Invitation to First Meeting – African Universities Expert’s Programme in Agro-Processing and Food Networks

Researchers specializing in Agro-Processing and Food Networks are invited to join a special webinar aimed at launching the African Universities Experts Network in this critical field. The details for this meeting are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, August 27th, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM GMT
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtdOqrrDktEtf1k6EE2lV5cdplfJ89V7fG#/registration

This webinar marks the beginning of a collaborative initiative designed to bring together experts across the continent to drive innovation and research in agro-processing and food networks

Concept note

• Introduction

Africa has many excellent universities that are contributing to Africa’s development in the space of Agro-Processing and Food Sciences/Nutrition. This initiative is being promoted to highlight the excellence in the African university system and to promote collaboration and partnership among universities in Africa in this area.

The African University Experts will promote the growth and development of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the African continent and beyond by providing capacity-building opportunities and knowledge solutions.

The African University Experts in Agro-Processing and Food Networks are universities in which experts in this area of specialization are located.

2.0 Objectives

The objectives of the African University Experts in Agro-Processing and Food Networks are:

1.  To bring together experts working in this same research field together to promote networking among them.
2. To identify the universities where students can be directed in the STUDY IN AFRICA program for Agro-Processing, Food Science, and Food Nutrition specialization.
3. To promote research partnerships and collaborations among these experts in the various universities

3.0 Participants

Participation in this network will be restricted to researchers in these Expert Universities who are working in the fields of Agro-Processing, Food Science, and Food Nutrition.

4.0   Modus Operandi

• The Association of African Universities will employ its African Research, Innovation and Development (AfRID) Network database to collate information on the experts.
• The experts will be invited to a Webinar where the need to promote research networks will be delivered.
• The participants at the Inaugural webinar will be requested to get volunteers who will lead the network in each of the five regions of Africa (North, South, East, West and Central)
• The Regional Coordinators will be expected to select an Overall coordinator among themselves.
• The Regional coordinator will be expected to invite other researchers in the same field who are not part of the inaugural meeting.
• The Overall coordinator will be expected in consultation with the regional coordinators to organize future Webinars on subjects of interest to the research focus.
• The network will be expected to promote joint research proposal writing, students and staff mobilities, especially with respect to graduate examination, and promote other activities that will promote the interests of the network