Establishment of LMD-Aligned Master programme in post-conflicts countries of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa

Food insecurity and poor health are recognized as key drivers of emergence of conflicts in low income countries. Sustainable peace building strategy should therefore consider investing in increased access to food and nutrition while simultaneously tackling the crucial political and security issues that sometimes receive a greater degree of attention (and resources). In this regard strengthening academic and administration capacities of Agricultural Higher Education institutions (HEIs) in such countries becomes key to jump-start the economic recovery through revitalizing agricultural sector and economic development. This paper shares the experiences in establishing LMD-aligned post-graduate programmes in Burundi, Madagascar and Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a significant contribution to these countries mainly because they have limited human-resource capacity largely due to challenges associated with post conflict and protracted crises. The University of Burundi is through this effort engaged and working towards establishing three postgraduate programs (Masters of Rural Development and Agro-business, Plant breeding and bio-technology, and Post-harvest technology and quality management system); University of Antananarivo in Madagascar is in the process of establishing QHSE (Qualité, Hygiène, Securité, Environnement) and one in Climate change Science and politics degree programmes; while the Catholic University of Bukavu with three PhD holders in Agronomy is preparing to establish an MSc. in Crop Science. The curriculum design for all these programmes is being done regionally with technical backstopping of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a Network of 41 Member Universities in Eastern central and Southern Africa. Makerere University, the University of Ghent and AGREENIUM are involved as key partners in the process. This is an EU funded project under the EDULINK II Programme - ACPEU EDULINK II Project FED/2013/320-203 ‘Establishing and Piloting Postgraduate Programmes for Supporting Agricultural Development in Post-conflict countries of Central and Eastern Africa”. The project has provided a unique opportunity for strengthening HEIs bringing together universities and networks of higher learning institutions to share experience and co-design academic programmes that will be utilized in posterity to training and build human-resource capacity where it is needed most.