EDULINK, ACP Science and Technology compendium 2012 – 2018.

14th March 2019
by secretary

Paepard

EDULINK, ACP Science and Technology, ACP Caribbean and Pacific Research Programme for Sustainable Development Results and impacts 2012 – 2018.

This compendium presents the results of the 78 projects of the EDULINK Phase II (47), ACP Science and Technology Phase II (21), and the ACP Caribbean and Pacific Research Programme for Sustainable Development (10), with the first project having started in August 2012 and the last having finished in October 2018. From the 287 involved institutions, 198 originated from 45 ACP countries.

The results achieved over these six years and the impacts envisaged, some of which have already been realised, present an interesting insight into the effectiveness of the wide variety of initiatives financed by the three programmes. They vary from new curricula and courses to national action plans, electronic platforms and databases within the fields of agriculture, energy, water and climate change. These have also been made available through publications and websites.

The ACP Science and Technology I programme was financed by the Intra-ACP envelope of the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) and the Development Co-operation Instrument (DCI) with a total EU investment of EUR 33 million
The ACP Science and Technology II programme was financed by the Intra-ACP envelope of the 10th EDF and the DCI with a total EU investment of EUR 20 million. The purpose of the programme was to build and strengthen the STI capacities of a wide range of ACP organisations.

Extracts:

Enhancing Capacities on International Agriculture Agreements for Development of Regional Agricultureand Food Markets
300 West African officials have been informed on international trade agreements, including WTO, Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the ECOWAS Agriculture Policy (ECOWAP) that impact the West African agricultural sector.
Strengthening Human Resource Capacity to Foster Agricultural and Rural Innovation in Eastern Africa
The project enhanced the quality of training of Agricultural and Rural Innovation (ARI, a programme set up through a previous EDULINK project) and AgTrain PhD programmes
Strengthening University Capacity to Enhance Competitiveness of Agribusiness in East and

West Africa
Entrepreneurship has been mainstreamed into the different undergraduate curricula of the faculties involved and departments have implemented practical agri-entrepreneurship courses for undergraduate students. A new Master programme (Master of Science in Agri-enterprise Development) which is hands-on and student centred in its curriculum delivery has been developed and implemented in the universities of Gulu and Egerton. Two cohorts of students have been admitted.
DairyChain – Strengthening Capacity of Higher Education Institutions in Eastern and Western Africa to Enhance Efficiency in the Dairy Value Chain
A Master of Dairy Science and Technology (MDairyScTech) has been developed and implemented as a competency based curriculum, with scientific and academic staff trained in competence and outcome-based learning methodology. The African Dairy Academy has been established to enhance research and training and collaboration between the industry and the partner Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
ENERGY-AGRO-FOOD – Energy – Agro-food Synergies in Africa: New Educational Models for Universities
strengthen innovation, and raise sustainability in the bioenergy-agricultural sectors
Enhancing nutrition and food security through improved capacity of agricultural higher education institutions in East and Southern Africa
Academic staff of Higher Education Institutions in east and southern Africa acquired improved skills for curriculum development and innovative teaching methods
MAINBIOSYS – Mainstreaming the Bio farming System in Ethiopian and Ugandan Higher Education Institutions
Academics are now able to incorporate new concepts into their curricular programmes, ensuring their students acquire competencies in innovative solutions in bio-farming and sustainability.
eLEFANS – E-Learning Network on Food and Nutrition Security with partner universities in Eastern Africa and Europe
Five e-centres have been equipped and academic staff has been trained in developing e-learning courses on a Moodle platform.
ADECEA – Establishing and Piloting Postgraduate Programmes for Supporting Agricultural

Development in Post Conflict Countries of Central and Eastern Africa
The project strengthened the partnership between institutions, facilitated staff networking and established demand driven postgraduate training in three post conflict countries of eastern and central Africa (D.R. Congo, Burundi and Madagascar).
IP4GROWTH – EnhancingIntellectual Property Capacities forAgricultural Development
Contribution to agricultural and socio-economic development of west African countries through Intellectual Property management applied to agriculture and use of Geographic Indications (GIs). This has resulted in increased knowledge and capacities of HEI academics on the application of these knowledge-based tools and raised awareness of the utility of GIs to protect key products and improve competitiveness.
CAPACITY4FOOD – Integrated Soil Fertility Management for Food Security: matching

capacities in Anglophone West African Nation HEIs with local needs
Awareness and knowledge has been enhanced on Integrated Soil Fertility Management for food security at west African universities. The capacity and skills of teachers and trainers to deliver Integrated Soil Fertility Management principles and practices to students and wider stakeholders has been increased.
SAPHE – Strengthening Agroforestry Programmes in Higher Education for Food Security in Sub-SaharanAfrica
Upgraded qualifications of academic and library and information science staff of four African universities through training programmes on Agroforestry, Geo-Information Technology, Agroforestry and HIV/AIDS, Agroforestry and Gender Issues, and Information Literacy for Agri-Food
ACADIA – African Center for Applicative Development and Innovation in Agribusiness

Capacity building was provided in the field of higher education and contributed to create an efficient, highly productive, sustainable and job-creating agribusiness sector in Kenya, Uganda and in other East African countries.

Acadia Presentación from CPCD UPCT on Vimeo.
Deploying Interactive On-line NetworkingPlatform for Improving Quality andRelevance of African University Graduatesto Labour Markets
The platform monitors interactions among graduate students, supervisors and alumni. The platform can also send alerts to graduate students, supervisors and the graduate school in case some of the activities specified in the RTC are not accomplished within the time specified. At the end of graduate studies, the platform automatically registers graduates in the alumni portal and links them with industries and the labour market.
SATTIFS – Strengthening innovationand technology dissemination forsustainable development in cereals,cocoa and coffee value chains inWestern and Eastern Africa
Trainers-of-trainers, farmers, researchers and consultants were trained in the management and organisation of sustainable crop farming. Artisans were trained to accurately respond to the specific needs of clients in the production of agricultural equipment (ploughs, seeders, dryers). Manuals for the application of appropriate technologies (use of oxen for sowing, cultivation associations, packaging for grain storage and drying plants…), as well as guidelines on correct supply chain management of cocoa, coffee and cereals were developed and widely distributed to farmers
AFRHINET – An ACP-EU technologytransfer network on rainwaterharvesting irrigation

managementfor sustainable dryland agriculture,food security and povertyalleviation in sub-Saharan Africa
A technology-transfer and market-oriented framework strategy focusing on rainwater harvesting and its use in agriculture was produced. In addition, a transnational ‘ACP-EU network on rainwater harvesting irrigation (RWHI) for improved food security and poverty alleviation (AFRHINET)’ for sub-Saharan Africa was established. This network facilitates the exchange and transfer of efficient and innovative know-how and technologies in the field of RWHI. A set of Research and Technology Transfer Centres were established at universities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and Zimbabwe which act as knowledge hubs and focal points for bridging institutional, administrative and policy-making levels as well as bringing the issue of rainwater harvesting close to local businesses, NGOs and the civil society as an effective tool for poverty alleviation and income generation in rural communities.
Boosting coffee productivity in Kenyaand Malawi through better accessto and use of modern technologiesand innovations
Soil scientists have been enabled to undertake chemical analysis of coffee soils and draft fertiliser recommendations. Similarly, coffee extension staff and farmers are now able to undertake soil and leaf sampling for chemical analysis. Four Farmer Field Schools in Malawi facilitated farmer capacity building on good agronomic practices. A public private partnership between the research institutions and commercial nurseries was created allowing the nurseries to directly access coffee plantlets produced through tissue culture
WABEF – Western Africa bio-wastes for energy and fertiliser

Anaerobic digestion has been promoted to decision makers and practitioners interested in installing a biogas plant in West Africa as a way to recycle bio-wastes for energy and fertiliser use, and thus closing the organic matter loop. An operational tool has been developed for each step of the biogas value chain: availability of bio-wastes; supply needs for different anaerobic digestion systems; use of biogas and agronomic management of bioslurries; viability for the whole value chain business; and ready-to-use knowledge (theoretical and practical) for decision makers and practitioners.
Strengthening the capacities for fostering innovation along potato value chains in East Africa
Setting up the ‘East Africa potato research and knowledge exchange forum’ – a research cluster made up of 16 research entities – has facilitated the exchange of information, the creation of 4 topical multi-stakeholder research groups (dealing with varieties, cultivation, storage and seeds), and the establishment of a web-based ‘East Africa potato value chain knowledge-sharing portal’.
BIOCHAR PLUS – Energy, health,agricultural and environmentalbenefits from biochar use:

buildingcapacities in ACP Countries
Biochar knowledge and research findings were transferred into technology implementation, community development and policy advancement in Western, Eastern and Southern Africa.
Strengthening capacities and informing policies for developing value chains of neglected and underutilisedcrops in Africa
Three National Action Plans for value chain upgrading of amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) and Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) in Benin, Kenya and Zimbabwe were developed and promoted at national and regional levels.
iLINOVA – Strengthening capacity for participatory management of indigenous livestock to fosteragricultural innovation in Eastern, Southern and Western Africa

Technical liaison desks were set up to facilitate and institutionalise university-industry-civil society links. A mobile application system to enhance information access on livestock production and management was developed. The multipurpose centre at Egerton University was renovated – renamed to Centre of Excellence for Livestock Innovation and Business, CoELIB – and hosts recording, meeting, laboratory and office spaces, as well as the African Academy of Dairy Sciences. The Centre acts as a think tank (for business information, technology, innovation, markets and entrepreneurship)

Source: PAEPARD FEED

EDULINK, ACP Science and Technology compendium 2012 – 2018.

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