Universities Promoting Linkages for Impactful Training, Innovation and Technology Transfer in Agriculture (UPLIFT-AG) is a project involving 12 universities from countries including Rwanda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Denmark, Germany, and Italy.
The project seeks to educate, promote research, disseminate findings to the public, and foster innovation.
The project was officially launched on December 4, 2025, at the University of Rwanda, Musanze campus, in Busogo sector, where representatives from around 70 organizations were invited to discuss potential collaborations with the university to enhance agricultural research.
Dr. Guillaume Nyagatare, the Principal of UR-CAFF, explained that although the university has conducted significant research in agriculture, it was essential to collaborate with professionals from the field to understand the broader issues at play.
'Our university aims to be a leader in agriculture, providing research that benefits Rwandans and neighboring countries. However, for our research to be impactful, we need experts who work in the field every day, to help us better understand the challenges and inform our studies,' he stated.
Rev. Dr. Nathan Kanuma Taremwa, the Director of Research and Innovation and the project lead at UR-CAFF, explained that the project will work with various organizations in areas such as information sharing, research collaboration, teaching, providing internships to students, and more.
'We aim to work with numerous organizations in a structured manner, enhancing all parties involved through collaboration on essential research, supporting student education, and providing practical training, so that students can later apply their knowledge in the field,' he said.
Dr. Jean D'Amour Manirere, a lecturer at UR-CAFF, added that this collaboration will not only increase research at the university but also improve how research findings are shared with the intended beneficiaries.
Professor Thomas Bayer from the HNU University in Germany emphasized that collaboration between universities and agricultural institutions not only promotes research but also advances the development of agriculture itself.
'Partnerships between private sector organizations and universities are the key to development, especially in the agriculture sector. The fact that this initiative is launched in Rwanda is a significant step, and it will benefit students and institutions alike, as they will gain access to valuable project information and research,' he noted.
This project, launched in partnership with other African and European universities, is supported by the European Union (EU) from 2023 to 2026.
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