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RUFORUM Newsletter February 2023

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The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) extends appreciation to the RUFORUM Board and Vice Chancellors , RUFORUM Partners, University Management, Students and all our stakeholders in the Higher Agricultural and Tertiary Education sector from the 40 RUFORUM Member Countries across Africa. We are also grateful to all other organizations, including our National Governments, for their efforts in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and working towards a quick return to normalcy and recovery in growth of Africa’s economy. Because of your collective efforts, universities and other higher education sectors have been able to resume full operations, for which we congratulate all management, staff, and students.

In a special way, on behalf of the RUFORUM Network, I would like to thank the Government of Zimbabwe and the RUFORUM Member Universities in Zimbabwe for hosting the 18th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting and Conference (AGM) of 2022 that was held in Harare, Zimbabwe. The theme of the AGM was, “Strengthening Africa’s agri-food systems in the post COVID-19 era – opportunities and challenges.”

The conference attracted over 1,000 participants including higher education and agriculture leaders, researchers, policy makers, development partners, private sector actors, students and farmers, among others. The mutually reinforcing meetings included: (a) A Vice Chancellors Forum for lesson sharing across member universities; (b) Presented 129 scientific papers; (c) Recognized leading personalities in higher education in Africa; (d) Recognized young innovators and; (e) Showcased exhibitions from African Universities and their partners. Additionally, a ministerial meeting on higher education that generated policy recommendations for growing Africa’s higher education sector was held. The AGM business meeting was held, and it heralded a change in leadership at the Secretariat, with Professor Adipala Ekwamu, RUFORUM’s founding Executive Secretary, passing the baton to the new Executive Secretary. The RUFORUM Board, and indeed the entire network and higher education community in Africa and globally, thank Professor Adipala Ekwamu, for his outstanding contribution to Human Capital Development in Africa, promoting University- Community engagement, University-Policy-Industry linkages, as well as mobilising funding for strengthening Higher Education, Agriculture, Science, Technology and Innovation Development in Africa.

As we move forward in 2023, RUFORUM would like to bring to your attention a key principle of solidarity, that has kept our network together in the past and is critical for our collective future. We have found solutions to our problems by working together, such as the need to build each other’s human resources. Through the Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) Program, championed by the Vice Chancellors, we are building capacity for Africa by Africa. To date, 252 GTAs (65 female, 187 male) from 55 sending universities have been placed in 44 host universities across the RUFORUM network. These GTAs are from 55 member universities of the RUFORUM network. I would like to congratulate the Vice Chancellors of participating Universities, as well as their management and staff, on taking this courageous “leap of solidarity.” Let us continue to support one another in research, teaching and learning as well as development delivery.

We are pleased to announce that the Government of Cameroon together with the RUFORUM Member universities in the country will host the 19th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting in Yaoundé. The conference will take place in the last quarter of 2023, and more details will be communicated soon. Several pre-conference events will be held virtually, allowing us to engage with stakeholders at different levels. Kindly visit the RUFORUM and conference website for updates.

The five-year RUFORUM Operation Plan is currently under development and will be launched later this year. RUFORUM envisions vibrant, transformative universities catalysing sustainable, inclusive agricultural development to feed and create prosperity for Africa. To achieve this vision, we need a collective effort to educate people in agriculture and intensify gender inclusion. The secretariat will seek your wisdom and guidance to help us develop a viable and impactful operation plan. Finally, This newsletter contains highlights of happenings in our network that you all have made and continue to make grow. Thank you and God bless you all.

Professor Patrick Okori
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

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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.

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.

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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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