Our Profile
The main goal is to strengthen universities and TVET institutions to better serve communities by skilling and empowering Africa’s young people and their institutions to drive inclusion, equitable and climate resilient transformative agriculture and agrifood systems
Transforming Agricultural Education for Africa’s Growth and Development: The TAGDev 2.0 Program
The Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev) Program is a pioneering initiative dedicated to reshaping Africa’s agricultural landscape. A dynamic partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), TAGDev has been at the forefront of revolutionizing university education to better serve rural communities and drive sustainable development.
Key Goals and Expected Outcomes
- Empower young Africans to lead socio-economic development in their communities.
- Enhance agricultural sector growth by producing skilled and entrepreneurial youth who drive innovation.
- Create sustainable livelihoods through agricultural education and business opportunities.
- Expand equal opportunities in agriculture for young men and women.
- Improve climate-adaptive agricultural practices, boosting production and productivity.
TAGDev 101: Laying the Foundation for Change
Launched in 2016 at Gulu University (Uganda) and Egerton University (Kenya), the first phase of TAGDev strengthened the capacity of agricultural universities to address Africa’s most pressing development challenges. By integrating science, technology, business, and innovation, it empowered graduates and institutions to lead transformative change in rural agriculture.
During its first phase, TAGDev made significant strides, including:
- Impacting over 350,000 farmers through knowledge transfer and innovative solutions.
- Revising 25 academic programs to align with market and community needs.
- Empowering thousands of young people with entrepreneurial skills and job opportunities.
TAGDev 2.0: Scaling Impact and Deepening Transformation
Building on this strong foundation, TAGDev 2.0 represents an ambitious expansion of the program’s vision and scope. Now a multi-stakeholder initiative involving RUFORUM, the Mastercard Foundation, the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA), and 12 African universities, TAGDev 2.0 is set to transform the lives of 1.2 million individuals.
Through this program, we are creating pathways for youth empowerment, economic growth, and sustainable development by focusing on inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient agricultural practices. We aim to address critical challenges in agriculture and food security, while uplifting marginalized groups, including young women, refugees, displaced persons, and people with disabilities.
