The TAGDev 2.0 implementing University Academic Registrars attended a 3-day conference at the Hilton Windhoek in Windhoek, Namibia on Safeguarding through Institutional Strengthening (Systems Practices and Processes) as they were on-boarded onto TAGDev 2.0 program. During the sessions the participants were taken through the TAGDev 2.0 workplan which elaborated the expected outcomes and activities which would deliver the programs desired impact and reach. They got to learn about the TAGDev 1.0 Universities (Egerton University and Gulu University) successes, opportunities and challenges during the implementation.

University of Eldoret has been chosen as one of the 12 Universities in Africa that will implement the TAGDev 2.0 program, a collaboration between RUFORUM, 12 African Universities and the Global Confederation for Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA). Its main objective is to strengthen universities and TVET institutions to better serve communities by skilling and empowering Africa’s young people and their institutions to drive inclusive, equitable and climate resilient transformation of agriculture and agrifood systems. This objective will contribute to four strategic outcomes;

1. Expanded equal work opportunities for young women and men in the agricultural sector;
2. Improved climate adaptive agricultural production and productivity and;
3. Strengthened quality of higher agricultural education outcomes in training, research and innovation;
4. Efficient, effective and impactful programme management which would deepen engagement, learning and institutional strengthening.

As Africa has one of the world’s youngest population, TAGDev 2.0 aims to reduce youth unemployment by focusing on the young women and men, persons with disabilities (PWD’s) and refugees and displaced persons who are the majority of the unemployed. The young people will receive entrepreneurship training, generate and deliver technologies and knowledge products to drive development and build on the successes, lessons and leverage partners brokered which will in the long-run impact the various communities that the young people live in creating sustainable streams of income and self-employment. The program will be aligned with the University’s vision and core values.

Dr. Javan Were from the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology attended the 3 day conference representing the Registrar-Academic, Prof. Paul Tarus.

TAGDev 2.0 - Transforming African Agricultural Universities to meaningfully contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development.