General
Directors from USAID Feed the Future Innovation Labs visit Makerere University: impressed with the DANRE/KSU project’s progress
On 23rd May 2018, 40 Directors from USAID Feed the Future Innovation Labs visited Makerere University Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics (DANRE). The remarkable visit aimed at assessing the progress of the DANRE/KSU project of Up-Grading and Enhancing the Institutional Capacity of the Department.
The DANRE/KSU Project concept was developed in 2011. In 2014, Virginia Tech carried out the initial DANRE scoping study followed by the DANRE Capacity Building Proposal submitted to USAID in 2015. A four-year project was approved and Michigan State University and the Borlaug Higher Education for Agricultural Research and Development (BHEARD) program were brought on board in 2015. BHEARD released an RFA to network universities in 2016. Six applications were received and reviewed, and three applications were selected for further evaluation. Makerere University Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics (DANRE) partnered with Kansas State University (KSU) Department of Agricultural Economics to implement the objectives of the project.
The specific objectives of the project are:
- To restructure and review the curricula structure of two postgraduate and undergraduate Programs including development of a taught PhD program
- To strengthen DANRE’s unit for agricultural research and analysis
- To Up-grade communication and instruction methods available to staff members
According to Dr. Jackline Bonabana-Wabbi, a Senior Lecturer and Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator in the Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics, the project focused on Developing a strategic Plan to improve the educational program and teaching capacity of the department as well as enhancing its grantsmanship.
“Our approaches and strategies centred on quality enhancement and assurance in teaching, research & outreach. We also considered establishing a value system based on excellence, efficiency, empathy, integrity and accountability. The Project is ready to look at the Multidisciplinary approach of engaging persons from other academic disciplines and backgrounds to contribute towards its cause. We will also lobby the top university leadership to gain access to university resources and facilities as well as engaging in Networking and building strategic relationships and partnerships with industry and other relevant stakeholders,” she said.
In a presentation, the Head of the Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics Dr. Gabriel Elepu was optimistic that the project will meet its intended goals in the specified period of time.
“Three (3) PhD students have been placed at KSU and a strategic plan for DANRE was drafted and finalized. We also organised a successful Colloquium on Trading in Global Agricultural Economy (Coffee GVC). A Collaboration Draft taught PhD curriculum and other curricula (PGD, BSc. AAE, MSc NR&E) is ongoing, Call for small grants proposals has been done with the Exchange visits of administrators and faculty members taking place. We therefore hope that by September 2021, we shall have reached our intended goals,” he remarked.
He thanked the Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences Prof. John Mugisha and the Principal of College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Prof. Bernard Bashaasha for providing an apposite leadership that has enabled a successful implementation of the project. In the same spirit, Dr. Gabriel Elepu thanked the USAID Feed the Future Innovation Labs for funding DANRE/KSU Project at Makerere University. He applauded Kansas State University for accepting to partner with Makerere University Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics (DANRE).
The Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences Prof. John Mugisha welcomed the Directors at Makerere University; specifically to Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics (DANRE). He thanked the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), for supporting Makerere University to enhance its teaching and research capacity. “We have so many research projects that are funded by USAID. We are really grateful for your support. Makerere University treasures partnerships and collaborations. This is because the more we partner the stronger we become,” he stated.
From the Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics (DANRE), the delegation visited the Incubation Centre at the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering. They also visited Makerere University Agricultural Research institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK).
Article by Nabatte Proscovia, Mak Public Relations Office
By Agnes Namaganda
On July 22nd 2022, Makerere University–Child Health and Development Centre (Mak–CHDC) launched a draft manual for the National Parenting Standards. The Centre has been working together with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) with funding from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund), to develop standards that are agreeable to all organisations in the country that are involved in parenting work. The draft manual was being presented to members of a consortium that brings together all these organisations together, called the Parenting Agenda Consortium.
“We produce many documents and they are shelved,” Irene Ayot Chono, who was speaking on behalf of UNICEF said. “We hope that this document will not be one of them,” she emphasized.
Dr. Godfrey Siu, the Principal Investigator from Mak-CHDC who presented the draft manual to participants, emphasized that if any organization is doing parenting work, there should be a minimum package that they should offer.
Draft Manual Content
The manual which will have several modules. These modules will be delivered face-to-face in 1.5 hour sessions. Some of these include; Module 6 which will focus on “understanding responsible masculinity and fatherhood” and on “understanding the concept of head of family.”The draft manual also proposed that Module 11 focuses on Parenting in the 21st Century. Some of the sessions in this module will include Children and Technology, Contemporary Influence on Children and Modernity, Culture and Morality.Module 9 will focus on Parenting for Adolescents and some of the suggested sessions within this module are Needs for Adolescents and The Art of Communicating with Adolescents. Module 5 will focus on Preventing Violent Parenting and Promoting Alternative Discipline Strategies while Module 10 will be about Parenting to Address the Mental Health for Children and Adults.
Participants’ suggestions
After the presentation, participants raised several suggestions for discussion and consideration. These included whether there should be a module on spirituality since Uganda is a strongly religious nation. There was also the concern of how children in remand homes should be parented. Another concern raised by a participant was as to whether teachers who make an undeniable contribution to parenting, should be taken through the parenting manual.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Juliana Naumo Akoryo, the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) said that the manual is for the parenting organisations to utilize and not for MGLSD.
Ms. Chono also adjured the team behind the manual to use picture illustrations in the manual that can be relatable by the Ugandan parents.
Contact: Agnes Namaganda – agnesvioletnamaganda@gmail.com
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