Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa in MUTARE
AFRICA University (AU) has launched the Transforming Africa’s Agricultural Higher Education Institutions for Economic Growth & Development (TAGDev 2.0) in collaboration with the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), Mastercard Foundation and the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences.
AU is among one of only 12 universities across Africa implementing the 10-year programme, whose main objective is to strengthen universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (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 agri-food systems.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Misheck Mugadza said the TAGDev 2.0 project exemplifies the spirit of partnership and progress that President Mnangagwa strives to foster for the nation.
“The fact that this project brings together various institutions and agencies from across the country, ties well with our Government’s approach, which seeks to leave no one and no place behind,” he said.
“We are particularly excited about the project’s emphasis on inclusivity with a target of reaching 70 percent of young women, 25 percent refugees and 50 percent persons with disability.”
AU Vice Chancellor, Reverend Professor Peter Mageto, said holistic and transformational leaders of the continent will be born out of TAGDev 2.0.
“We are hopeful that with the support of the Government, which we continue to receive wholeheartedly, and the various institutions we are going to partner with, we are going to make an impact in the communities.
“Starting with Manicaland will be a key highlight of this transformative programme,” he said.
Under the Agri-food Systems Community Action Research and Entrepreneurship Development project (ASEC), a vehicle of TAGDev 2.0, AU as lead implementer and its local partner institutions including the University of Zimbabwe, Great Zimbabwe University, Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Mutare Polytechnic College, Magamba Vocational Training Centre and a local NGO, Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe, will facilitate the creation of decent work opportunities for young people in Zimbabwe.
Prof Mageto said the programme is targeting eight districts under Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland East provinces.
“It aims to impact 16 000 young women and men, and 20 000 smallholder communal farmers, including refugees and people with disabilities.
“Africa University and its partners have also earmarked the planting of at least 100 000 trees over a five-year period,” he added.
TAGDev 2.0’s other implementing universities are Gulu University (Uganda), Egerton University (Kenya), University of Free State (South Africa), Malawi University of Science and Technology (Malawi), University of Eldoret (Kenya), Uganda Martyrs University (Uganda), University of Port Harcourt (Nigeria), University of Cape Coast (Ghana), University of Bamenda (Cameroon), National University of Agriculture (Benin), and Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (Morocco).
