RUFORUM CHAMPIONS ‘GIVE TO GAIN’ IN COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is spotlighting how investing in women and girls is generating measurable gains across Africa’s higher education and agricultural innovation systems.

Responding to the global calls to action “Give to Gain” and “Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls,” RUFORUM is demonstrating how continental collaboration among its member universities can translate into real opportunities for women in education, research and innovation.

RUFORUM brings together 175 universities across 40 African countries, forming one of Africa’s largest academic networks focused on strengthening the human capital required for the 21st century in agriculture, science and innovation. Within this network, gender equality, inclusion and safeguarding are strategic priorities. Member universities are supported to develop and implement inclusive policies that foster safe, supportive environments where women and girls can learn, lead and thrive.

Turning policy commitments into safer and more inclusive universities

Through its Gender, Inclusion and Safeguarding (GIS) Framework, RUFORUM supports universities to move beyond policy commitments toward practical institutional transformation. Key interventions include:

✅ Gender audits and safeguarding assessments to identify institutional gaps and risks.

✅ Development of formal context-specific safeguarding policies and reporting pathways for staff and students.

✅ Integration of gender indicators into monitoring and evaluation systems, to improve accountability.

✅ Building the capacity of university staff to implement the GIS Framework effectively.

✅ Campus-wide awareness initiatives/campaigns to address harmful norms

Expanding academic opportunities for women

RUFORUM is also expanding access to postgraduate education through targeted scholarship programmes such as the Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev)  and Doctoral Research Grants.

These initiatives prioritize women and other marginalized groups – including displaced persons and refugees, ensuring that talent is not limited by circumstance. To date, RUFORUM has supported more than 2,000 postgraduate students in agriculture and related sciences, with women representing over 40% percent of beneficiaries.

Supporting women innovators and entrepreneurs

Beyond academic training, RUFORUM is investing in women innovators who are transforming research into practical solutions that address Africa’s development challenges. To date, the network has supported more than 80 female-led innovations tackling issues ranging from post-harvest loss reduction to climate-smart digital technologies to name a few.

RUFORUM has also helped more than 60 female-led start-ups move from prototype to market. These ventures are generating employment, strengthening agricultural value chains and contributing to more resilient food systems across the continent.

Giving to women means gaining for Africa

RUFORUM’s experience speaks to this year’s theme that, investing in women delivers returns for entire societies. When women gain access to education, research opportunities and leadership positions, the benefits extend far beyond universities – strengthening families, communities, and food systems.

As the world commemorates International Women’s Day, RUFORUM reaffirms its commitment to advancing gender equality in higher education and innovation systems, ensuring that African women and girls have the opportunity to contribute fully to the continent’s sustainable development.