29 April 2025 - Gaborone, Botswana: Dr. Judith Kateera, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) received a courtesy call from Professor Patrick Okori, Executive Secretary of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), at the SADC Headquarters.
Professor Okori was visiting from Kampala, Uganda, to provide guidance and assess the preparedness for hosting the upcoming RUFORUM Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled to take place from 1- 5 December 2025 in Gaborone, Botswana. The AGM is being organised by RUFORUM in collaboration with the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and University of Botswana (UB).
RUFORUM and BUAN also sought to canvas the support of SADC and its subsidiary, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), to join in collaborative efforts for the successful hosting of the AGM. Moreover, the courtesy call aimed to explore potential areas for future collaboration between RUFORUM and the SADC regional body, with a view to strengthening partnerships in agriculture, science and research.
Dr. Kateera noted the strong alignment between RUFORUM’s mandate and SADC’s strategic frameworks, including the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020 - 2030) and the Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP). She emphasised the importance of enhancing agricultural research, science, and technology to mobilise resources that support farmers and research programmes. These initiatives, she said, are critical for fostering a green economy in agriculture, improving food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Dr. Kateera further highlighted the critical role universities play in empowering youth and academia through research, entrepreneurial development, and agricultural skills advancement. She underscored CCARDESA’s important function in coordinating and promoting collaboration among continental, regional and national agricultural research and development systems (NARS) and noted that strengthened collaboration between CCARDESA and RUFORUM would ensure impactful joint efforts in support of SADC’s development agenda, including preparations for the upcoming AGM.
She called upon all parties to place greater focus on scientific research, innovation, and the collaboration through hosting of high-level strategic meetings to exchange knowledge and training, with an emphasis on building human capacity and enhancing youth empowerment initiatives.
Professor Okori reiterated RUFORUM’s commitment to working closely with the SADC Secretariat, and CCARDESA, including the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise collaboration. He highlighted that RUFORUM would support SADC’s efforts by providing capacity-building training in agriculture and science, which would contribute significantly to enhancing regional food security.
Professor Okori also shared RUFORUM’s notable achievements, including the successful training on doctorial qualifications in the agriculture across Africa, advanced research in livestock nutrition and climate-resilient practices, and the promotion of gender inclusion, which has notably increased women's leadership and participation in agriculture and science. He emphasised that RUFORUM has been instrumental in developing entrepreneurial and agricultural skills, critical for Africa’s sustainable development.
The AGM to be held in December 2025 aims to bring together stakeholders from agriculture, health, and research sectors to share ideas, foster knowledge exchange, and strengthen support systems led by African nations, particularly in empowering the youth and promoting innovative measures.
RUFORUM was established in 2004, and is a network of African universities dedicated to strengthening higher education, science, and innovation in agriculture. Its mission is to support universities in addressing the needs of smallholder farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural development through research, teaching, and strategic partnerships. In Botswana, RUFORUM member institutions include the BUAN, UB and BIUST.
RUFORUM continues to serve as a trusted platform for agricultural transformation through education, innovation, and inclusive development. A strategic partnership with CCARDESA and SADC is anticipated to strengthen regional research capacity and accelerate sustainable development in Southern Africa.
The meeting was also attended by Professor Samodimo Ngwako, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research at BUAN; Mr. Domingos Gove, SADC Director of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Majola Mabuza, Regional Programme Coordinator for Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa at CCARDESA and other senior officials from the SADC and BUAN.
