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RUFORUM: Institutional Capability Statement

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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

Mark Wamai

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda. Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Tufts University, and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), invites researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community actors to submit abstracts for the National Symposium on:

Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda: Local Voices for Policy Impact

Date: Wednesday, 12th August 2026
Venue: Makerere University Main Hall

The symposium will examine the drivers, patterns, and impacts of climate-induced youth migration in Uganda, while advancing evidence-based and community-informed policy responses.

Theme: Climate-Induced Youth Migration and Urban Futures in Uganda: Evidence, Voices, and Pathways for Action

Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Submit Abstracts To: citiesofyouth@musph.ac.ug

Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to contribute research findings, case studies, policy analyses, and practice-based experiences. Abstracts will be considered for oral and poster presentations.

Mak Editor

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University. Photo: Nano Banan 2

Makerere University, in partnership with Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Independent University of Bangladesh, Eduardo Mondlane University, and Pokhara University, with funding from Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED), is implementing a project: ‘Co-creating Knowledge for Local Adaptation to Climate Change in LDCs (COLOCAL).

The expected outputs of the project include strengthened educational and research capacity, improved knowledge on inclusive Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) and Community Based Adaptation (CBA) including delivering skilled knowledge co-creators, and partnerships to support needs-driven, locally-based and contextually sensitive adaptation. The outputs are anticipated to influence policy, planning and practice around LLA and CBA through collaborative learning and knowledge translation.

In line with targets and activities for 2026/2027, COLOCAL project is offering research support for three (3) Master’s students who have completed their first academic year of taught classes at Makerere University and are interested in undertaking research under one of the following thematic areas. The students MUST have undertaken the course offered under the auspices of the project on Disability, Social Justice and Climate Resilient Development.

Requirements:

  • A first degree from a reputable university in a field related to the focus of the project
  • Ugandan citizen below 35 years
  • Good command of English (spoken and written)
  • Demonstrated interest in inclusive and climate resilient development
  • Evidence of practical experience in conducting relevant research during and after undergraduate level
  • Evidence of full payment of all university fees for the first academic year
  • The Masters programme being undertaken MUST have explicit content on climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Special consideration will be given to students with disabilities, financial challenges, students from ethnic minority groups, internally displaced students, among others

Scholarship and study/research conditions

Availability to complete all research activities in a maximum of 10 months.

Scope of the scholarship

The project will specifically cover stipends and support for field activities only. Support with tuition fees, for the research year, will be provided for students who will complete and submit the research thesis for examination within 10 months from the date of receiving the scholarship offer letter.

How to apply

Interested and eligible candidates should submit the following documents: Application letter, research concept note of not more than 2 pages, academic transcripts/certificates, an updated CV (including contacts of at least two referees) and two recommendation letters.

Send applications via email to: colocal.caes@mak.ac.ug, not later than 20th May, 2026. This contact can as well be used for inquiries, where necessary.

Mak Editor

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Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert

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Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa

The Makerere University Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Limited implemented a Gates Foundation training program dubbed “Principle of Management Excellence for Research training” PRIMER in francophone countries, namely, Mali, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This training was delivered by content experts and experienced practitioners, not professionally trained experts. As such, limiting the quality of slide decks, which were largely fragmented with text rather than graphical and infographic elements that suit a mature audience. To effectively deliver a research training program, advanced, engaging, and efficient tools are critical for fostering audience engagement and participation, and for learning and assessment in research management excellence. To achieve this, IDI seeks to hire an expert to:

  1. design and deliver a set of integrated advanced slide decks combining text, visual learning materials (graphical and infographics) and case scenarios
  2. develop a virtual bilingual community learning platform (VBCLP), i.e. with in-built French and English to engage alumni,
  3. develop and automate a pre-course assessment system that potential trainees fill out, and it automates results that are presented in statistical form for easy interpretation and decision making.

Details: https://shorturl.at/Rzn8d

Apply to: EAkankwasa@idi.co.ug

Deadline: 5 June 2026, 5 PM EAT

Mak Editor

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