Empowering the next generation of Agricultural Leaders in Africa
Malawi University of Science and Technology Announces First Cohort of 11 TAGDev 2.0 Program Scholars
Exciting news from Malawi! As part of the transformative TAGDev 2.0 program, in partnership with The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) recently announced its first cohort of scholars.
The call for applications was launched in December 2024, drawing an impressive pool of 585 applicants. After a rigorous selection process, involving a comprehensive 10-stage recruitment procedure conducted by the RUFORUM Secretariat, 11 candidates were officially awarded scholarships by the committee during their meeting on July 3rd, 2025.
A truly diverse cohort: 64% of the recipients are women, emphasizing the university’s strong commitment to gender equality and empowering female leaders in agriculture. Additionally, 36% of the awardees are refugees, highlighting the program’s dedication to inclusivity and reaching vulnerable and marginalized groups.
RUFORUM: A Vision for Agricultural Transformation
RUFORUM is a network of African universities dedicated to strengthening agricultural education, research, and innovation. Established in 2004, the network brings together 175 universities from 40 African countries. Through strategic partnerships, RUFORUM empowers young Africans to become change agents in their societies.
TAGDev: A Game-Changer in Agricultural Higher Education
In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, RUFORUM in 2016 launched the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to meaningfully contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev 1.0), which has made significant strides in agricultural education. TAGDev 2.0, a scale-up to TAGDev 1.0 is a 10 year (2023–2033) program which brings together 12 African universities including; Malawi University of Science and Technology (Malawi), Africa University (Zimbabwe), University of Free State (South Africa), Gulu University & Uganda Martyrs University (Uganda), University of Eldoret & Egerton University (Kenya), University of Bamenda (Cameroon), University of Port Harcourt (Nigeria), University of Cape Coast (Ghana), National University of Agriculture (Benin), and Mohammed VI Polytechnique University (Morocco). These universities are committed to training the next generation of agricultural leaders and innovators for Africa.
The TAGDev 2.0 focuses on:
- Expanding equal work opportunities for young women and men in the agricultural sector
- Improving climate adaptive agricultural production and productivity of focus value chains
- Strengthening the quality of higher agricultural education outcomes in training, research and innovation.
Below is a table listing the selected scholars in Malawi.
| S/N | Name | Gender | course |
| 1 | Mango Jacqueline | Female | BSc. Food Science and Technology |
| 2 | KAFUMBU HOPE | Female | BSc. Food Science and Technology |
| 3 | Yohane Giraneza | Male | BSc. Food Science and Technology |
| 4 | Kachigunda Ruth | Female | BSc. Food Science and Technology |
| 5 | Kalimu Sabina | Female | BSc. Food Science and Technology |
| 6 | Eliezer Bernard | Male | BSc. Food Science and Technology |
| 7 | Chibisa Gift | Male | Master of Engineering in Applied Chemical Engineering |
| 8 | Limited Mercy | Female | Master of Science in Entrepreneurship |
| 9 | LUNGU EMILY | Female | Master of Science in Entrepreneurship |
| 10 | Cadono Stella | Female | Master of Engineering in Applied Chemical Engineering |
| 11 | Mendulo Takondwa | Female | Master of Engineering in Applied Chemical Engineering |
What This Means for MUST
This scholarship award highlights MUST’s role as a hub for scientific excellence and innovation. Recipients will:
- Pursue fully funded undergraduate or postgraduate degrees
- Participate in hands-on research and entrepreneurial projects
- Collaborate with communities on real-world agricultural challenges
- Gain access to field attachments, mentorship, and startup training
MUST’s TAGDev Triumph: Programs that Empower
These 11 scholarships are strategically allocated to three high-impact academic programs at MUST:
BSc. Food Science and Technology: Focused on nutrition, food safety, and sustainable production, this program equips students with the tools to combat malnutrition and improve food systems across Malawi and beyond.
Master of Engineering in Applied Chemical Engineering: Bridging science and sustainability, this program trains students to develop chemical innovations for agriculture, renewable energy, and clean water—critical challenges facing the continent.
Master of Science in Entrepreneurship: Designed for bold thinkers, this program empowers students to launch businesses, scale agribusiness ventures, and drive grassroots transformation.
TAGDev 1.0 impact
- Over 350,000 farmers and community members were reached. 73 percent of TAGDev 1.0 graduates are employed in the formal sector while 27 percent of them own businesses that directly employ 1,600 people.
Scaling our achievements
TAGDev 2.0 aims to scale these achievements by:
- updating 1,600 courses across 80 academic programs and
- impacting 1.2 million people, including 820,000 young women, 300,000 refugees and displaced persons, and 120,000 persons with disabilities. This intentional focus on the most talented who often lack access ensures that the benefits of agricultural education and innovation are inclusive.
Why It Matters
TAGDev 2.0 is not just a scholarship program, it is a movement for transformation of African higher education institutions. It champions equity, innovation, and leadership, especially among youth navigating challenges of life including poverty, displacement, and climate vulnerability. Through its participation, MUST is nurturing future agricultural leaders who will become scientists, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders with potential to revolutionize Malawi’s agricultural landscape and contribute to Africa’s broader growth and development journey.
