The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) entered into a partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA) and 12 African universities, namely: (1) African University, Zimbabwe; (2) Egerton University, Kenya; (3) Gulu University, Uganda; (4) Malawi University of Science and Technology, Malawi; (5) Martyrs University, Uganda; (6) National University of Agriculture, Benin; (7) University of Bamenda, Cameroon; (8) University of Cape Coast, Ghana; (9) University of Eldoret, Kenya ; (10) University of Free State, South Africa; (11) University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria; and (12) Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco to implement an ambitious 10 year Transforming African Agricultural Universities to meaningfully contribute to Africa’s growth and development (TAGDev) 2.0 programme.
The TAGDev 2.0 is an institutional program that is focused to supporting universities in their mission delivery through accelerating the pace with which African agricultural universities and their graduates better respond to developmental challenges through enhanced application of science, technology, business and innovation for agricultural transformation. The programme will train and empower young Africans and their institutions to foster inclusive, equitable, and resilient socio-economic development in their societies. It focuses on the transformation of agricultural higher education to stimulate and engage African youth, particularly women and other disadvantaged demographic groups, in its economic revitalization and growth.
Safi region organized five major events between November and December 2024 to launch the programme. These events included;
- Official Launch of the TAGDev 2.0 Project
Held at the UM6P campus in Benguerir on November 7, 2024, this event marked the official launch of the program. It brought together over 100 participants from more than 40 leading organizations, including public institutions, private companies, associations, and NGOs. This gathering celebrated the program’s launch while highlighting Morocco’s strategic role as a hub for agricultural innovation and knowledge sharing on the continent. - Workshop on the curriculum review of the Master’s Program in Agribusiness Innovation: This workshop, organized on November 13, 2024, provided an opportunity to rethink the curriculum to better align it with industry needs and emerging trends. The focus was on fostering inclusive education, promoting entrepreneurship, and integrating digital skills to empower young women and men to thrive in the agribusiness sector.
- Workshop on the curriculum review of the African Agricultural Training Center (CAFA) Program: This session, which took place on November 25, 2024, included an in-depth SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) of the current program. Participants collaborated to develop concrete recommendations aimed at modernizing the curriculum and ensuring its relevance to the evolving challenges and opportunities of African agriculture.
- Training Session for 25 Last-Mile Actors on the Olive Value Chain: Held on November 29, 2024, the participants gained practical knowledge about the various stages of the chain, including pruning techniques, transforming olives into high-quality products, and marketing and commercialization strategies. This training aimed to equip stakeholders with practical tools to enhance productivity and competitiveness in the market.
- Training Session for 25 Last-Mile Actors on the Aromatic and Medicinal Plants (AMPs) Value Chain : Organized over two days, on December 9 and 10, 2024, this session focused on the valorization of aromatic and medicinal plants for cosmetic product development and explored the certification process according to the standards of the Drug and Pharmacy Directorate (DMP). Participants learned how to meet regulatory requirements while positioning their products in local and international markets.
For each organized event, follow-up actions and priorities have been established to enhance the relevance and impact of these initiatives. The Kick-off Event (TAGDev 2.0) facilitated strong stakeholder connections and initiated discussions for potential partnerships, aimed at fostering collaborations and exploring further joint initiatives to amplify the TAGDev program’s impact. Additionally, reports from the Master’s and CAFA Curriculum Review Workshops have been produced, offering recommendations to improve and align the curricula with current job market needs; these documents are essential for ongoing curriculum development, ensuring that programs remain relevant and responsive to the rapidly changing demands of the agricultural and agribusiness sectors.
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