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Synthesis Report: RUFORUM Webinar Series 2020

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The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) devastation across the world has been phenomenal in the shortest time since its outbreak in December 2019 in China. COVID-19 impacts have been felt in all spheres of the economy and global operations. Tertiary education has seen significant interruptions and according to UNESCO, universities and other tertiary education institutions across 175 countries were closed affecting some 220 million learners globally. In the Sub-Saharan Africa region, COVID-19 affected an estimated 98% of all the tertiary education students as countries imposed measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus. The pandemic besides getting students off-campus caused universities to suffer significant revenue losses from tuition and other services offered by their respective campuses.

In order to galvanize our universities’ responses to emerging challenges and opportunities brought about by the Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, the RUFORUM Secretariat convened a multi-stakeholder online engagement from June-October 2020. Thirteen (13) Webinars were convened to galvanize dialogue and directions for African higher education actors, Governments and Private sector response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and in alignment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognizing the role of universities in responding to the Pandemic,the target audience for these virtual convenings included policy leaders, higher education leaders, staff, university students, technical experts, and researchers. The overall theme of the webinar series was Galvanizing Partnerships for Africa’s Universities Response to Emerging Challenges and Opportunities. The Webinars targeted participants from within and outside Africa to position the dialogue within the continental and global contexts and to build on earlier discussions during the Afro-Arab Partnership meeting in Kampala, the Global Partnership meeting for Higher Agricultural Education and Research,held during the 16thRUFORUM Annual General Meeting in Cape Coast, Ghana and the Ministerial Communique on Promoting Africa Wide Cooperation in Higher Agricultural Education, Science, Technology and Innovation. The webinars generated dialogue and action points that have implications for RUFORUM and other academic and research agencies as they engage with continental agencies such as African Union and European Union as well as National Governments and other regional bodies.

This report summarizes emerging issues and recommendations for strengthening higher agricultural education, partnerships and responses to emerging challenges from the Webinar series.

RUFORUM Webinar Series Participation:

The thirteen (13)webinars attracted more than 100 speakers and moderators. These included among others, former Heads of State, AUC Commissioners and Directors, DEVCo-European Commission Director and other representations, FAO Directors and representatives, Government Ministers, Vice Chancellors and other University leaders, Directors and other representations of university and other associations, private sector actors, students, farmer organizations, Government agencies, international Non-Governmental Organizations, and funding agencies such as, the World Bank and BRIDGIN Foundation.

The audience was drawn from over 100countries across all continents. Marked participation was registered from Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria and the United States of America. The total registration for participation was 5,275 with an average attendance of 60% for each Webinar over a period of five (5) months. The gender distribution was60% male and 39% female.

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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.

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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.

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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

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