Overview
TAGDev 2.0 (Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development – Phase Two) is a collaborative program led by RUFORUM with support from the Mastercard Foundation and other partners. Its core aim is to strengthen the role of African universities and TVET institutions in producing skilled graduates, carrying out impactful research, and driving inclusive agricultural transformation.
In the research space, TAGDev 2.0 focuses on making academic work more relevant to real-world challenges. It encourages universities to update curricula, promote problem-solving projects, and conduct research that addresses pressing issues such as food security, climate change, rural livelihoods, and youth unemployment. The approach is community-engaged research, meaning that findings are not left in lecture halls or journals, but are applied directly to improve farming systems, livelihoods, and local innovations.
Key aspects of TAGDev 2.0 research
Curriculum innovation: revising thousands of courses to align with entrepreneurship, climate resilience, and employability.
Student-centered projects: giving students opportunities to tackle practical agricultural and development problems through research.
Partnerships: linking universities, TVETs, governments, and private sector actors to co-create knowledge and scale solutions.
Inclusivity in research: ensuring women, refugees, displaced persons, and persons with disabilities are not just beneficiaries but also active contributors to research.
Impact orientation: prioritizing research that leads to scalable innovations, job creation, and improved livelihoods rather than research for its own sake.
Vision:
To be a leading catalyst for youth-driven transformation in Africa’s agri-food systems by fostering innovation, sustainability, and inclusive entrepreneurship.
Mission:
To empower agri-food entrepreneurs, especially out-of-school youth and young women, by providing access to market-relevant skills, digital tools, mentorship, and incubation support to develop sustainable, scalable, and climate-resilient enterprises that create dignified and fulfilling work opportunities.
Our Objectives
Skill Development
Equip students and community members with practical agricultural knowledge, modern techniques, and business skills to create a generation of skilled agripreneurs.
Empowering Innovation
Provide a platform to explore and implement innovative, climate-smart agricultural practices, ensuring sustainability and resilience in the face of global challenges.
Economic Growth
Support individuals in turning agricultural activities into profitable ventures, contributing to economic development and improved livelihoods in the community.
Employment Opportunities
Create pathways for students and community members to secure meaningful employment or launch independent agribusinesses.
Our Partners and collaborators
