Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme 2023 Projects Coordinators’ Meeting: Advancing Climate-Smart Agrifood Systems and Academic Mobility in Africa

📢 Brussels, Belgium, 20 March 2024 📢

The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme 2023 Projects Coordinators’ Meeting took place in Brussels, Belgium, from 20 to 23 March 2024. Organized by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) in collaboration with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships, the meeting served as a platform to kick-start 15 projects funded under the NDICI-2023-MOBAF initiative, supported by the European Union.

Key representatives from partner universities in Africa and Europe attended this pivotal event, including:

University of Dschang (Cameroon): Prof Christopher Tankou Makerere University (Uganda): Dr. Sarah Akello Bishop Stuart University (Uganda): Dr. Rebecca Kalibwani Haramaya University (Ethiopia): Dr. Muluken G. Wordofa Egerton University (Kenya): Professor Patience Mlongo Mshenga University of Kinshasa (DR Congo): Professor Raphael Tshimanga Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU): Dr. Emelie Zonabend König

CSAS Project

Led by the University of Dschang (Cameroon), the CSAS project is designed to promote the mobility of 26 MSc and 8 PhD students, 4 staff, and 4 trainees across six African HEIs during the 2024-2027 period. Participating institutions

University of Dschang (Cameroon) Makerere University (Uganda) University of Kinshasa (DR Congo) Bishop Stuart University (Uganda) Haramaya University (Ethiopia) Egerton University (Kenya) The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) serves as the technical partner for CSAS, with support from associate partners such as RUFORUM and the Forum for African Women Vice Chancellors. Meeting Highlights The Brussels inception meeting provided implementers with guidance on project cycle management, including operational and financial frameworks. Workshops addressed key topics such as mobility management, impact assessment, capacity building, and dissemination strategies. Participants engaged in discussions on best practices for promoting, selecting, and recognizing studies to ensure the sustainability and success of the initiatives. The final day featured consortium-level dialogues, with active participation from EACEA project officers, allowing representatives to align on project deliverables. Haramaya University was Dr. Muluken Gezahegn, who emphasized the university’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and innovation in Africa. Acknowledgments CSAS acknowledges the invaluable contributions of partner institutions and their representatives in advancing climate-smart agrifood systems. This collaborative effort exemplifies the strength of inter-institutional partnerships in driving transformative change across Africa. The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme remains a critical EU initiative to promote academic mobility and enhance higher education institutions' capacity to contribute to sustainable development across Africa.