05
NOV
Countdown to RUFORUM AGM 2026
About the AGM
Hosted by the Government of Zambia and RUFORUM member universities.
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the supreme decision-making organ of RUFORUM, serving its network of 175 African universities across 40 countries.
Held annually on a rotational basis in countries where member universities are located, the RUFORUM AGM is a high-level platform for universities, governments, industry, development partners, and young innovators to deliberate and co-create actionable pathways for transforming African higher education and agri-food systems. The 2026 AGM will be hosted by the Government of Zambia from 23 November to 4 December 2026 in Lusaka, Zambia, in partnership with local RUFORUM member universities: the University of Zambia, Copperbelt University, Mulungushi University, and Kapasa Makasa University. The AGM is expected to attract over 1,000 participants, including Vice Chancellors, Principals, Deans, researchers, policymakers, development partners, private sector actors, students, innovators, and farmer organizations from across Africa and beyond.
RUFORUM Member Universities in Zambia
About RUFORUM
Created in 2004 by ten Vice Chancellors of universities in Africa.
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is Africa’s leading higher-education network driving agricultural innovation and human capital development.
Founded in 2004, RUFORUM is a consortium of 175 universities across 40 African countries, creating a continent-wide ecosystem with strategic partners that works towards shared objectives in delivering science solutions for development, human capital development, and institutional reform in the African Higher Agricultural Education (HAE) system.
Sub-themes
Latest News
Stay informed about AGM 2026 updates, call for papers, and announcements.
Programme
30 November - 4 December 2026 · Lusaka, Zambian time
| Time | Session | Venue | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main programme | |||
| 08:30 - 10:30 | Plenary 1: Securing Sustainable Educational Transformation through Regional and Global Partnerships - What We Have Learnt | Main Auditorium | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Official Opening and Scientific Exhibition | Main Auditorium | Blended |
| 14:00 - 16:00 | Plenary 2: Empowering Africa's Workforce to Underpin Economic Growth and Development | Main Auditorium | Blended |
| 16:00 - 17:00 | In-Person Senior Scientists Poster Session and Scientific Exhibition | Main Hall Poster Area | In person |
| Side events & meetings | |||
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Vice-Chancellors Forum | Room AG09 | Blended |
| Time | Session | Venue | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main programme | |||
| 08:30 - 10:30 | Plenary 3: Building Resilient and Productive African Economies | Main Auditorium | Blended |
| Parallel sessions14:00 - 17:00 | |||
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Parallel Scientific Session 1: Transformative Education and Digital Skills | TBD | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Parallel Scientific Session 2: Agronomy, Crop Improvement and Land Management | TBD | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Parallel Scientific Session 3: Food Safety and Nutrition | Room AG05 | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Parallel Scientific Session 4: Agricultural Economics, Extension and Social Inclusion | TBD | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Parallel Scientific Session 5: Livestock, Fisheries and Natural Resources | Room AG03 | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Parallel Scientific Session 6: Digital Agriculture, Energy and Environment | Banquet Hall 1 | Blended |
| Side events & meetings | |||
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Strengthening Africa's Agri-Science Human Capital: Africa-Rice and RUFORUM Partnership for Training Scientists for Africa | Room AG09 | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Science-Policy Interphase: The New AU-EU FNSSA Roadmap 2027-2036 and the Role of Research and Education Institutions in Implementing It (CEA-FIRST) | Room AG02 | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Harnessing the Technology Revolution: Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Education and STI | Room AG05 | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | From Science to Scale: The Circular Bioeconomy, Biosecurity and Increased Productivity of Agrifood Systems | TBD | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Open Space for Deal Making by Universities and Partners | TBD | Blended |
| 11:00 - 17:00 | TAGDev 2.0 Partnership Council Meeting | Room AG08 | In person |
| 11:00 - 17:00 | Climate Intelligence and Digital Systems | Room AG01 | Blended |
| 11:00 - 17:00 | Transformative Education Models for Improving the Quality of Teaching and Learning in Africa | Banquet Hall 2 | Blended |
| 11:00 - 17:00 | TVET, University and Industry Partnership Dialogue | TBD | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | New Universities and Academic Programme Futures - Bunyoro University, Uganda | Media Room | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Connecting Scientific Evidence with Policy and Practice for Agroecology Research in Africa | Banquet Hall 3 | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Vice-Chancellors and High-Level Delegates Experience Sharing Visit to the IITA Southern Africa Hub | IITA | In person |
| Time | Session | Venue | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main programme | |||
| 08:30 - 10:30 | Plenary 4: Africa's Staple Crops in a Changing Climate - Setting the Food and Nutrition Security Agenda | Main Auditorium | Blended |
| Side events & meetings | |||
| 11:00 - 17:00 | Agroecology: DeSIRA-LIFT Science-Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Agroecology Transitions through Innovative Curricula | Banquet Hall 2 | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Communication for Impact: Communication Training for Zambia | Room AG03 | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | From Research to Policy: Best Practices in Science Outreach | Media Room | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Global Partnerships for STI and Education: Africa-Europe-North America Partnerships to Underpin Africa's STI Ambitions and Agricultural Development Agenda | Room AG01 | Blended |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | From TVET to Enterprise: An Innovative Model for Transforming Technical and Vocational Education Graduates into Agribusiness Entrepreneurs in Africa | Room AG08 | Blended |
| 11:00 - 17:00 | Board Meeting | Room AG09 | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Transitioning to Education that Meets 21st Century Needs: High-Level Policy Engagement on Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) | Room AG08 | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | The African Agricultural Research, Innovation and Education Institutions (AARIEIs): Leveraging Continental Science Capacity for Agricultural Development | Banquet Hall 3 | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA): Promoting Collaboration among Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Life Sciences | Room AG01 | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Inclusion and Diversity: Education-to-Livelihood Pathways for Forcibly Displaced Women and Youth in Africa | TBD | Blended |
| Time | Session | Venue | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main programme | |||
| 08:30 - 10:30 | Plenary 5: Reimagining Universities as Engines of Enterprise, Innovation and Economic Growth | Main Auditorium | Blended |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Official Closing | Main Auditorium | Blended |
| Side events & meetings | |||
| 11:00 - 13:00 | AGM Business Meeting | Main Auditorium | Blended |
| Time | Session | Venue | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main programme | |||
| 08:30 - 17:00 | Education Learning Exchange for Conference Participants | TBD | In person |
| Side events & meetings | |||
| 08:30 - 17:00 | Inception Workshop of the Technical Support Team: Launching the RUFORUM Science Leadership Strategy | TBD | In person |
| 08:30 - 10:30 | LOC Zambia-ROC-Uganda Triennial | UNZA Senate Boardroom | In person |
Voices at AGM 2026
Vice chancellors, researchers, policy makers and development partners shaping the conversation.
Minister of Skills and Higher Education, Zambia
RUFORUM Board chair
Executive Secretary RUFORUM
Vice-Chancellor, Copperbelt University
Vice Chancellor, University of Zambia
Vice Chancellor, Mulungushi University
Vice Chancellor Kapasa Makasa University
Registration
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