Strategic Partnership and Advocacy

Strategic Partnership and Advocacy

The RUFORUM Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy programme is responsible for building and nurturing the network that has grown from ten universities in five countries at its founding in 2004 to 175 universities in 40 countries by 2024.  Partnership fosters collaboration with various clusters of partners. This entails supporting and sustaining inclusive conversations with university leaders, administrators, graduate students and alumni groups, as well as governments, the private sector, communities, farmers, and other organisations across the agricultural value chain.While these partnerships are predominantly based in Africa, they are also expanding at a global level.

RUFORUM supports networking and coordination activities through its Secretariat based in Kampala, Uganda. The various networking and advocacy activities include Annual General Meetings & Triennial Conferences, Principals and Deans Forum, Vice Chancellor's Forum, Ministerial Round Tables, National Forums, Webinars, Exhibitions, Development Partners Meetings, and Higher Education Days.  Under partnerships, member universities:

  1. Link with one another to solve common problems related to higher and tertiary education, research, science, technology and innovation in agriculture and related disciplines.
  2. Link with communities and private sector to take up the technologies
  3. Network with agencies and other universities outside the African continent

Partnership with African Union Commission (AUC)

Contribution towards achieving the Africa We want, Agenda 2063

Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (AU-C10)
RUFORUM is an implementing partner of the Action Plan for transformation of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa with the leadership of the African Union Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (AU-C10) championing Education, Science, Technology and Innovation. Read more

Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024)
In July, 2014 RUFORUM signed a cooperation agreement with the African Union to support the implementation of "Priority Area One: Eradicating Hunger and Achieving Food and Nutrition Security". Read more

Ministerial Policy Dialogues

  1.  
  2. Yauonde Mnisterial Communiqué, 2023, Yauonde,Cameroon
  3. Harare Ministerial Communiqué ,2022, Harare, Zimbabwe
  4. Cotonou Ministerial Communiqué, 2021, Contonou, Benin
  5. Cape Coast Ministerial Communiqué, 2019, Cape Coast, Ghana
  6. Nairobi Ministerial Communiqué , 2018 , Nairobi, Kenya
  7. Ministerial Communiqué , English || French || 2016, Cape Town, South Africa
  8. Ministerial Communiqué , Nov 2010, Kampala, Uganda

UN Food Systems Summit 2021

  1. A Lilongwe Declaration based on a University-Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Food Systems for Improved Productivity, Inclusivity and Resilience. Pre-UN Food Systems Summit 2021 Independent Dialogue.  [ Download ]
  2. The Africa Minister's Communiqué  on Strengthening Food Systems for improved productivity, inclusivity and resilience.- Pre-UN Food Systems Summit 2021 Independent Dialogue.