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This book focuses on digital approaches to capacity development, reflecting the greater interest in how digital tools and platforms can be used for capacity development in the ‘Global South’. While Covid-19 demonstrated some of the benefits of online learning, the widespread, often uncritical adoption of online tools driven by necessity has left many with an... Continue Reading →

My name is Sonnie Rose Kesselly, a 2023 graduate from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering, Makerere University, Uganda. I am a Liberian and a Lecturer at the College of Agriculture and Forestry in the University of Liberia. I began my PhD Journey in February of 2020... Continue Reading →

In Burundi, Olivier Nihimbazwe is walking the walk. Olivier is a 28-year-old former Gulu University student who participated in the TAGDev project. He completed a Master’s degree in Food Security and Community Nutrition in 2021. During their orientation training at Egerton University in 2019, they were challenged to think of something that would benefit the... Continue Reading →

One-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted, resulting in an estimated $1 trillion in economic losses per year and 37 percent of its total in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite increased efforts to increase food production, Africa has few innovative solutions to reduce food waste. Agricultural waste offers limitless opportunities for converting “waste” into... Continue Reading →

The cultural transition from a French-speaking country to an Anglophone country did not deter Mahoussi Simone Assocle, a TAGDev/RUFORUM beneficiary traveling from Contour, Benin. Mahoussi, a passionate food scientist and nutritionist with four years of experience in nutrition, processing, and quality control of food products, is the founder of “Benin AgroTrans,” an innovative social enterprise... Continue Reading →

Gulu, which recently gained city status, has become a lucrative business center with enormous potential for those who dare to exploit it. Juliet Ochama, a TAGDev scholar, is one of those who has taken up the mantle to capitalize on this market potential through her business “Nectar Point.” Ochama is a former TAGDev scholar who... Continue Reading →

The Oliver Tambo Africa Research Chair Initiative (OTARChI) awarded one of the Chairs designated “Ecosystem-based Adaptation (to climate change) in Arid and Semi-arid zones (ESORCCAS)” to the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), Maputo, Mozambique. The project is financed through the Mozambique National Research Fund (FNI) and will be implemented in the Limpopo Corridor Region, under the... Continue Reading →

Nutrition is at the heart of everything in life; the food we eat is our first medicine. What you eat is what you are and who you are,” Adoko emphasizes, adding that everything you put into your body has an impact on your health. Growing up in a relatively deprived community in Benin, Adoko witnessed... Continue Reading →

Finding the right market for grains at the right price is difficult, especially in farming communities in Northern Uganda. Meet Robine Okello, a TAGDev scholar who studied Agri Enterprise Development at the Master’s level at Gulu University. He is currently a volunteer at the African Union Commission in Ethiopia, where he is in charge of... Continue Reading →

Florence Chambabulele, final year student of Agribusiness Management at Mulungushi University As an agribusiness student, I experienced a life-changing learning event as problem-based learning advocate. My visit to the RUFORUM meeting was part of the HAMK coordinated PBL-BioAfrica project that strengthens Kenya’s and Zambia’s higher education by promoting problem-based learning (PBL) and providing real-life based learning experiences to... Continue Reading →

Collaborative Action for Strengthening Training Capacities in Climate Risk and Natural Resource management (CoSTClim) Makerere University (MAK) in collaboration with Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) and Regional Universities Forum (for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) are implementing a five year CoSTClim project (Collaborative Action for Strengthening Training Capacities in... Continue Reading →

Monique Mededode Sognigbe and colleagues set out to teach the community about sustainable farming at the Imvepi refugee settlement in the newly established Terego District in the West Nile region of Uganda’s Northern Region. This was accomplished through the use of vertical farming. Vertical Farming in Refugee Settings (VEFIRS) – A Tool for Fostering Intergroup... Continue Reading →

This report provides a summary of achievements during the period 1st October to 31st December 2022. The main activity during this period, was the successful convening of the 18th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting from 12-16th December 2022. The meeting was hosted by RUFORUM Member Universities in Zimbabwe and the Government of Zimbabwe with conference activities... Continue Reading →

Rose Moyoo set out to make mango consumption more nutritious and tastier with her organic Mango Marmalade jam. She started this initiative as part of Gulu University’s student Agribusiness incubation system, which was funded by the TAGDev Program. “As scholars, they were tasked with developing an idea in the agricultural value chain.” Mooyo thinks back.... Continue Reading →

John Mugonya, an agribusiness professional, had no idea that an orientation class at Egerton University in 2017 would have such an impact on his professional career five years later. TAGDev Organised student Orientation Weeks are critical in preparing students for life-changing events. Mugonya attended this orientation as part of his studies for a Master of... Continue Reading →

Introduction Strengthening Capacities of Young Farmers Organizations in ‘Capacity Development’ is a blended interactive programme designed by FAO in collaboration with ITOCA and focuses on designing effective capacity development programmes at country level. The programme introduce participants to capacity development, allowing them to practice approaches, methods, and tools to develop effective capacity development programmes and... Continue Reading →

“What we wear tells the story of who we are or whom we want to be.” According to Google Arts and Culture, fashion is the second most important global economic activity in terms of trade intensity, employing over 57 million people in developing countries, with women accounting for 80 percent of the workforce. “RK Beauty... Continue Reading →

Mounting up to 15m in length, with thick stems and greenish-to-yellow flowers, the orchard plant climbs and clings to host trees, displaying its long and thin pods of vanilla fruits. Blossoming in the warm climate, vanilla is one of the most important, high-value cash crops in central and western Uganda. This profitable crop is harvested... Continue Reading →

As you walk from the city to Gulu University, you will notice a simple but well-curated sanctuary where you can seek refuge from the scorching sun that rises early in the morning. This is Kobusinge Racheal’s “Scoop and Chill” business. Kobusinge, an Agri-preneur, former Gulu University student, and TAGDev program alumnus, turns raw milk into... Continue Reading →

Joshua Ayiri Bayahkebe, a Nigerian Agri-entrepreneur known as “Oga” by the people of Gulu City, is working to improve the quality of peanut butter consumed in Northern Uganda. Working with farming communities and youth, Ayiri is producing “Gulu Peanut Butter,” a rich and delicious groundnut paste that complements meal times at family tables in surrounding... Continue Reading →