Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
Project Title
For doctoral and postdoctoral support focused on women and agriculture
Date
Jun. 08, 2023
Duration
24 months
Description
Women play a critical role in African agriculture, accounting for nearly half of Africa’s smallholder farmers and producing 70 percent of Africa’s food. Yet women make up only 22 percent of agricultural scientists and are underrepresented when it comes to shaping research agendas, setting priorities, decision-making, and leadership in agricultural research and development. To address the urgent need for female agricultural scientists, Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), founded in 2004 by ten African universities, seeks to strengthen postgraduate training in agriculture at its member universities and provide greater accessibility for women to postgraduate qualifications, while supporting innovative solutions to food security and climate change issues that affect rural women farmers. Corporation renewed support will contribute to postdoctoral and doctoral fellowships, small research grants, workshops, and conference participation.
Website
Project Title
For support of competitive early-career fellowships
Date
Sep. 02, 2021
Duration
24 months
Description
Young scientists are a critical resource to advancing research for development and expanding capacity for increased university enrollment in Africa. With a focus on early-career academics, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a network of 129 African universities, will implement a competitive program comprised of multiple interventions targeting postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers, drawn from member universities. With continued Corporation support, RUFORUM will award ten postdoctoral fellowships, forty doctoral research grants, and ten short-term teaching attachments, with a target of 50 percent women across all activities. Fellows will receive stipends and support for research, conference attendance, and publishing. RUFORUM will also organize skill-building workshops and networking opportunities for the fellows.
Website
Project Title
For support of competitive early-career fellowships
Date
Mar. 05, 2020
Duration
24 months
Description
Young scientists are a critical resource to advancing research for development and expanding capacity for increased university enrollment in Africa. With a focus on early-career academics, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a network of 125 African universities, will implement a competitive program comprised of multiple interventions targeting postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers, drawn from member universities. RUFORUM will award up to ten postdoctoral fellowships, forty doctoral research grants, and ten short-term teaching attachments, with a target of 50 percent women across all activities. Fellows will receive stipends and support for research, conference attendance, and publishing. RUFORUM will also organize skill-building workshops and networking opportunities for the fellows.
Website
Project Title
For organizing a series of convenings for African higher education leaders and policymakers on implementing plans for strengthening higher education in Africa
Date
Jun. 01, 2017
Duration
18 months
Description
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) focuses primarily on supporting graduate education and research in agricultural sciences, working through its membership of sixty-five African universities across the continent. Over the years, RUFORUM has built relationships with ministers of agriculture and higher education as well as African Union Commission (AUC) leaders. At a RUFORUM conference in October 2016, the chairperson of the AUC announced the appointment of ten heads of state as champions of African higher education. RUFORUM has been invited by the Government of Malawi, whose president is one of the champions, to participate in planning the first meeting of the champions in mid-2017. This grant will enable RUFORUM to engage leaders of higher education networks and associations in the planning of, and follow-up to, this meeting.
Website
Project Title
As a one-time grant for a competitive postdoctoral research support program
Date
Dec. 07, 2017
Duration
24 months
Description
The period immediately following completion of the doctoral degree is a critical time for an African academic. Little postdoctoral research support is available, while the pressures of teaching and university administration often distract the scholar from conducting and publishing additional research. To avoid potential stagnation, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a network of sixty-six African universities, will implement a competitive postdoctoral research support program to benefit new doctoral graduates, drawn from faculty at member universities. RUFORUM will select up to nineteen postdoctoral fellows—with a target of 35 percent women—who will receive stipends and research grants, supervise a postgraduate student, and be matched with a senior mentor. RUFORUM also will organize skill-building workshops and networking opportunities for the fellows.
Website
Project Title
As a final grant for strengthening regional doctoral programs in African universities
Date
Jun. 04, 2015
Duration
24 months
Website
Project Title
For a workshop on escalating Ph.D. production in Africa in the agricultural and life sciences
Date
Jun. 12, 2014
Duration
9 months
Website
Project Title
For strengthening regional doctoral programs in African universities
Date
Sep. 13, 2012
Duration
36 months