Ministerial conference on higher education in agriculture in Africa (CHEA) - Pre-conference event (Theme 5)

RUFORUM together with the Association of African Universities (AAU), The African Technology and Policy Studies Institute (ATPS) and the Danish Development Research Network (DDRN) organised a two day training workshop for African Universities and others to strengthen their knowledge and competencies in skills required to better engage with policy.

The main purpose of the two day training workshop for University staff was to strengthen their knowledge and competencies in skills required to better engage with policy. The specific objectives of the training workshop were to:

1. Identify guiding policy objectives related to the strengthening of the relationships between universities and development policy and practice;
2. Identify and share university success stories (best practice) as a way of contributing to the development of a coherent argument on the contribution of universities to development;
3. Identify strategies for improving the engagement and increasing relevance of universities to development practice;
4. Contribute towards the strengthening of the capacity of universities for engaging with  policy makers;
5. Provide recommendations for universities and policy for enhancing the relevance of universities to national development strategies, including Poverty Reduction Support Papers (PRSPs), Development Strategies and Investment Plans/ CAADP country compacts, and share these with policy makers at the Ministerial Conference on Higher in Education in Agriculture in Africa.

Date: November 13-14, 2010
Venue: Speke Resort and Conference Center, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda

Below you can download relevant conference documents:

Workshop report

Communique

Presentations:

Strengthening university competence and practice engagement with policy - Background and objectives. Day 1, by Moses Osiru.

Strengthening university competence and practice engagement with policy. Day 1, by Enrique Mendizabal.

University research - policy linkage - Why the problems persist in Africa. Day 1, by Professor Osita Ogbu.

Strengthening university competence and practice engagement with policy - Part 2. Day 2, by Enrique Mendizabal.

Guidance note:

The alignment, interest and influence matrix (AIIM). Overseas Development Institute (ODI), by Enrique Mendizabal.

Toolkits:

Tools for knowledge and learning - A guide for development and humanitarian organisationes. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), by Ben Ramalingam, July 2006.

Tools for policy impact - A handbook for researchers. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), by Daniel Start Ingie Hovland, October 2004.

Successful communication - A toolkit for researchers and civil society organisations. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), by Ingie Hovland, October 2005.

Making a difference: M&E of policy research. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), by Ingie Hovland, July 2007.