Strengthening capacity for agribusiness in agroforestry and natural resources in tertiary agricultural education in Africa: African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE)

Abstract

This paper highlights the main achievements of the programme on Strengthening Africa’s Strategic Agricultural Capacity for Impact on Development (SASACID) funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The programme is implemented by the African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE) through 16 Pilot Institutions (PIs). It focuses on supporting agribusiness development in tertiary agricultural education and research in Africa. Under the programme, ANAFE is working towards refocusing agricultural learning and development objectives, producing contextualized learning materials, managing risk and uncertainties in agriculture, developing and reviewing curricula, retooling lecturers in pedagogy and strategizing on how best to work more closely with the private sector. The paper build on the final SASACID (2012–2014) report jointly developed through the Results-Based Management logical framework with the 16 SASACID Pilot Institutions (PIs) that met in Nairobi November 11–13, 2014. Results show that even though the PIs are at different levels of achievement over 75 % have achieved 80 % of the expected outputs. Management of scholarships for BSc and MSc students working with the private sector on risk management-related issues is among the outputs achieved by all the Pilot Institutions. Formalizing engagement with private sector through signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) was reported by 25 % of the PIs working in Agribusiness through which students were supported to undertake research or internship within selected private sector firms; about 15 % got employed while others initiated their own businesses. A major output from the programme is the development and sharing of Agribusiness and Risk Management curricula frameworks for all degree levels from Diploma, BSc, MSc and PhD. Four Pilot institutions have signed MoUs with ANAFE to test the Agribusiness curricula at various levels. They are Rongo University College, Taita Taveta University College and Strathmore University (all from Kenya) and (Kenya), Mulungushi University (Zambia). The objective of this paper is to highlight ANAFE’s key achievements in transforming tertiary agricultural education and research in Africa, with specific reference to the SASACID programme. The programme was implemented from 2011 to 2015. Sixteen (16) ANAFE member institutions from 14 countries, competitively selected, implemented the SASACID programme, which focused on Agribusiness and management of risks and uncertainties in agriculture.