Haramaya University Participates in 21st RUFORUM Annual General Meeting in Botswana
The Haramaya University delegation, led by President Dr. Jemal Yousuf Hassan, participated in the 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), held from December 1 to 5, 2025, in Gaborone, Botswana.
As a key participant in the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev 2.0) program, Haramaya University continues to advance its mission of strengthening agricultural education and innovation across Africa.
The RUFORUM AGM is among the continent’s most significant gatherings in higher education and agricultural innovation, convening over 500 university leaders, policymakers, development partners, private sector representatives, researchers, young innovators, and students from across Africa and beyond.
Founded in 2004, RUFORUM is a network of 175 universities from 40 African countries. It aims to enhance universities’ capacities to produce skilled graduates, conduct demand-driven research, and foster innovations that transform agri-food systems and improve livelihoods. By connecting academia, governments, and development partners, RUFORUM drives science-led solutions for sustainable and inclusive development.
TAGDev 2.0, a decade-long collaboration (2023–2033) involving RUFORUM, the Mastercard Foundation, 12 African universities, and GCHERA, is implemented at Haramaya University through the TAGDev 2.0 Agrifood Systems and Entrepreneurship Consortium (ASEC) Project. This initiative partners with universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to equip youth with skills and enhance smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacities.
The core objectives of the TAGDev 2.0 project at Haramaya University are to create job opportunities for 3,260 youth, establish 75 startups, generate 420 incubation-based jobs, plant 100,000 trees, reach 72,000 smallholder farmers with innovative adaptive solutions, and develop 26 climate-smart Technologies, Innovations, and Management Practices (TIMPs). The project aims to promote climate-smart agriculture and enhance food and nutritional security across the region.
The 2025 AGM convened under the theme, “Positioning Africa’s Universities and the Higher Education Sector to Effectively Impact Development Processes on the Continent.” It served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership building, focusing on how universities can accelerate Africa’s growth through innovation, research, and community engagement.
Discussions spanned four subthemes: strategic partnerships for future growth, scaling science-led development solutions, capacity building for agri-food system leadership, and RUFORUM governance. The event featured plenary sessions, policy dialogues, exhibitions, and side meetings, including the Vice Chancellors’ Forum and the TAGDev Partnership Council meeting.
Haramaya University’s active involvement in TAGDev 2.0 reaffirms its commitment to transforming higher education into a catalyst for agricultural and rural development. The university showcased success stories from students, alumni, and community enterprises, demonstrating the impact of the TAGDev model in empowering youth and fostering entrepreneurship within agri-food systems.
Significantly, this year Haramaya University awarded 20 PhDs under its Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) program, a milestone achievement under the TAGDev 2.0 project, reflecting its dedication to academic excellence aligned with Africa’s agricultural transformation goals.
Haramaya University Public & International Relations Directorate
Tags: 21st Annual General Meeting, academic collaboration, African Universities, Agricultural Research, Botswana, Capacity Building, Haramaya University, higher education, Research and Innovation, RUFORUM, University Participation