Building capacity of higher education institutions in post conflict countries: Contribution of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture

Despite being recognised as one of the key components for unlocking Africa’s development, higher education in sub-Saharan Africa has continued to be plagued by low student-academic staff ratio that is affecting quality of training and skills development. This situation is being orchestrated by increased enrolment into higher education institutions especially in postconflict countries that are seeking to close-up the higher education development lag. This study documents efforts by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) in rebuilding the human capacity and putting in a place a framework for enhancing postgraduate training in three African post-conflict countries. A total of 53 students were recruited to be trained in the different RUFORUM member Universities in 21 different disciplines relevant to various countries development needs. Students from Madagascar are undergoing their training under the Master en Agroecologie, Biodiversite et Changement Climatique (ABC) programme developed under the EU-ACP EDULINK II ADECEA project. The majority of students from Burundi and Madagascar were or are being trained at MSc level while 58% and 42% of students from the DRC are being trained at MSc and PhD level respectively. About 10% of students have benefited from the Field Attachment programme used by RUFORUM to help students disseminate their research findings to communities as a mechanism for facilitating going back and giving back to the communities and other key stakeholder groups.