University Engagement with Farming Communities in Africa: Community Action Research Platforms

This book explores how collaborations can be built and strengthened between African universities and farming communities to address real-world contemporary challenges. It focuses on Community Action Research Platforms, an approach that has enabled African universities to break free of the ivory tower and prove their relevance to society through deep collaborative engagements in targeted agricultural value chains. The book draws on the experiences and lessons from 21 different projects initiated by RUFORUM member universities in Africa, highlighting the critical role of African universities as collaborators and catalysts for multisector solutions that increase productivity, address climate change, develop livelihoods, and promote farmers' access to markets, innovation, and trade.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 308 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate dynamics of forging and strengthening collaborations between African universities and farming communities to address pressing contemporary challenges. It specifically focuses on Community Action Research Platforms (CARPs), an innovative approach that has proven instrumental in enabling African universities to transcend the boundaries of the ivory tower and demonstrate their tangible relevance to society. Developed within a pan-African network of universities (RUFORUM), dedicated to enhancing capacity in agriculture, the CARP approach has undergone rigorous testing across diverse settings over the past 15 years. Drawing upon the rich experiences and valuable lessons gleaned from 21 distinct projects initiated by RUFORUM member universities across Benin, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, the book sheds light on a critical yet often overlooked role of African universities as collaborators and catalysts for multisector solutions. These solutions aim to enhance productivity, mitigate climate change, foster livelihoods and resilience in rural communities, promote farmers' access to markets, innovation, and trade, while simultaneously safeguarding biodiversity and ensuring food and nutrition security. The book makes a compelling case for repositioning African universities as pivotal forces for societal development. It encompasses a wealth of insights, learnings, and scientific discoveries from a diverse range of researchers, practitioners, and students who have dedicated their efforts to realizing this vision on the ground. This multidisciplinary text holds immense appeal for university leaders, higher education professionals, agrifood and development specialists, researchers, and practitioners, policymakers, and development agencies actively engaged in African agriculture and rural development. By exploring the transformative power of collaborative partnerships, this book offers valuable insights and practical strategies for fostering sustainable agricultural growth, improving rural livelihoods, and promoting inclusive development in the African continent.

Weight: 770g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032481203