The 3rd annual Forum for Women Vice Chancellors in Africa (FAWoVC) kicked off yesterday at the University of Cape Coast, with official opening remarks made by Hon. Shirly Ayorkor Botchway, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
The forum which brings together women Vice Chancellors and Rectors, scientists in academia (both women and men), researchers and students is being held alongside the 15th annual general meeting of RUFORUM. The theme for this years’ FAWoVC is “Enhancing Women Participation and Leadership Role in Africa’s Universities Agenda for Agricultural Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovations.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang (2nd Left), Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa, Former Minister of Education and Former Vice Chancellor of University of Cape Coast
shares a light moment with some of the Female Vice Chancellors from around Africa.
In her remarks, Minister Ayorkor acknowledged that while the number of females in Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) has been growing over the years, women remain significantly underrepresented in the field of science generally across the continent. She said policy makers need to ensure that deliberate programmes are put in place to address the challenges that keep women and girls from participating in STI.
During the course of the day, several speakers made presentations on different aspects of how to enhance women’s participation in the field of science, especially in academic spaces.
Prof. Alice Pell, Cornell University
Prof Alice Pell, the former Vice Provost at Cornell University in the US gave the first keynote address for the day, focusing on the State of women’s participation in science, technology and innovation, with a particular focus on Africa. Prof Domwini Dabire Kuupole, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast emphasised the need for political will and commitment at institutional level. Without such deliberate commitments, he said it would be difficult to get more women into positions of leadership at institutions of higher learning. “Some of the deliberate efforts that I’m talking about should include putting in place affirmative action as a way of encouraging women to study STEM at higher institutional level and we need to catch them young,” said Prof. Kuupole
He added that sensitization on gender equality and equity could also make a big difference and raise awareness among leaders in higher academic institutions. “It is not enough to say let us have a 50-50 parity at admissions. How do we maintain the girls throughout their education and help them stay in academia?” he asked. Prof. Kuupole noted that institutions of higher learning need to put in place well-structured capacity building programmes as part of their strategic policy. This way, he says they are able to design specific programmes on training and mentoring.
Dr Irene Annor Frempong, another lead speaker and Director of Research at the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)-Ghana, said science and gender equality are critical ingredients that can help in achieving Africa’s Agenda 2063. Currently, she said only 35 per cent of all the continent’s students who are enrolled in STEM related fields are women. “Long standing gender biases are steering women and girls away from science related fields and this will have dire consequences for Africa. It is therefore imperative that effective actions are employed to increase their participation in STEM,” said Frempong. Aside from the (FAWoVC) forum, another parallel session that focused on how to foster global partnership for higher education and research also attracted a number of speakers and participants. Some of the key issues discussed focused on Africa’s Food and Agriculture outlook, looking at trends and emerging issues, higher education and research in Sudan, and sharing of best practices of how to promote global partnerships for higher education. Lead Speaker, Dr Kwesi Atta-Krah, the Director, Country Alignment and Systems Integration, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture said universities should do more to make Agriculture appealing as a profession and with business orientation, not just as a course of study.
For more details, please follow #AGMGhana2019 on twitter and visit http://www.ruforum.org/AGM2019/
En commémoration de l’Assemblée Générale Annuelle du RUFORUM au Ghana, le Forum Régional des Universités pour le Renforcement des Capacités en Agriculture (RUFORUM) a dévoilé le Concours de RUFORUM du Prix pour les Jeunes Scientifiques spécifiquement destiné à honorer les jeunes scientifiques et dynamiques qui sont extrêmement prometteurs pour leurs achèvements scientifiques au Ghana. Les trois (3) jeunes scientifiques récompensés du Ghana ont été sélectionnés de manière compétitive parmi quatre catégories de prix à la suite d’examens approfondis réalisés par une équipe d’experts techniques dans les domaines spécifiés (voir le tableau I ci-dessous). Une catégorie était exclusivement réservée aux femmes scientifiques.
Tableau 1: Catégories de Prix
| LES FEMMES DANS LA SCIENCE | Pour la reconnaissance des femmes chercheuses les plus prometteuses du Ghana qui ont démontré leur excellence dans un domaine scientifique. Candidats féminin uniquement. |
| AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES VÉGÉTALES ET DÉVELOPPEMENT RURAL | Pour la reconnaissance des chercheurs les plus prometteurs du Ghana qui travaillent dans le domaine de l’AGRICULTURE ET DES SCIENCES CONNEXES et qui s’engagent à élaborer des modèles durables contribuant à accroître la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle et à améliorer la qualité de la vie des personnes vivant en milieu rural |
| DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE ENVIRONNEMENTALEMENT SONORE | Pour la reconnaissance des chercheurs les plus prometteurs du Ghana qui travaillent dans les domaines de la TERRE, des ÉCOSYSTÈMES, des ÉTUDES ENVIRONNEMENTALES ET ÉCOLOGIQUES, des SCIENCES OCÉANOGRAPHIQUES et SOCIALES et sont en train de contribuer à la protection de notre planète et à la conservation de ses ressources naturelles. |
| INNOVATION EN INGÉNIERIE ET SCIENCES PHYSIQUES | Pour la reconnaissance des chercheurs les plus prometteurs du Ghana qui travaillent dans les domaines de la CHIMIE, de l’INGÉNIERIE, des MATHÉMATIQUES et de la PHYSIQUE et les utilisent pour générer une croissance durable et perturbatrice, avec un potentiel élevé d’impact industriel et / ou social. |
Tous les candidats nommés ont été examinés par trois évaluateurs indépendants et les trois meilleurs sélectionnés pour les prix. RUFORUM a le plaisir d’annoncer les trois lauréats qui recevront leur prix dans la matinée du 6 décembre 2019 à l’Université de Cape Coast, au Ghana (voir tableau II ci-dessous).
RUFORUM félicite les gagnants du prix et adresse ses remerciements à tous les candidats pour avoir répondu au Concours de RUFORUM du Prix pour les Jeunes Scientifiques de l’Année 2019. Nous remercions également les examinateurs pour leur aide dans le processus de sélection.
Tableau II: Trois (3) lauréats du Prix de RUFORUM pour les Jeunes Scientifiques de l’Année 2019
| No. | Nom | Institution | Genre | Nationalité | Score Moyen |
| 1 | Dr. Stephen Edward Moore | Université de Cape Coast | Masculin | Ghana | 79.7 |
| 2 | Dr. Dickson Adom | Université des Sciences et Technologies Kwame Nkrumah | Masculin | Ghana | 76.7 |
| 3 | Dr. Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah | Institut de Recherche sur les Cultures du CSIR | Masculin | Ghana | 75.0 |
Download complete press release Young Scientists_2019_French_
In commemoration of the RUFORUM Annual General Meeting in Ghana, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) unveiled the Young Scientist Award Competition specifically to honor young and dynamic scientists who hold tremendous promise for scholarly achievement in Ghana. Three (3) Young Scientist awardees from Ghana have been competitively selected from four award categories (see Table I below) after extensive reviews by a team of technical experts in the specified fields. One category was exclusively reserved for women scientists.
The competitive selection of the RUFORUM Young Scientist Award 2019 was based on the award categories shown in Table I below.
Table 1: Award Categories
| WOMEN IN SCIENCE | To recognize Ghana’s most promising women researchers who have demonstrated excellence in a scientific field. Female applicants only. |
| AGRICULTURE, PLANT SCIENCES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT | To recognize Ghana’s most promising researchers who are working in the field of AGRICULTURE AND RELATED SCIENCES and are committed to developing sustainable models that help in increasing food and nutrition security and improving the quality of life of people living in rural areas. |
| ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | To recognize Ghana’s most promising researchers who are working in the field of EARTH, ECOSYSTEM, ENVIRONMENTAL and ECOLOGICAL STUDIES, OCEANOGRAPHIC, and SOCIAL SCIENCES and are contributing to protecting our planet and conserving its natural resources. |
| INNOVATION IN ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES | To recognize Ghana’s most promising researchers who are working in the field of CHEMISTRY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, and PHYSICS, and are harnessing it to drive a disruptive and sustainable growth, with a potential for high industrial and/or societal impact. |
All the nominated applicants were reviewed by three independent evaluators and the top three selected for the awards. RUFORUM is pleased to announce the three winners (see Table II below) who will receive their award prizes in the morning of 6th December 2019 at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
RUFORUM congratulates the award winners and extends its appreciation to all applicants for responding to the RUFORUM Young Scientists Award 2019. We also thank the reviewers for their help with the selection process.
Table II: Three (3) winners of the RUFORUM Young Scientists Award 2019
| No. | Name | Institution | Gender | Nationality | Average Score |
| 1 | Dr. Stephen Edward Moore | University of Cape Coast | Male | Ghana | 79.7 |
| 2 | Dr. Dickson Adom | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology | Male | Ghana | 76.7 |
| 3 | Dr. Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah | CSIR-Crops Research Institute | Male | Ghana | 75.0 |
Download the complete Press release Young Scientists_2019_Press_Release_
Le Forum Régional des Universités pour le Renforcement des Capacités en Agriculture (RUFORUM) a le plaisir d’annoncer les 20 lauréats du Concours de RUFORUM pour Jeunes Entrepreneurs Africains de l’année 2019 (Afrique de l’Ouest). Le Concours a attiré 421 jeunes (110 femmes et 311 hommes) provenant de 12 pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest, incluant : le Nigéria, le Bénin, le Burkina Faso, la Côte d’Ivoire, la Gambie, le Ghana, le Libéria, le Mali, le Niger, le Sénégal, la Sierra Leone et le Togo. Le processus suivant en trois étapes a été entrepris pour identifier les 20 meilleurs lauréats :
- Toutes les 421 candidatures ont été évaluées pour vérifier leur conformité aux directives relatives à l’appel.
- Au total, 373 candidatures (soit 88,6%) étaient conformes et ont été chacune examinées par trois évaluateurs.
- Les 60 meilleures candidatures (soit 16,1%) ont été présélectionnées pour le deuxième niveau d’évaluation. Chaque candidature a été une nouvelle fois examinée par une équipe de trois évaluateurs experts.
- Les 20 meilleures candidatures ont été sélectionnées comme gagnantes après avoir passé le second niveau d’évaluation
La liste finale des 20 meilleurs lauréats provenant de six pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest est présentée dans le tableau ci-dessous.
RUFORUM croit au pouvoir de transformation de l’entrepreneuriat pour lutter contre le chômage des jeunes en Afrique. Responsabiliser et impliquer les jeunes dans le développement d’entreprises faciliteront l’intégration des jeunes dans la croissance économique pour l’emploi des jeunes. Les vingt (20) entreprises sélectionnées de manière compétitive recevront un voyage avec toutes dépenses payées (billet d’avion et frais d’hôtel) pour participer et présenter leurs innovations à l’Assemblée Générale Annuelle (AGM) à Cape Coast au Ghana, du 2 au 6 decembre 2019.
L’appel à candidatures était focalisé sur l’Afrique de l’Ouest et constituait la première édition du Concours de RUFORUM pour les Jeunes Entrepreneurs Africains qui est de nature sous-régionale. Le premier concours qui avait été organisé en 2016 avait attiré 756 candidatures provenant de 38 pays. Les quinze (15) entreprises de jeunesse les plus compétitives avait été primées lors de la Cinquième Semaine de l’Enseignement Supérieur Africain et de la Conférence Bisannuelle de RUFORUM qui s’était tenue à Cape Town en Afrique du Sud. Le deuxième concours avait été organisé en 2018 et avait attiré 1 332 jeunes provenant de 42 pays Africains et 23 entreprises compétitives de jeunes avaient été primées lors de la Sixième Semaine de l’Enseignement Supérieur Africain et de la Conférence Bisannuelle de RUFORUM qui s’était tenue à Nairobi au Kenya.
RUFORUM remercie tous les candidats pour leur participation au concours de RUFORUM pour des Jeunes Entrepreneurs Africains de l’année 2019 (en Afrique de l’Ouest) et leur réponse aux évaluateurs.
20 meilleurs lauréats du Concours de RUFORUM pour les Jeunes Entrepreneurs Africains de l’Année 2019 (en Afrique de l’Ouest) classés par Score
| No. | Série | Nom | Genre | Nationalité | Langue | Score Moyen |
| 1 | 1521 | Aisha Kombeh Jatta | Féminin | Gambie | Anglais | 80.0 |
| 2 | 1623 | OBOGNON Noel | Masculin | Benign | Français | 79.3 |
| 3 | 1628 | Thierno Souleymane AGNE | Masculin | Sénégal | Français | 78.3 |
| 4 | 1575 | Oluwatomisin Kolawole | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 77.3 |
| 5 | 1595 | Fatodu Taiwo Olawande | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 77.0 |
| 6 | 1756 | Abdou Rachidi Fancisco | Masculin | Bénin | Français | 76.0 |
| 7 | 1439 | Toyin Olowogbon | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 75.7 |
| 8 | 1765 | DOSSA Sonagnon Jocelyne | Féminin | Bénin | Français | 75.5 |
| 9 | 1830 | Omasan Alabi | Féminin | Nigeria | Anglais | 75.3 |
| 10 | 1555 | Felix Ayite | Masculin | Togo | Français | 75.0 |
| 11 | 1455 | Anthony Ebitimi Owei | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 74.7 |
| 12 | 1819 | MEDENOU Codjo Mawunou Esteban | Masculin | Bénin | Français | 74.3 |
| 13 | 1549 | Ante Joseph | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 73.7 |
| 14 | 1581 | Israel Terwase AYUA | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 73.7 |
| 15 | 1629 | Nnaedozie George Idoko | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 73.3 |
| 16 | 1836 | Benjamin Agyin Turkson | Masculin | Ghana | Anglais | 73.3 |
| 17 | 1694 | Tunde Adeyemi | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 73.0 |
| 18 | 1440 | Michael Olusanya | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 72.7 |
| 19 | 1796 | Ugochukwu Stephen Ugwudi | Masculin | Nigeria | Anglais | 72.7 |
| 20 | 1814 | ADECHIAN Akinhola | Masculin | Bénin | Français | 72.7 |
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is pleased to announce the 20 winners of the 2019 RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition (West Africa). The competition attracted applications from 421 youth (110 females and 311 males) from 12 countries in West Africa including: Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The following three stage process was undertaken to identify the top 20 winners:
- All 421 applications were reviewed for compliance to the call guidelines
- A total of 373 (88.6%) applications were compliant and were each evaluated by three assessors
- Top 60 (16.1%) applications were shortlisted for the second level of evaluation. Each application was once again assessed by a team of three expert assessors
- Top 20 applications were selected as winners after undergoing the second level evaluation
The final list of the top 20 successful winners from six countries in West Africa are presented in the Table below.
RUFORUM believes in the transformative power of entrepreneurship in addressing youth unemployment in Africa. Empowering and involving young people in enterprise development will support youth integration into the economic growth for youth employment. The twenty (20) competitively selected business enterprises will receive an all-expense paid trip (air ticket, and hotel costs) to participate and pitch their innovations at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Cape Coast Ghana, 2-6 December 2019.
The call for applications focused on West Africa and was the first edition of the RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition that is sub-regional in nature. The first competition which was organized in 2016 attracted a total of 756 applications from 38 countries. The fifteen (15) most competitive youth enterprises were awarded during the Fifth Africa Higher Education Week and RUFORUM Biennial Conference that was held in Cape Town, South Africa. The second competition was organized in 2018, it attracted a total of 1,332 youth from 42 African countries and 23 competitive youth enterprises were awarded during the Sixth Africa Higher Education Week and RUFORUM Biennial Conference that was held in Nairobi, Kenya.
RUFORUM extends its appreciation to all applicants for responding to the RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs 2019 Competition (West Africa) and to the reviewers.
Top 20 winners of the RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition 2019 (West Africa) ranked by Score
| No. | Serial | Name | Gender | Nationality | Language | Average Score |
| 1 | 1521 | Aisha Kombeh Jatta | Female | Gambia | English | 80.0 |
| 2 | 1623 | OBOGNON Noel | Male | Benin | French | 79.3 |
| 3 | 1628 | Thierno Souleymane AGNE | Male | Senegal | French | 78.3 |
| 4 | 1575 | Oluwatomisin Kolawole | Male | Nigeria | English | 77.3 |
| 5 | 1595 | Fatodu Taiwo Olawande | Male | Nigeria | English | 77.0 |
| 6 | 1756 | Abdou Rachidi Fancisco | Male | Benin | French | 76.0 |
| 7 | 1439 | Toyin Olowogbon | Male | Nigeria | English | 75.7 |
| 8 | 1765 | DOSSA Sonagnon Jocelyne | Female | Benin | French | 75.5 |
| 9 | 1830 | Omasan Alabi | Female | Nigeria | English | 75.3 |
| 10 | 1555 | Felix Ayite | Male | Togo | French | 75.0 |
| 11 | 1455 | Anthony Ebitimi Owei | Male | Nigeria | English | 74.7 |
| 12 | 1819 | MEDENOU Codjo Mawunou Esteban | Male | Benin | French | 74.3 |
| 13 | 1549 | Ante Joseph | Male | Nigeria | English | 73.7 |
| 14 | 1581 | Israel Terwase AYUA | Male | Nigeria | English | 73.7 |
| 15 | 1629 | Nnaedozie George Idoko | Male | Nigeria | English | 73.3 |
| 16 | 1836 | Benjamin Agyin Turkson | Male | Ghana | English | 73.3 |
| 17 | 1694 | Tunde Adeyemi | Male | Nigeria | English | 73.0 |
| 18 | 1440 | Michael Olusanya | Male | Nigeria | English | 72.7 |
| 19 | 1796 | Ugochukwu Stephen Ugwudi | Male | Nigeria | English | 72.7 |
| 20 | 1814 | ADECHIAN Akinhola | Male | Benin | French | 72.7 |
Download Press Release Young Innovators 2019
On behalf of the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and RUFORUM, we are pleased to invite you to join our webinar on 14th November 2019. Details below.
FAO Webinar: Education for Effective Nutrition in Action (ENACT) Course
Join us for a webinar on 14 November, 2019 at 15:00-16:00 East African Time.
Register at http://fao.adobeconnect.com/enact/
In the framework of the FAO project “Strengthening capacities for nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems”, and in collaboration with RUFORUM, we are excited to invite you to a webinar on FAO’s Education for Effective Nutrition in Action (ENACT) Course.
There is a global call for food systems transformation, as current food systems are challenged to provide the healthy diets needed for optimal health and wellbeing. Concurrently, there is a need for a radical change in diets, in order to confront the threat to human health and survival posed by the global syndemic of obesity, undernutrition and climate change. However, dietary behaviour change is notoriously hard to achieve, and requires a full range of policy interventions, both hard (regulation, incentives, trade and market restructuring) and soft (persuasion, nutrition education, information). FAO has been investing in building capacities in nutrition education, and developed the ENACT course between 2011 and 2015 (http://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/professional-training/enact/en/). The course was piloted by universities in 14 African countries, is currently being used by at least 16 universities in 13 African countries and in Sri Lanka, and is now being adapted for India.
This webinar is targeted towards institutions training nutrition or health undergraduate/graduate students to become professionals who will carry out nutrition education in the African context. Objectives of the webinar are to:
- Present an overview of the ENACT course,
- Present an institutional experience of adopting and integrating the ENACT course into the university curriculum, and
- Discuss with universities any questions they may have on the ENACT course.
The speakers are:
- Speaker: Dr. Cynthia Matare, Nutrition Education Specialist, FAO
- Speaker: Mr. Norbert Amuna, Lecturer, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Volta, Ghana
- Moderator: Prof. Marena Manley, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Background
The Government of Uganda (GOU), through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) received a 150m dollar fund from the World Bank towards the cost of the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP). The project objective is to raise on-farm production, productivity, and marketable volumes of Beans, Rice, Maize, Cassava and Coffee, in specified geographical clusters, making up 42 districts.
During its implementation, the project is met with various challenges such as; the lack of a farmer register, low farmer enrolments onto the program, lack of mechanisation services such as tractor hire, lack of institutional capacity to train individual farmers, lack of systematic pest and disease management among others. These challenges have slowed the progress of the project towards the realisation of the development objective. It is envisioned that interventions such as Disruptive Agricultural Technological (DAT)[1] solutions can help turn around the project performance, through automation of key business processes along the value chain, as well as improving service delivery to the intended project beneficiaries. MAAIF, through the ACDP has thus organised a DAT Innovation challenge, in which firms and Individuals with agricultural digital solutions that could mitigate a challenge or several within the project scope, will be showcasing their products to a panel of judges.
Objective of the Innovation Challenge
The overall objective of the Innovation Challenge is to explore opportunities offered by Disruptive Agricultural Technologies (DATs) to address the challenges identified in the implementation of the ACDP.
Scope
Interested start-ups, entrepreneurs, and businesses with a functional, and market-tested digital solution in any of the challenge areas identified below;
Challenge 1: Advisory and Information for Agricultural Productivity
- Solutions for profiling farmers and increasing registration and enrolment
- Solutions for delivering agricultural extension and advisory for beneficiary farmers on the subsidy program
- Solutions for delivering digitally enabled equipment hire services, such as tractor hire
- Solutions for real-time alert of pest and diseases, and early warning
- Solutions offering soil productivity information, satellite imagery as well as remote sensing
Challenge 2: Market linkages
- Solutions for establishing input and output market linkages
- Solutions for bulking of demand for imports of adapted fertilizer and agrochemical supply through PPPs
- Solutions for strengthening of the agro-input dealers’ distribution network and quality control systems
Challenge 3: Financial Inclusion
- Solutions for input credit e-wallet and insurance among other
Challenge 4: Data
- Data and statistics
- Integrated Management Information System
Selection model
All applicants that responded to the EOI (attached) that ran in the New vision on the October 07, 2019, will be evaluated for compliance with the eligibility criteria as defined in the advert. The successful candidates will then be profiled and prepared to participate in the challenge by a contracted firm; The Innovation Village (TIV), in a one-day boot camp
The Event
The event will be organized by MAAIF, supported by the World Bank, through a contracted events management firm; Talent Africa Limited. The shortlisted candidates will show case their products to a carefully selected panel of judges that include technocrats from the government technical departments, academia and the private sector. Innovations will be evaluated in accordance with a judging criterion developed by TIV in collaboration with MAAIF and the WB. Winners will be selected from each of the challenge areas, and will be rewarded in the following manner;
- All the selected participants will be receiving a certificate of recognition, for being a part of the event.
- A medal will be rewarded to the first 3 qualifiers in each of the challenge areas.
- The ACDP will procure the DAT solutions that will be evaluated as fit to solve the implementation challenges of the program
TimeLine
A timeline (attached), leading to a successful event has been prepared and is on course. The timeline activities include; preparation of the innovators, publicity and communication aspects, as well as the event’s deliverables.
Apply here
[1] “Disruptive Agricultural Technologies (DATs) are digital and non-digital innovations that enable smallholder farmers to leapfrog their current constraints and improve their yields, incomes, nutritional status, and climate resilience. These technologies range from mobile apps, to digital identities for farmers, to solar applications for agriculture, to portable agriculture devices, to bio-fortified foods.”
More details Disruptive Agricultural Technology – Brief
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The consulting services (“the Services”) include: Positioning the RSIF as the premier sustainable pan-African science fund, focused on building high quality applied research capacity in Africa. It aims to develop a comprehensive communications, outreach and branding strategy and related products for the RSIF. The strategy and products should serve different stakeholders in managing, implementing and overseeing RSIF
icipe intends to hire the services of an individual consultant to deliver a series of grants proposal writing training workshops to selected teams from the RSIF African Host Universities.The training should equip participants with skills on how to write winning grant proposals especially related to research, innovation and capacity building in higher education in the ASET fields and enable them to submit high quality proposals in line with the requirements of relevant funding opportunities such as the European Union, Japan SATRAPs as well as RSIF calls.
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: www.icipe.org/rsif-consultancy-grants-proposal-writing
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology now invites eligible consulting individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:
- The consultant must be sufficiently qualified, with at least a master’s degree.
- The applicant should have and must demonstrate at least 5 years’ experience in managing proposals for research grants, innovation projects or related business projects.
- He/she should also have a demonstrated capacity or experience in delivering grant proposal writing training in any of the areas mentioned above. Attach at least three (3) relevant assignments undertaken in the last five (5) years.
- The consultant should have proficiency in speaking English. Proficiency in French will be an added advantage.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
Consultants may associate with other consultants to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub- consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the criteria laid down in “Selection Based on Consultants Qualification” (CQS) method set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016, Revised November 2017 and August 2018 which can be found at the following website: www.worldbank.org
Further information can be obtained at this address (rsiftenders@icipe.org) during office hours 08:00 – 17:00 hrs East Africa Time.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person and deposited in the icipe Tender Box, located at icipe Duduville campus, Kasarani, Nairobi (Caroll Wilson Building, Ground Floor) on or before November 8th, 2019 at 11:00 hrs, East Africa Time. The bids will be opened the same date and time, in the presence of those submitting. The submissions in hard copy should be clearly marked: ‘Expression of Interest – Consultancy to facilitate and deliver grants proposal writing workshop for RSIF African Host Universities”. Electronic submissions can be sent via email to: rsiftenders@icipe.org
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
Attn: Susan Kariuki, Procurement Manager
Duduville campus, Kasarani, Nairobi
P.O. Box 30772, 00100 GPO
NAIROBI, KENYA
Tel: +254-20-8632000 , Fax: +254-20-8632001/2
E-mail: rsiftenders@icipe.org
Website: www.icipe.org
+ News
Commercial Production of Homegrown Protein Bait for Management of Tephritidae Fruit Flies Infesting Fruits and Vegetables in Uganda
Male fruit fly: Bactrocera dorsalis
Horticulture sector has been accorded high priority in Uganda’s economic development plans for strategic contributions to national economy in terms of foreign exchange, employment opportunities, rural development and food and nutritional security. However, fruit flies inflict serious damages on a wide range of fruit and vegetable crops in Uganda. Losses in commercial exotic varieties of mangoes can be as high as 100% mainly by Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera Tephritidae), a pest originating from South East Asia, that has now become predominant having competitively displaced local fruit fly species in most host plants. Effective options for management of fruit flies are lacking in the country. Farmers have resorted to blanket cover sprays of chemical pesticides to no avail. Pesticides pose untold environmental concerns and often result in undesirable chemical residues in produce implying noncompliance to Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) legislated in most overseas markets. Fruit flies are also quarantine pests and attract stringent quarantine restrictions in such lucrative markets. Presence of fruit flies thus, limit expansion of trade of fresh fruits and vegetables for both domestic and export markets. The millions of fruit tree seedlings supplied countrywide through Operation for Wealth creation (OWC) and the Soroti Fruit Processing Factory both of which are well meaning initiatives might prove futile if we do not decisively address the menacing fruit fly problem.
Recently, AMOCAS Limited, in a public-private-partnership with National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) produced a novel protein bait, derived from brewery waste yeast that has proved highly effective in fruit fly monitoring and suppression (control). Tephritidae fruit flies require protein for normal growth but females need more protein for egg maturation hence the greater attraction of the protein bait for females than males, a behavior that has been exploited for their control. Bait comparison studies showed that the novel product was comparable and in some cases superior to imported protein bait products in fruit fly attraction. Application of novel bait reduced fruit fly infestation from 100% to less than 5% in guava and from nearly 100% to less than 20% in mangoes. The bait is applied using ‘spot spray technique’ attracting flies from a distance and overall coverage of plant canopy is not required as opposed to conventional chemical pesticides. The bait is therefore environmentally sound being less hazardous to beneficial organisms (natural enemies and pollinators), spray applicator and consumers owing to minimal chemical residues in produce. Bait production has been limited to laboratory work, producing only enough for research purposes. The need to advance to the next stage of mass production and commercialization cannot be overemphasized. This would entail acquisition, installation and operationalization of a bait production plant to produce sufficient quantities to meet farmer’s needs countrywide. Additionally, the novel product is rich in protein (>50%) and therefore the protein bait makes an excellent substitute for scarce protein sources of soybean and mukene fish (Rastrineobola argentea) used in livestock feed formulations. The excess, unutilized reformulated product will be sold to livestock farmers to boost production. This alleviates potential threat on food and nutrition security that would arise from continued use of such limited resources.
Protein bait of various formulations derived from frothy brewery waste yeast
Overall, the proposed intervention helps to manage pestiferous fruit flies, generates livestock feed ingredients, and solves disposal and environmental challenges at the breweries posed by copious amounts of waste yeast. Training of farmers, plant protection, quarantine and extension officers will be a key consideration to ensure production of quality fruit and vegetables for both local and export trade. The intervention will stimulate increased acreages of mangoes and other commercial fruits and vegetables. This will lead to enhanced availability of healthy foods, increased farmers’ incomes and national revenues through foreign exchange earnings and above all creation of employment in the fruit and vegetable industry. The ability of Uganda to produce its own protein bait from cheap and locally available materials is a more sustainable strategy for fruit fly management than dependence on expensive imported chemical insecticides and protein baits largely affordable by local growers. The total cost estimates of the three-year project is US$ 499,813 (Ug. Shs. 1,874, 300,000). This capital investment would be recoverable in less than three years.
By Pontiano Sebba Nemeye, PhD, Entomologist / Agricultural Consultant, Principal Investigator based at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Email: psnemye@gmail.com
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Communiqué de Presse: 421 jeunes de 12 pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest répondent à l’Appel au Concours de RUFORUM pour des Jeunes Entrepreneurs Africains de l’année 2019
À l’occasion de la 15ième Assemblée Générale Annuelle (AGM) du Forum des universités régionales pour le renforcement des capacités en agriculture (RUFORUM) qui aura lieu du 2 au 6 décembre 2019 à Cape Coast au Ghana (en Afrique de l’Ouest); RUFORUM marquera cet événement avec une opportunité pour les jeunes de l’Afrique de l’Ouest de présenter leurs innovations, leurs entreprises ainsi que la création de leurs entreprises. Des candidatures ont été reçues de 421 jeunes (110 femmes et 311 hommes) provenant de 12 pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest incluant : le Nigeria, le Bénin, le Burkina Faso, la Côte d’Ivoire, la Gambie, le Ghana, le Libéria, le Mali, le Niger, le Sénégal, la Sierra Leone et le Togo (voir le tableau ci-dessous). La première phase d’évaluation a révélé que 48 candidatures étaient non conformes et à ce titre, 373 candidatures sont actuellement en deuxième phase d’évaluation. Ensuite, une liste restreinte de 60 candidatures sera transférée en troisième et dernière phase d’évaluation pour la sélection des 20 lauréats.
RUFORUM croit au pouvoir de transformation de l’entrepreneuriat pour lutter contre le chômage des jeunes en Afrique. En tant que tel, responsabiliser et impliquer les jeunes dans le développement d’entreprises facilitera l’intégration des jeunes dans la croissance économique pour l’emploi des jeunes. Les vingt (20) lauréats de vingt (20) entreprises sélectionnées de manière compétitive recevront un voyage avec toutes dépenses payées (billet d’avion, inscription à la conférence et frais d’hôtel) pour participer et présenter à l’Assemblée Générale Annuelle (AGM) à Cape Coast au Ghana.
Cet appel à candidatures axé sur l’Afrique de l’Ouest constitue la première édition du Concours de RUFORUM pour les Jeunes Entrepreneurs Africains qui est de nature sous-régionale. Le premier concours qui avait été organisé en 2016 avait attiré 756 candidatures provenant de 38 pays. Les quinze (15) entreprises de jeunesse les plus compétitives ont été primées lors de la Cinquième Semaine de l’Enseignement Supérieur Africain et de la Conférence Bisannuelle de RUFORUM qui s’était tenue à Cape Town en Afrique du Sud. Le deuxième concours avait été organisé en 2018 et avait attiré 1 332 jeunes provenant de 42 pays Africains et 23 entreprises compétitives de jeunes avaient été primées lors de la Sixième Semaine de l’Enseignement Supérieur Africain et de la Conférence Bisannuelle de RUFORUM qui s’était tenue à Nairobi au Kenya.
L’évaluation des candidatures est actuellement en cours de réalisation par une équipe d’experts et de professionnels. Tous les candidats seront informés de l’état d’avancement de leurs candidatures sur une base continue. La sélection finale des candidats retenus sera annoncée le 15 novembre 2019.
RUFORUM remercie tous les candidats pour leur participation au concours de RUFORUM pour des Jeunes Entrepreneurs Africains de l’année 2019 (en Afrique de l’Ouest).
Résumé sur les candidatures par pays au Concours de RUFORUM pour Jeunes Entrepreneurs Africains de l’année 2019 (Afrique de l’Ouest)
| Nationalité | Nombre |
| Bénin | 103 |
| Burkina Faso | 8 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 7 |
| Gambie | 6 |
| Ghana | 52 |
| Libéria | 2 |
| Mali | 7 |
| Niger | 6 |
| Nigeria | 205 |
| Sénégal | 6 |
| Sierra Leone | 9 |
| Togo | 10 |
| Total | 421 |
Download here Press Release Young Innovators_French
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Press Release: 421 youth from 12 countries in West Africa respond to RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition call 2019
On the occasion of the 15th Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) Annual General Meeting (AGM) that will be held 2-6 December 2019 at the Cape Coast, Ghana (West Africa); RUFORUM will mark this event with an opportunity to the youth from West Africa to showcase their innovations, enterprises and business start-ups. Applications have been received from 421 youth (110 females and 311 males) from 12 countries in West Africa including: Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo (see Table below). The first assessment level has found 48 applications as non-compliant and as such, 373 applications are now in the second phase of assessment. Thereafter, there will be a shortlist of 60 applications to be moved to the third and final assessment level for selection of the 20 winners.
RUFORUM believes in the transformative power of entrepreneurship in addressing youth unemployment in Africa. As such, empowering and involving young people in enterprise development will support youth integration into the economic growth for youth employment. The twenty (20) competitively selected business enterprises will receive an all-expense paid trip (air ticket, conference registration, and hotel costs) to participate and pitch at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Cape Coast Ghana.
This call for applications with a focus on West Africa is the first edition of the RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition that is sub-regional in nature. The first competition which was organised in 2016 attracted a total of 756 applications from 38 countries. The fifteen (15) most competitive youth enterprises were awarded during the Fifth Africa Higher Education Week and RUFORUM Biennial Conference that was held in Cape Town, South Africa. The second competition was organised in 2018, it attracted a total of 1,332 youth from 42 African countries and 23 competitive youth enterprises were awarded during the Sixth Africa Higher Education Week and RUFORUM Biennial Conference that was held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Evaluation of the applications is currently underway by a team of experts and professionals. All applicants will be informed of the status of their applications on a rolling basis. The final selection of successful applicants will be announced by 15th November, 2019.
RUFORUM extends its appreciation to all applicants for responding to the RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs 2019 Competition (West Africa).
Summary of Applications to the RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition 2019 (West Africa) by Country
|
Nationality |
Number |
| Benin | 103 |
| Burkina Faso | 8 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 7 |
| Gambia | 6 |
| Ghana | 52 |
| Liberia | 2 |
| Mali | 7 |
| Niger | 6 |
| Nigeria | 205 |
| Senegal | 6 |
| Sierra Leone | 9 |
| Togo | 10 |
| Total | 421 |
Download the Press release Press Release. Young Innovators 2019
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Her Excellecy Inonge Wina the Acting President of the Republic of Zambia Meets RUFORUM Delegation in Lusaka
The Vice President of the Republic of Zambia H.E Inonge Wina (R), RUFOROUM Delegation during a Courtesy Call
Lusaka 25 September 2019
A delegation from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a network of 118 universities across 38 countries in Africa paid a courtesy call on the Vice President and Acting President of the Republic of Zambia Her Excellency Inonge Wina in Lusaka on 25th September 2019. This Courtesy call was part of the agenda for the three day Zambia Higher Education Week activities held from 23rd -25th September 2019.
The Zambia Higher Education Week is part of the RUFORUM initiative for national dialogue on higher education among the member university States. Similar events were held in Liberia and Mali. The Zambia event was hosted by the University of Zambia (UNZA) in partnership with the, the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Agriculture and the Zambia Agricultural Research Institution. Activities included a one-day Higher Education symposium in Lusaka, Zambia; the RUFORUM Board Executive Committee Meeting; a courtesy call on the Vice President; University of Zambia project site visits; and an interactive session with staff at the University of Zambia.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia Prof. Luke Mumba welcoming guests to the higher education week highlighted the three Ps (Peace, Policy and People with skills) needed to develop the agricultural sector, these were evident in the RUFORUM Agenda. The higher education day was officially opened by the Minister of Higher Education Hon. Brian Mushimba who applauded RUFORUM’s efforts in Zambia especially in advancing Africa’s response to higher education disparities and support to disadvantaged students and countries. He applauded the drive to mobilize the private sector to take an active role and invest in agricultural education transformation and the ongoing efforts to foster linkages between the higher education sector in Zambia and the RUFORUM network of universities. In his remarks, the Minister said,
Transformation of Higher Education in Africa is non negotiable, this is because the forces of globalization require new waves of knowledge generation including partnership for working in African Universities.
RUFORUM Board and Vice Chancellors from Zambia pose for a Photo with Hon. Dr. Mushimba during the Zambia Higher Education Day
A team of Ten Vice Chancellors from RUFORUM member universities, the RUFORUM governance bodies and other stakeholders including, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development (CCARDESA), East African Farmers Federation and the Kenya National Qualifications Authority paid a courtesy call to the Acting Republican President, Her Excellency Inonge Wina at the cabinet office in Lusaka. The RUFORUM delegation was led by the RUFORUM Board Chair, Professor George Kanyama-Phiri, the Vice Chancellor, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi. In her remarks, the Vice President said that she was confident that the RUFORUM partners visit to Zambia would enhance the finding of solutions not only to food and nutrition insecurity but to the climate change challenges whose negative impact has been evident in Zambia. She noted that Zambia was keen to learn from experiences from across the continent.
Higher Institutions of Learning are the Knowledge Centres and therefore putting Science, Technology and Innovation as a priority would be key in solving the current problems that we are confronted with.
For the next steps, the Acting President directed the Minister of Higher Education to develop a Cabinet Memo to be tabled to the Cabinet. The Memo will among other things outline the RUFORUM Charter that was presented to her by Dr. Alice Mweetwa, Deputy Executive Secretary, RUFORUM. She further reiterated the need to work with RUFORUM to develop a framework for finding solutions to challenges in Zambia. Her Excellency pledged that the Government of Zambia would host the 22nd RUFORUM Annual General Meeting in 2026 because she was confident that it would add value to the Country through synergy and collaboration. She thanked the delegation for choosing Zambia and re-echored the Government’s commitment to supporting Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in Zambia.
Related Story: CCARDESA and RUFORUM pays a courtesy call on the Vice President office in Zambia http://www.ccardesa.org/ccardesa-and-ruforum-pays-courtesy-call-vice-president-office-zambia
