the hubs. for more information on the regional hubs, kindly contact Dr. Sokona Dagnoko, Head of Strategic Partnerships, RUFORUM, s.dagnoko@ruforum.org

Join us for a free pre-event to the 21st RUFORUM AGM 2025 and explore how to strengthen student-centered learning through Competency-Based Assessment (CBA). 📅 14 or 15 October 2025 | 🕒 3:00 PM EAT 🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4mqi2sz 💡 To get the most out of this session, we recommend completing the free online course “CBE – the basics” beforehand: 👉https://innovationlab.nhlstenden.com/projects/cbe-the-basics Gain practical tools, align assessments with real-world skills, and exchange ideas with peers in agricultural education.

Egerton University is excited to announce the selection of its second cohort of students under the TAGDev 2.0 program – a transformative initiative in partnership with the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and Mastercard Foundation. Egerton University places inclusion at the heart of its mission, recognizing that true transformation in higher education must embrace diversity in all its forms. Through the TAGDev 2.0 Program, the University has deliberately created opportunities for young women and men who are often marginalized, including refugees and differently-abled persons, alongside those from disadvantaged communities. By ensuring that such students access quality […]

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Background The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Gulu University (Uganda), Egerton University (Kenya), Africa University (Zimbabwe), University of the Free State (South Africa), Malawi University of Science and Technology (Malawi), University of Eldoret (Kenya), Uganda Martyrs University (Uganda), University of Port Harcourt (Nigeria), University of Cape Coast (Ghana), University of Bamenda (Cameroon), National University of Agriculture (Benin), and Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (Morocco) are implementing a 10-year programme (2023-2033) called Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev 2.0). The programme seeks to strengthen universities and […]

National University of Agriculture (UNA), is proud to announce the selection of its first cohort of scholars under the TAGDev 2.0 program, a transformative initiative in partnership with the Regional University Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and Mastercard Foundation. The National University of Agriculture (UNA) in Benin is committed to advancing academic and social inclusion by ensuring equitable access to quality education for all students, regardless of their social or geographical background. In this context, TAGDev 2.0, implemented through RUFORUM in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, is playing a pivotal role. Through this collaborative initiative, full scholarships are offered […]

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) is proud to announce the selection of the first cohort of scholars under the TAGDev 2.0 programme – a transformative initiative in partnership with the Regional University Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and Mastercard Foundation.  As the number one ranked university in Ghana and West Africa by the Times Higher Education (THE), the University of Cape Coast (UCC) continues to demonstrate unmatched leadership in academic excellence, innovation, and impactful research. The University has carved a strong footprint in Ghana’s agricultural sector through pioneering research, farmer-extension partnerships, agribusiness incubation initiatives, and community-based projects […]

The university of Free State (UFS) is proud to announce the selection of its first cohort of scholars under the TAGDev 2.0 program – a transformative initiative in partnership with the Regional University Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and Mastercard Foundation. UFS is deeply committed to creating an inclusive and humane environment for all students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is achieved through a multi-faceted approach that includes comprehensive financial support via scholarships like the Mastercard Foundation and RUFORUM program, which also provides additional aid for refugees and persons with disabilities. Furthermore, UFS has dedicated offices such […]

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