The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is a network of African universities. Until 2004, the Network had operated as a   programme of the Rockefeller Foundation beginning in 1992 known as Forum for Agricultural Resource Husbandry (FORUM). FORUM focused on capacity building to enhance food and nutrition security, working with faculties of agriculture   in 10 Universities in five countries (Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe).

RUFORUM is now registered in Uganda as an International Non‐Governmental Organisation (NGO) with a membership of 126 universities in 38 countries across the African continent. Membership to RUFORUM is open to African postgraduate   degree-awarding institutions with faculties, schools, institutes or equivalent units in the field of agriculture and related sciences and those offering science, technology and innovation programmes.

Why RUFORUM exists

Institutionally, RUFORUM aims to: 

• Foster integration of African universities into the national agricultural innovation systems (NAIS).
• Provide a platform for training quality graduates to support development processes in Africa.
• Rationalise resource use and enhance economies of scale and scope.
• Provide a platform for networking, resource mobilisation and advocacy for agricultural higher education, science, Technology and Innovation in Africa

To achieve the above aims, RUFORUM developed its Vision 2030 Strategy through a wide‐ranging consultative prioritization and consensus building process among the member universities and other actors from within and outside Africa for implementing the three strategic goals.

1. Inclusiveness – by promoting both a balance in the gender of researchers (faculty, student and partner agencies) and in the inclusion of a gender perspective in the project proposals;
2. Social responsibility – by promoting links with, and understanding of, conditions in rural areas and to expose students and faculty to the rewards of service through the projects supported;
3. Long-term change – through a focus on systemic change and capacity building;
4. Sustainability – through awareness of the environmental impact of the proposed research
5. Diversity – by recognizing and valuing differences and similarities in perspectives, by ensuring an   appropriate balance between generic and disciplinary approaches to problem solving;
6. Creativity – by providing faculty and students with opportunities to develop innovative solutions both   in   addressing   the   problems faced by smallholder farmers, and in managing research projects in remote areas;
7. Collaboration – through    the    multi-agency teams encouraged through the CARP and to a lesser extent the GRG.  Through these teams RUFORUM is dedicated to the emergence of pro-active networks and better communication which is further consolidated through the establishment of a National Forum;
8. Excellence – through an independent selection of the best proposals and a mentoring and monitoring   system   to   ensure   quality   in   its programs   and   awards, through   encouraging such   systems   in   all   member   faculties, and through    building    the    reputation    of    the research and networking that emerges from the CGS;
9. Equity – by investing in the member institutions which   are   under-represented   in grant   awards   so that   they   may   compete effectively in the future; and,
10. Enhanced   human   capital – by   encouraging timely graduation and commitment to serving African development

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The RUFORUM Secretariat is located at Plot 151, Garden Hill, Makerere University Main Campus, Kampala Uganda. Tel: +256-417-713-300, Email: secretariat[at]ruforum.org, Website: www.ruforum.org