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Championing Sustainability and Institutional Transformation in African Universities

At the 10th Anniversary celebrations of the Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACE) Program, a high-level Vice Chancellors Roundtable held on April 8, 2025, brought together leaders from African universities to address one of the most urgent questions facing the ACE initiative today: How can Africa sustain and institutionalize the impact of the ACEs beyond development partner support? The roundtable provided a critical space for the vice chancellors to reflect on lessons from a decade of the ACE program’s implementation and explore pathways for long-term integration and impact.

Chaired by Ms. Trina Haque, Regional Practice Director for People (Human Development), World Bank and moderated by Ms. Roberta Bassett, Global Lead for Tertiary Education, World Bank, the session underscored a shared commitment to embedding the ACEs into the strategic frameworks of host institutions. Rather than functioning as isolated development partner-funded projects, Vice Chancellors were encouraged to envision the ACEs as institutional engines of innovation, revenue generation, and regional impact.


Institutional Experiences: Models of Innovation and Ownership

The Vice Chancellors shared insights on how their institutions have successfully implemented and managed the ACE initiative, highlighting innovative strategies adopted to align with the program’s overarching vision of enhancing the quality and standards of higher education across the continent.

Prof. Patrick Kyamanywa of Uganda Martyrs University emphasized ways the center catalyzed curriculum reform and community engagement at the university. He described how their ACE in Agri-Economy transformed academic programs, infrastructure, and outreach. The centre’s market-relevant curriculum and focus on 21st-century skills attracted students from across Africa and even garnered support from the Ugandan government. In addition, the university fostered cross-border partnerships.  Prof. Kyamanywa credited the initiative with instilling a culture of data-driven decision-making, evidence-based management, and social innovation.

Prof. Doutor Manuel Guilherme of Eduardo Mondlane University highlighted aligning curriculum with market demands. He noted ways Mozambique’s largest public university used the ACE framework to tighten links between education and industry, especially in mining, oil, and gas sectors. Through tracer studies and continuous curriculum updates, the university now delivers job-ready graduates equipped with both technical and soft skills. National legislation also requires companies to engage directly with students on campus—an opportunity that Eduardo Mondlane is leveraging to align academic offerings with real-world labor market needs.

Dr. Mahmadou Sheriff, representing Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire emphasized driving institutional ownership by ensuring that the ACE is fully embedded in the university’s development strategy. He noted that the university’s management allocated prime land for ACE infrastructure, and staff are recruited and paid by the university—fostering full operational integration. He noted that the ACE catalyzed institution-wide accreditation reforms, income generation, and research excellence. However, he cautioned that development partner phase-out poses risks, and called for renewed efforts in audit compliance, quality control, and long-term financing.

Dr. Daouda Keita, vice chancellor of L’institut Superior des Mines et de la Geologie de Boke in Guinea (ISMG) presented a notable example of leveraging industry partnerships, demonstrating ACEs collaborating closely with national industries and agencies. At ISMG, partnerships with the mining sector have yielded infrastructure support, research funding, student internships, and curriculum co-design. By allocating land and staff, the university demonstrated strong institutional support. Dr. Keita called the ACE “a cornerstone of national relevance,” underscoring its role in linking academia with the labor market.

Finally, Dr. Wondossen Mulugeta Gewe of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia underscored that the ACEs’ priorities are well anchored in national policies. Noting that the university’s three centers of excellence—focused on railway development, water research, and drug development are directly aligned with Ethiopia’s development priorities. The centers have enhanced gender equity, internationalization, and academic-industry partnerships through their diverse initiatives. However, he highlighted that the project’s closure in 2025 could affect its impact.  He urged university leadership to formally adopt the ACEs into the institutional strategy and operational budgets.

 

Cross-Cutting Insights and Observations

The roundtable revealed several common insights across institutions, including the data-driven culture of the ACEs which has helped introduce a strong culture of evidence-based planning – thus informing curriculum design, partnerships, and resource allocation. Other insights shared included enhanced infrastructure and institutional visibility; curriculum reform incorporating market driven and industry-aligned programs and skills training to enhance graduate employability; and institutional integration to ensure continuity.

Policy recommendations were made to sustain efforts to scale the project at institutional levels as well as to foster continuity. These recommendations comprise introducing sustainable scholarship schemes to maintain enrolment levels; fostering inter-ACE collaboration to promote shared research, curricula, and mobility; developing national policies that enable continued ACE post-development partner funding; and building internal audit and quality assurance systems to reduce external compliance burdens.

Conclusively, the Vice Chancellors Roundtable discussion highlighted the profound influence of the ACE initiative on higher education transformation across Africa — serving as a blueprint for institutional growth, continental collaboration and catalyst for knowledge-led development, emphasizing the need to embed the ACEs into the universities’ operation systems.

Driving Excellence in Africa’s Higher Education: Key Achievements and Lessons from the ACE Impact Journey

The tenth anniversary of the Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACE) Program held in April 2025, offered a pivotal moment for reflection, learning, and strategic dialogue. Plenary session five reflecting on the ACE journey thus far, bringing to light the immense strides made by the program in transforming Africa’s higher education landscape over the past decade.

Dr. Halil Dundar, Education Global Manager at the World Bank opened the session by commending the program’s achievements and emphasized the importance of consolidating lessons learned to strengthen future higher education initiatives in Africa.  He underscored the important contribution of the centers of excellence to Africa’s development and advancement, given their critical role in training the next generation of scientists, researchers, and professionals to tackle the continent’s most pressing challenges across various sectors including health, agriculture, STEM, energy, and mining sectors.

The session featured presentations by Dr. Sylvia Mkandawire, Senior Program Manager for the ACE Impact at the Association of African Universities (AAU), and Dr. Jude Ssebuwufu, ACE II Coordinator at the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA). They presented the key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from the ACE journey, alongside recommendations to further strengthen future initiatives.

Key Achievements: Scaling Impact Across the Continent

The presentations by the AAU and IUCEA indicated that as part of the ACE program’s objectives to expand higher education access and inclusion, over 90,000 students have been enrolled under the program­ ­ including 7,650 PhD and 30,200 Master’s students, 52,629 learners in professional short-term courses, and 26,291 regional students across borders. Notably, 29,696 of these students are women, reflecting a deliberate commitment by the program to gender inclusion and equitable access in postgraduate education.

In terms of raising quality through accreditation and infrastructure, more than 620 academic programs have been accredited through national, regional, and international bodies. International accreditation partners include the Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programmes (AQAS, Germany) and Accreditation Agency for Study Programmes of Engineering, Information Science, Natural Sciences and Mathematics (ASIIN, Germany), ensuring global relevance and competitiveness. In addition, the ACE program has invested in modern learning environments, commissioning 51 new buildings with smart classrooms and digital learning tools, with nine (9) more facilities nearing completion.

The contribution of the centers of excellence to global knowledge has been impressive, with over 10,000 research publications in high impact journals with some being published in collaboration with regional and global partners. At least 400 formal research collaborations and 73 peer-reviewed articles have emerged from ACE-affiliated networks. Additionally, 61 capacity-building workshops, 52 regional network scholarships, and eight (8) start-ups have been launched through ACE support structures. Importantly, 20% of students have accessed internships or academic exchanges, built practical skills while promoting cross-border academic mobility.

Moreover, in bridging the employability gap, targeted skills training has led to notable improvements in graduate employability, particularly for students in applied and industry-linked programs. These interventions are helping bridge the critical skills gap in Africa’s key sectors, while also contributing to national and regional development agendas.

Good Practices

One of the pivotal lessons learned from the ACE initiative is the critical role of proactive policy development in supporting international accreditation. Establishing comprehensive accreditation policies with clear implementation guidelines that ensure universities are structurally prepared before beginning the accreditation journey.

Equally significant is the use of structured benchmarking exercises such as the PASET benchmarking framework. This tool has been particularly effective in preparing ACEs for international recognition by identifying performance gaps and facilitating targeted interventions.

Operational efficiency also emerged as a key success factor. Timely procurement processes contributed to meeting project timelines, avoiding bottlenecks, and ensuring the smooth rollout of program activities. Moreover, teamwork across departments and within project teams enabled division of labor, better coordination, and early completion of targets. Perhaps most importantly, institutional ownership and acceptance of the ACE initiative were essential for project sustainability. When the host universities internalized the project’s goals and took active responsibility for its execution, it fostered long-term commitment, accountability, and a culture of excellence.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Several challenges emerged throughout the implementation of the ACE initiative, particularly around regional integration and quality assurance. Variations in national scholarship policies created inequities in student access and hindered regional enrolment targets. Immigration barriers, including delayed permit processing and policies separating students from their families further disrupted academic mobility. Additionally, tuition disparities based on nationality and language limitations discouraged outward mobility and restricted the scope of intra-African academic exchange. On the quality front, many centers struggled to meet the rigorous demands of international accreditation, with lengthy timelines.

Key Recommendations

To promote regional student mobility across Africa, a multifaceted approach is needed. Targeted awareness campaigns should be launched to emphasize the strategic value of regional exchange programs—not only in building human capital but also in fostering cross-border collaboration and shared development goals. These campaigns should showcase success stories and opportunities available through ACE programs to encourage buy-in from students, families, and institutions.

Simultaneously, immigration bottlenecks such as delays in processing study permits and restrictive travel policies must be addressed through systematic assessment and high-level dialogue with governments to ease cross-border academic movement.

Advocating for equitable regional tuition policies through entities like the African Union and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) such as ECOWAS, SADC, and EAC is essential to reducing financial barriers.

In addition, universities must proactively enhance language accessibility by establishing language support centers and offering multilingual learning resources to improve inclusion and success rates for non-native speakers.

Stronger academia-industry linkages should be incentivized through tailored reward systems that recognize ACEs successfully leveraging partnerships for applied research, co-created curricula, industrial internships, and commercialization of innovations.

Sustaining the Vision for Africa’s Knowledge Future

In conclusion, the ACE program’s impactful contributions and successes makes a compelling case for regional collaboration, policy reform, and investment in higher education as a cornerstone of Africa’s development agenda. It has proven that African universities can deliver high-quality training, produce impactful research, and shape policies that respond to the continent’s evolving needs.

About the ACE Model

Launched in 2014, the ACE Program is a regional higher education initiative supported by the World Bank in partnership with participating African governments. Building on its early successes, the program has attracted additional development partners most notably the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which co-funds the third phase launched in 2019.

Coordinated by the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the ACE model adopts a results-based financing approach, linking disbursements to measurable results in research, teaching, and institutional development. To date, over 80 Centres of Excellence in 20 African countries have been supported, with the goal of improving postgraduate education and research in priority sectors.

Shaping the Future of Responsible Mining and Ensuring Sustainable Environment: ACE Mining Centres Reflect on Progress During ACE@10

The Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) program’s 10th anniversary celebrations in April 2025, offered a space for deep reflection, collaboration, and future-focused dialogue in its breakout sessions. The mining session, moderated by Xavier Michel reflected on forward-thinking strategies towards environmental sustainability.  The ACE program centers across West, East, and Southern Africa shared their unique perspectives on responsible mining and sustainable environmental practices, highlighting their individual and collective contributions to responsible mining. Additionally, participants at this session deliberated on burgeoning environmental, social, and governance challenges that bedevil Africa’s mining ecosystem, and charted a clear vision toward its sustainability.

Six ACEs—CEFORGRIS from Burkina Faso, CEMS from Côte d’Ivoire, EMIG from Niger, CEA-MEM from Senegal, CS-OGET from Ethiopia, and ACESM from Zambia—participated in this session. These centers, located in Africa’s mineral-rich corridors, have become beacons of research excellence and innovation in mining and extractive sciences.

With the overarching theme focused on responsible mining and its contribution to a sustainable environment, the session was a dynamic space for shared learning. Discussions revolved around four interrelated pillars: student and faculty development; advancing research, translating research into industry and policy impact; and partnerships and sustainability. Each centre presented compelling narratives that painted a rich tapestry of institutional progress grounded in real-world challenges and triumphs.

On student and faculty development, leaders of the various centers emphasized efforts to enhance academic programs in mining, increase postgraduate enrolments, and foster faculty development through international mobility and mentoring of early-career mining and environment researchers. Initiatives profiled included curriculum modernization, faculty exchange programs, and targeted recruitment to promote diversity and inclusion in mining education. EMIG shared its targeted efforts to attract more women into mining-related programs, while ACESM highlighted its industry-linked PhD training model that embeds students within mining companies for hands-on practical experience and on-the-job training.

When it came to advancing research, centres celebrated milestones in cutting-edge work on mineral recovery technologies, environmental impact assessments, and mine safety innovations. CEA-MEM’s work on sustainable artisanal mining techniques stood out as a model of locally responsive research with global relevance.

One of the most inspiring moments was the accounts of research translation into policy and industry impact. CS-OGET detailed its collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines to shape regulatory reforms, while CEMS illustrated how its geotechnical research was informing mining protocols in Francophone West Africa. These stories underscored growth among the ACE centers in closing the gap between academic inquiry and real-world impact.

In the discussions on partnerships and sustainability, centre leaders spoke candidly about the evolving nature of funding, the need for diversified income streams, and the critical role of long-term partnerships with industry, government, and international collaborators. CEFOGRIS shared a strategy of embedding its alumni into key public agencies to drive future collaboration from within.

Moving forward, future focus areas identified included critical minerals research, climate-smart mining practices, and digitization and automation of mining processes. Centre leaders called for enabling conditions such as enhanced infrastructure, stronger regional collaboration frameworks, and increased policy alignment with academic outputs.

The session concluded with a collective commitment to advancing responsible mining practices that align with sustainable development goals. The moderator, Xavier Michel in his closing remarks, noted that the shared experiences and forward-looking strategies reflected the ACE program’s core ethos: centres of excellence rooted in local realities, producing knowledge for global good.

The insights from the Mining Breakout Session, later shared during the plenary on the event’s third day, reinforced a compelling truth: Africa’s path to responsible and sustainable mining is already being paved by the Centres of Excellence program through science, partnerships, and the unrelenting dedication of its researchers and educators.

As the ACE initiative steps into its next decade, these mining-focused centres stand poised to lead Africa into a new era, where the continent’s rich natural resources are harnessed not just for economic gain but for environmental stewardship, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

ACE Impact’s Final Push: A Transformative Journey for African Higher Education Nears Milestone Completion

Virtual 12th Regional Workshop Highlights Progress and Sustainability

The virtual 12th Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) Regional Workshop on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, marked a decisive milestone in the ACE Impact project’s mission to transform African higher education.  Convening over 200 stakeholders, including the 54 ACE centers, international experts, and key partners from the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), and the Association of African Universities (AAU), the workshop served as a pivotal forum to assess the progress, address ongoing challenges, and strategize for the project’s final phase as it approaches its scheduled conclusion in June 2025.

Opening remarks from AAU’s Secretary General – Professor Olusola Oyewole, the World Bank’s Task Team leader – Dr. Namrata Tognatta, and AFD’s Regional Education Manager – Mr. Wassim Hadj Ali, set a decisive tone, emphasizing higher education’s critical role in Africa’s socio-economic development. Each speaker highlighted the ACE Impact’s tangible achievements and stressed the importance of crafting sustainable models to ensure these centers continue their transformative work beyond the project’s lifespan. Notably, Dr. Tognatta commended the resilience of ACE Impact institutions, acknowledging their agility in adapting to pandemic-related challenges. Professor Oyewole called for robust partnerships with industry and government to secure ACE Impact’s legacy within African universities.

Project’s Progress updates from AAU’s Senior Program Manager responsible for the ACE Impact Project, Dr. Sylvia Mkandawire, showcased impressive strides in meeting ACE Impact’s ambitious targets, reporting overachievement in key metrics like internships (103%) and near-completion in student enrolment (99%), program accreditation (95%), research publications (88%), and external revenue (86%). Proposing ways to navigate the few governance, procurement, safeguards, and communication challenges, she was upbeat that the ACE Impact project could attain a 100% achievement rate before closure in June 2025. While the project is progressing toward a 100% achievement rate, Mrs. Adeline Addy, AAU’s Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, urged lower-performing centers to intensify their efforts. Notably, out of the $305 million allocated, $259 million has been disbursed, with further releases expected to reach $291 million by early 2025. Even though the project has so far disbursed approximately 259 million dollars to the 54 centers of excellence, the centers were reported to have utilized only 157 million dollars, representing 61% of the total disbursements. This relatively low average utilization rate was mainly attributed to procurement challenges and expenditure delays. Acknowledging these challenges, World Bank’s Education Consultant, Ms. Wura Mosuro, especially encouraged the low fund-utilizing centers to leverage the technical and financial support available to overcome these challenges and maximize their fund utilization and overall impact. Rounding off the project updates, financial contributions by AFD were detailed by Mr. Hadj Ali, who emphasized development finance’s critical role in sustaining project momentum.

Another key highlight of the workshop was the presentation on verification exercises, with a specific session focusing on recent reviews and outcomes. Mrs. Adeline Addy outlined the rigorous verification processes conducted alongside the World Bank, reporting over $22.6 million earned by centers from June to October 2024. Indicators such as student enrollment and research publications were tracked, revealing that some countries still have 6% to 35% of funds yet to be earned. Mrs. Addy also announced three upcoming verification rounds from November 2024 through April 2025, encouraging centers to maximize their earnings while addressing specific challenges. Ms. Veerle Bastiaanssen of Technopolis concluded with a review of submitted research publications, confirming that out of 471 submissions, 438 were eligible, and 270 were SCOPUS-indexed. She shared positive survey findings on ACE Impact graduates, showcasing their skill relevance, research impact, and high employment potential.

With the ACE Impact project’s closure on the horizon, Dr. Mkandawire charted a roadmap for the final months, underscoring priorities such as verification exercises, closeout activities, and comprehensive reporting.

The workshop concluded with insightful closing remarks from Drs. Xiaonan Cao and Namrata Tognatta of the World Bank. Both speakers commended the ACE Impact centers for their dedication and resilience throughout the project. Dr. Cao was particularly enthused about the capacities that the centers of excellence had developed to take off, highlighting the critical need for continued collaboration among themselves and with development partners and regional governments to sustain the gains made through the ACE Impact project. In her final words, Dr. Namrata Tognatta, encouraging the ACE Impact centers to maintain their momentum as they work towards the final stages of the project, advised them to continue to comply with safeguard and fiduciary requirements and attend implementation support meetings. She reiterated the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the ACE Impact centers in their mission to enhance higher education and research in Africa to ensure a long-lasting transformative project impact.

Preceding the 12th Reginal workshop, the Project Steering Committee Meeting on October 21, 2024, identified strategic solutions to project bottlenecks. This workshop also sets the stage for a series of participating Country Roundtable and Implementation Support Meetings on November 11 -25th, 2024, aiming to offer targeted assistance in financial management, procurement, and evaluation as the ACE Impact centers enter the final stretch of this transformative project.

Driving Innovation and Excellence: ACE Impact Project’s Groundbreaking Achievements

Transforming Higher Education in Africa

Across West Africa and Djibouti, a remarkable transformation is underway in postgraduate education, research, and innovation. The Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) project is at the heart of this revolution, addressing critical challenges in higher education and positioning Africa as a global hub for knowledge and innovation.

With 54 centers of excellence, the project is surpassing key performance indicators, accelerating groundbreaking research, increasing student enrollment, and strengthening industry-academia linkages. Through strategic partnerships and sustained investments, ACE Impact is setting a new benchmark for higher education excellence in Africa.

Since its inception, the World Bank, the Association of African Universities (AAU), and the French Development Agency (AFD) have convened bi-annual workshops to review project progress, provide technical support, address challenges, and share best practices. These collaborative engagements have been pivotal in keeping the project on course while equipping institutions with the tools to navigate emerging challenges.

Record-Breaking Progress: The Numbers Speak

Operating under a results-based financing model, the ACE Impact project ensures that funding is directly linked to performance, driving efficiency and accountability. During the 12th ACE Impact Regional Workshop held on October 22, 2024, the latest results showcased impressive strides: The project has enrolled a total of 10,363 students in master’s programs (101% of the target) and enabled 17,676 participants to complete short courses (115%). Female participation has also been notable, with 9,892 women enrolled (115%). Additionally, the project has supported 10,425 regional students (109%) and provided 7,219 students with internships (103%). These numbers reflect the project’s unwavering commitment to building Africa’s next generation of skilled professionals and innovators.

Accelerating Infrastructure Development

With 24 out of 46 (those committed to construction) centers across six countries (Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, and Togo) completing all construction works, ACE Impact is rapidly modernizing Africa’s academic landscape. By December 2024, an estimated 70% of all civil works under the project would be completed, with a clear roadmap to finalize all infrastructural projects by June 2025. Dr. Sylvia Mkandawire, Senior Project Manager, emphasized the urgency of completing all outstanding work and mobilizing support to ensure smooth project closure.

Developing Groundbreaking Innovations

Beyond infrastructure, ACE Impact is fueling innovation across diverse sectors, including health, agriculture, STEM, and environmental sciences. The centers of excellence under the ACE Impact project continue to make strides in innovative research breakthroughs, contributing to development in the sub-region through groundbreaking solutions across various thematic disciplines, including health, agriculture, STEM, environment, and education over the past five years.

During the workshop, Dr. Mkandawire highlighted notable health-related innovations emerging from three key centers in Nigeria: The African Center of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP, Nigeria), the Africa Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (PUTOR, Nigeria), and the African Center of Excellence for Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI, Nigeria).

At ACEPHAP, the center has successfully calibrated a blood collection drape designed for birthing mothers to monitor blood loss, enabling timely interventions aimed at preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Also receiving recognition at the workshop was ACE PUTOR for implementing electronic medical records (EMR) systems in police hospitals across Nigeria to enhance healthcare delivery and data management, providing comprehensive digital patient records that improve efficiency and reduce errors. Additionally, CERHI has developed the Text4Life App, a mobile health program designed to enhance health literacy in rural communities. Through SMS communication, the app delivers personalized health information on critical topics, such as maternal health, and connects women in rural areas with emergency transport and obstetric care.

The African Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety (ACEMFS) also in Nigeria was recognised for providing funding support to young innovators, empowering them to develop solutions for food security and safety.

Strengthening Community Ties

Providing community outreach interventions remains a vital part of the ACE Impact project’s success as it fosters collaboration between the academic centers and the local populations they aim to serve. In her update, Dr. Mkandawire indicated that the project’s impact continues to extend beyond the centers and their immediate university communities. Centers such as the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious and Non- Communicable Diseases (WACCBIP), the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), and the Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication (CApIC) all focused on health have made significant contributions to their local communities by organizing various health screenings in Ghana and Nigeria. The health screenings have resulted in several impacts such as the early detection of diseases, prevention of complications, enhanced quality of lives and reductions of the public health burdens.

Recognizing Excellence: ACE Leaders Gaining Global Acclaim

The ACE Impact project is not just changing institutions, it is  elevating African researchers and academics to the global stage. The workshop served as a platform to honor several center leaders for their remarkable milestones in research and development in the last 6 months. Outstanding figures include Prof. Amina Galadanci of ACEPHAP, featured in Times magazine for her impactful healthcare innovation; Prof. Saidou Madougou (MS4SSA), appointed as the Director of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation at the African Union Commission (AUC); and Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté (CEA-ITECH/MTTV), whose groundbreaking malaria research on gene drive technology has been showcased on Netflix. Additionally, Prof. Solomon F. Ofori-Acquah has been appointed to lead the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), focusing on addressing the sickle cell disease. Prof. Christian Happi of ACEGID has been profiled by the Pulitzer Center for his pioneering research in genomics, while Prof. Ousmane Ndiaye of CEA SAMEF has been elected to the independent electoral committee of the International Pediatric Association (AIP).

ACE @10: A Decade of Excellence in Higher Education

In 2025, the ACE Impact project will celebrate 10 years of transforming higher education in Africa. As part of the road map to the celebrations, all 54 centers of excellence are encouraged to hold center-level events, leading up to the grand ACE @10 event in 2025. So far, WACCBIP – Ghana, ACEGID – Nigeria, ACECoR – Ghana, and WACCI-Ghana have set the pace by hosting their events, with CEFTER (Nigeria) and GTEC (Ghana) scheduled for November 2024.

What’s Next? Securing the Future of ACE Impact

Looking ahead, the ACE Impact project is focused on; promoting the project achievements and scaling the ACE model, ensuring country and center – level ACE@10 celebrations as a way of reaching out to local and regional partnerships, hosting the ACE@10 grand celebrations and project closure, engaging development partners for potential future initiatives on ACE. The impact of ACE Impact is undeniable. Through its pioneering work in education, research, and innovation, the project is reshaping Africa’s knowledge economy and securing a brighter future for the continent.

Ensuring Accountability and Excellence: The Verification of ACE Impact Project Outcomes

A Results-Based Approach to Higher Education Transformation

The Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) project has redefined higher education financing in Africa, ensuring that investments translate into tangible improvements in academic quality, research output, and regional collaboration. At the heart of this transformation is the project’s results-based financing model, which ties funding directly to verifiable achievements.

During the 12th ACE Impact Regional Workshop, held virtually on October 22, 2024, the critical process of verifying project outcomes continued to take center stage, with experts and stakeholders reviewing progress, challenges, and the road ahead.

Results-Based Financing: Driving Impact with Accountability

Unlike traditional funding models, where resources are allocated upfront, ACE Impact operates on a performance-driven approach. Universities receive funding only when they achieve specific, pre-agreed Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs), measurable goals designed to enhance the quality, relevance, and developmental impact of postgraduate education.

The Association of African Universities (AAU, serving as the Regional Facilitation Unit (RFU) alongside the World Bank, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and independent evaluators such as Technopolis and subject-matter experts, oversee the rigorous monitoring and verification process. This independent assessment ensures that reported results are valid, transparent, and trustworthy, strengthening credibility and accountability across the 54 participating centers.

For the 11 African governments involved in the project, this model offers multiple benefits: Stronger accountability mechanisms, ensuring that investments yield measurable results, Improved project implementation efficiency, with clear incentives for performance, More effective resource allocation, directing funding toward high-impact initiatives.

How Verification Works: A Structured Process

The results verification process follows a structured timeline, requiring Centers of Excellence to submit data on achieved results under specific DLIs for designated periods. These submissions must adhere to a strict verification protocol, including detailed reporting templates and supporting documents.

  • Initial Review: AAU’s RFU team assesses the reports, providing feedback, requesting clarifications, and ensuring data accuracy.
  • Verification Exercise: Independent evaluators conduct combined approaches either on-site and remote verifications, confirming the authenticity of submitted results.
  • Disbursement Approval: Upon successful verification, the RFU issues official verification letters to the World Bank and AFD, with copies sent to each center
  • Funding Release: The World Bank and AFD issue disbursement letters, triggering the release of funds through participating governments.

This meticulous process ensures integrity and transparency, reinforcing ACE Impact’s commitment to measurable progress.

Performance Highlights: DLI Achievement Rates as of October 2024

The ACE Impact Centers are classified into two groups — 1st ACE Impact (23 ACEs in Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea, and Senegal) and 2nd ACE Impact (31 ACEs in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo) —based on when the projects became effective.

At the 12th regional workshop, Mrs. Adeline Addy, the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager, reported that the 1st ACE Impact Centers had attained a Disbursement-linked Indicator achievement rate of 86% marking a 5-point increase since May 2024. Performance was particularly strong under Student Enrolment (95%), Education Relevance (93%) and Fiduciary Management (90%).

For the 2nd ACE Impact Centers, the DLI achievement rate was reported at 84%, representing a 7-point increase since May 2024. This group excelled in Student Enrollment (90%), Relevance of Education/Research (86%) and Quality of Education/Research (80%).

Results Verification of the ACE Impact Project – activities, results, earnings and bottlenecks

Mrs. Adeline Addy reported that the total potential earnings from June to October 2024 amounted to US$22,646,563, with the 1st ACE Impact centers receiving 34% and the 2nd ACE Impact centers 66% of this total.

She noted that verification of the Development Impact of the respective projects was ongoing and expected to conclude by the end of November 2024. Additionally, the final verification round for PhD, MSc and Professional Short Course students, Research Publications and Internships began on 20th September 2024, and will be completed in December 2024, marking the last verification round for these particular results.

Mrs. Addy highlighted several challenges encountered in the verification process, including errors in submitted data, ineligibility and duplication of results, submission through unapproved channels, and use of non-recognized agencies, particularly for self-evaluations and gap assessments. She recommended that Centers ensure data accuracy before submission, especially during “grace periods.” Centers should adhere to eligibility criteria, provide supporting documents, and report issues to the RFU. She emphasized that all results must be submitted via the online platform unless otherwise directed by the RFU and advised Centers to use only approved accreditation agencies or seek clearance prior to engaging them. Centers were encouraged to consult the AAU/WB Team with any concerns.

Mrs. Addy informed Centers that the current verification round for Student, Internship, and Research Publication results is the final one.

She also presented the verification and disbursement schedule through the project’s end in June 2025:

  • The first disbursement deadline is November 2024, targeting all DLIs except DLRs 2.2 (Development Impact), 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 (PhD, MSc, and BSc Students), 4.2 (Research Publications), and 5.2 (Internships).
  • The second disbursement deadline is early February 2025, covering all DLIs, including the student, internship, and publication results currently under verification.
  • The third and final disbursement is scheduled for April 2025 and will focus on a mop-up exercise for all DLRs except student, internship, and publication results.

With ACE Impact set to conclude in June 2025, ensuring a smooth, well-executed closure is paramount. The AAU, World Bank, AFD, and participating African governments remain steadfast in their commitment to supporting ACE Centers in reaching 100% completion of their targets.

By maintaining transparency, efficiency, and results-driven accountability, the project is not only reshaping Africa’s higher education landscape but also laying the foundation for sustainable academic and research excellence across the continent.

ACE International Partnership Workshop: Experts Brainstorm Innovative Solutions to Africa’s Water and Agriculture Challenges

In May 2024, the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) program held its inaugural international partnership workshop. Over 400 higher-education stakeholders, researchers, and innovators from over 20 countries convened in Mauritius to foster partnerships and chart a sustainable path to Africa’s development, through the ACE program’s contribution. Several sessions were organized according to the ACE initiative’s thematic areas to ensure a well-coordinated workshop and fruitful deliberations. Session III featured a panel discussion focused on the research and innovations being conducted by the Centres of Excellence in the thematic areas of Water and Agriculture. Moderated by Dr Uchechi Obinna, a researcher at the Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW), Leeuwarden in The Netherlands, the session aimed to foster an engaging and dynamic discussion on current research, innovation, and partnerships, particularly among the African Centres of Excellence and the European Centres of Excellence in the water and agriculture sectors. 

The esteemed panel of speakers included Prof. Harouna Karambari, Coordinator of the Centre of Excellence for Training and Research in Water Sciences and Technologies, CEA 2iE, Burkina Faso; Prof. Eric Danquah, Director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), Ghana; Dr Hans Komakech from the Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy Centre for the Futures (WISE FUTURES), Tanzania; and Dr Sera Gondwe from the Centre of Excellence in Transformative Agriculture Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (TACE), Malawi. The other panelists were Messrs Pieter De Jong from the Wetsus European Centres of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, The Netherlands; Olof Blomqvist from the Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), Lund University, Sweden; and Matija Zulj, Founder and CEO of the Digital Agriculture Solutions for Agri-Food Value Chain (AGRIVI), a specialized AgTech company that delivers farm management softwares. 

Image of Prof Danquah

The session commenced with a discussion on agriculture and water innovations and emphasised the significance of these areas for development in Africa and globally. 

Speakers from the various participating Centres of Excellence demonstrated strong performances across key performance indicators (KPIs) in these thematic areas. They discussed various topics such as water treatment, digital education, agricultural innovation, and research and their associated challenges, raising concerns about issues related to water, agriculture, and contamination, particularly in regions known for e-waste contamination like Nigeria and Ghana and emphasising the need to explore areas of potential collaborations in addressing these safety and pollution issues. They also discussed the impact of agricultural programmes in West Africa, including specific examples of successful initiatives, partnerships, and future goals, and outlined clear next steps, which emphasised the importance of collaboration, innovation, commercialization, and strategic management in dealing with the related challenges. 

Challenges and Interventions

The panellists highlighted some of Africa’s development challenges. They identified malnutrition, low food production, and hunger as some of the numerous challenges in Africa, revealing that one out of every five Africans suffers from chronic hunger. They also mentioned the impact of climate change, loss of soil fertility, and the barriers to technology adoption in agriculture, especially the cost of technology.  

In tackling Africa’s numerous challenges, especially the issues of malnutrition, low food production, and chronic hunger, the speakers of this all-important session acknowledged the significant contributions of various interventions, such as the establishment of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) in Ghana, the Regional Centre of Excellence on Avian Sciences (CERSA) in Togo, and other Centres of Excellence in other countries like Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Nigeria, Niger, and Senegal. 

The speakers also unanimously emphasised the importance of international partnerships and collaborative research for the centres of excellence to consolidate their contributions and achieve sustainable impact. In terms of these international partnerships and research impact, reference was made to, and lessons drawn from, the success stories of the establishment of Wetsus European Centres of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology and their international collaborations with countries like Kenya and South Africa and partnerships with development organisations like the World Bank Group. 

In his presentation, Wetsus’s Pieter De Jong emphasised the importance of collaborations and partnerships, especially to overcome the barriers to technology adoption in agriculture. He expressed his Centre’s continual commitment to ensuring effective water treatment, enhancing digital education, and supporting appropriate tailor-made technology solutions. To this end, Pieter revealed Wetsus’s imminent plan to launch the World’s first water MBA programme and a special Water-For-All Programme, aimed at enrolling students in solution-oriented programmes in Europe. 

He also outlined the organisation’s plan to work on implementing carbon filters, testing water filters, developing standards, and establishing digital education centres in collaboration with partners to provide safe water and enhance learning opportunities. 

On agricultural innovation and partnerships, Wetsus aims to commercialise crop varieties, support entrepreneurship activities, and leverage regional and international partnerships to enhance agricultural innovation and agribusiness ventures. 

Proposed Solutions and Key Next Steps

For impactful research and innovation in the water and agriculture sectors, the panellists proposed engaging in dialogue and generating ideas in tackling current challenges and fostering future collaborations and partnerships between Africa and Europe. They also emphasized optimism that such collaborations and partnerships between the two continents will occur despite possible financial challenges. 

The panellists outlined some collaboration strategies in research projects, emphasising the need to coordinate research projects and prioritize infrastructure investments to create impact and optimise water systems for better efficiency. They also agreed on the importance of selecting a few strategic research partners and industry collaborators for effective collaborations, emphasising quality over quantity. 

To ensure efficient private-public partnerships and innovation collaboration, participants expressed the need to seek guidance from institutions with experience in forming partnerships to avoid common mistakes and accelerate the commercialisation of innovations. 

In terms of commercialisation of research findings, the speakers discussed the approach of translating research findings into practical applications, identifying innovations, supporting innovations, protecting IPs, and collaborating with partners for commercialisation. The next steps also involved assessing the readiness levels of innovators, supporting them, and moving towards specialisation. The speakers highlighted the importance of partnering with internal and external institutions, focusing on common goals, leveraging partnerships, and identifying value within partners to drive commercialisation. 

The session was a testament to global collaboration for innovative water and agriculture solutions, covering discussions on agriculture and water innovations, and emphasising their significance for development not only in Africa but globally. Panellists shared great insights on the importance of focusing on innovations in these areas, underscoring the shared commitment to addressing the associated global challenges. Clearly there are immense opportunities for ACEs to collaborate and partner among themselves and also with institutions in Europe and elsewhere. 

ACE International Partnership Workshop: Centres of Excellence Showcase Groundbreaking Innovations

In a landmark event aimed at showcasing the transformative potential of academic research and innovations by the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) and promoting the forging of partnerships between stakeholders from Africa and other continents, the ACE Programme hosted its maiden Partnership Workshop in May 2024 in Mauritius.  

The dynamic Pitching Session, a key highlight of the workshop, presented groundbreaking innovations developed by the ACEs.  The session for the presentation of these innovative projects that address critical societal challenges, was facilitated by Dr. Danica Ramljak, a Senior Science and Innovation Consultant at the World Bank, and her team of experts. The World Bank’s presence, represented by Dr. Namrata Tognatta, Senior Education Specialist and ACE Impact Task Team Lead underscored the importance of these projects and the investment opportunities they offer.   

The innovations presented by the Africa Centres of Excellence during the session are not only scientifically robust but also commercially viable. They address pressing global challenges and offer substantial investment opportunities for stakeholders in the private sector. Investors are invited to collaborate with these centres to bring these game-changing innovations to market and contribute to societal advancement while reaping substantial financial returns. These commercialisable innovations serve as a powerful testament to the impact of academic research and its potential to drive economic and social transformation across Africa. 

Overall, 13 innovative projects were showcased during the session, highlighting the impressive range of solutions developed by teams of renowned subject-matter experts from the centres. Though only a selection of projects was presented due to time constraints, the centres have many more outstanding projects to share with interested parties and collaborators. A brief highlight of each presentation is provided below: 

  

  1. CEFOR Enterprise Resource Planning Software – an innovation by the Africa Centre for Oilfield Chemicals Research (ACE-CEFOR), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.One of the standout presentations was by the Centre for Oilfield Chemicals Research (ACE-CEFOR) from the University of Port Harcourt. The team, represented by its Centre Leader and its ICT Head, Mr. Daniel Okone, showcased their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. The university, known for its entrepreneurial spirit and robust intellectual property and technology transfer, has developed this ERP software to revolutionize resource management and organizational administration. The software offers a comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning solution with multiple modules including E-Administration, E-Projects, E-Monitoring and Evaluation, E-Call for Proposals, E-Procurement, E-Assets/Inventory, E-Accounting/E-Auditing, and Cybersecurity.  It addresses the problem of manual repetitive tasks, low productivity, and high organisational costs. Its all-in-one nature and competitive advantages make it attractive for diverse sectors and stakeholders, including governments, universities, non-profits, corporate organisations, and donor-funded/funding organisations.
     
  2. ToxoRap Test Kit (a molecular diagnostic kit) – invented by the African Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria 

    Another significant innovation unveiled to participants at the pitching session was a molecular diagnostic kit designed for detecting and genotyping Toxoplasma Gondii, the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is a water and food-borne zoonotic disease of public health concern with one-third global prevalence (Almeria and Dubey, 2021).​ Infection of pregnant women and children, especially those who are congenitally infected (infected in the womb), can lead to serious health issues and, in some cases, death. Treatment and effective management of toxoplasmosis is hinged on early detection and accurate diagnosis​. The ToxoRap Kit provides results within 4.5 hours, significantly faster than current market solutions, which require 20 -36 hours for diagnostic results to be ready. Additionally, it fills the gap of the current unavailability of a singular diagnostic tool that combines both detection and genotyping, which are  needed to foster effective treatment procedures.   

    The presentation indicated that the ToxoRap Kit is clinically suitable, sensitive for early diagnosis of toxoplasmosis to the genotypic level and comes with an illustration of the working steps and principle involved in the diagnostic tool​, that is, the procedure for collection of samples (blood, fluid, fecal or tissue) from suspected infected person or animal or environment.  The ToxoRap Test Kit has been proven to detect and genotype T. gondii at low infection density and different stages (life cycle) of the parasite, which is not the case for the test kits currently available on the market. 
     

  3. Production and Commercialization of Ghee-based Products – by the Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre (PHARBIOTRAC), Mbarara University of Science and Technology, MUST, Uganda. 

    This innovative project seeks to upscale industrial-grade ghee production in Western Uganda in partnership with farmers and establish efficient marketing and distribution systems for the purified ghee and various ghee-based products. Its vision is to convert local resources into high-quality industrial grade raw materials and world-class products. Currently, 70% – 80% of materials are imported for cosmetic and drug production at a commercial level, even though only 1.1 million of the 8.8 million liters of milk produced in Uganda are consumed.  Cow ghee has proven to be excellent for topical drug delivery. So far, products generated from the Purified-Ghee have met industrial-grade specifications, with promising end-user feedback, therefore upscaling production of the industrial-grade ghee and related products will contribute to import substitution and boost farmers’ household income.  A competitive landscape analysis revealed that the Ghee-based products meet a lot more parameters than other products on the market, which are petroleum-based and gel-based. These included antioxidant, anti-aging, and skin cleansing activity. It is also 100% natural and compatible with the human body, has moisturizing effects, and remains stable in aqueous product formulations. 

  4. ​Development and Evaluation of Rapid Test Kit for Detection of Respiratory Infections by the Africa Centre of Excellence in Materials, Product Development and Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO), Makerere University, Uganda. 

    Respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, are a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality among children and the elderly in Uganda and other developing countries. ​The Centre’s mission is to be a regional leader in the development of low-cost Point-of-Care (POC) Testing devices for respiratory infections. This innovation introduces the added value of a low-cost test kit to the market, as the currently available methods are quite expensive. The team envisions producing test devices that will cost less than 1 USD (each), hence cheaper to use in resource-limited settings. Generally, the team is working on other projects/products, including Covid-19 antibody RDT​, RDT for detecting pneumonia-causing pathogens​, and RDT for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
     

  5. Harvest Care (helps to extend the shelf life of farm produce)– Innovation by the Centre of Excellence in Phytochemicals, Textile and Renewable Energy, Moi University, Kenya.

    A total of 1,024,500 metric tons of mangoes are produced annually in Kenya (HCD, 2021); however, losses in quality and quantity occur during the production, postharvest, and processing as well as the supply chain at an estimated 40%–50% of the total output.​ This loss has dramatically worsened Kenya’s food insecurity and attainment of SDG 2. Harvest Care is, therefore, an innovative product by the Centre of Excellence, which comes in strongly to reduce these food losses.  It is a pure organic liquid product that extends the shelf life of Mangoes, for more than 3 weeks, and can help to greatly reduce financial losses.  Its unique value proposition includes the fact that it is cost-effective as local raw materials are used in its production, it presents no health concerns due to its usage of bio-preservatives. Harvest Care is eco-friendly and requires no electricity in its application. By way of scaling up, other market segments, aside from the mango market, that are targeted include other fruit produce, such as tomatoes, pawpaws, oranges, apples, and avocadoes.   
  6. Chiweto – (Delivering Inclusive Digital Solutions for Farmers) – An invention by the Centre of Excellence in Transformative Agriculture Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi 

    This innovation directly responds to the problem of poor veterinary services offered to farmers, where the current statistics reveal 1:14,139 veterinarian to farmers’ ratio.  There is also lack of information and limited skills to access information, where farmers cannot directly access needed information for their work.  This causes losses in, for instance, the cattle rearing market, where the smallholder dairy industry in Malawi, loses up to $300,000 daily to low mild yield (10/cow/d). Its competitive advantage over other solutions on the market relates to its real-time nature and the interactive functions of the solution. It is also a bundled digital service and can easily be accessed on one’s phone. In addition to offering veterinary information and services to cattle farmers, it has an insurance component that aims at insuring 50,000 cattle in its target countries by 2027. 
     

  7. LAAFI Monitor – by the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 

    This innovation is based on the LAAFI CONCEPT, which focuses on the management and intelligence of the cold chain for emergency products that are extremely sensitive to heat.​ One key sector that uses this monitor is the health sector – especially its immunization processes and others.  Another is the agricultural sector, as it records at least 58% of food losses (WFP, 2021).  The monitor captures temperature, humidity levels, has an onboard memory of up to 1 year of data recording and presents a swappable battery. Other products generated by the Centre along these lines include the Laafi Bag (produced in 2018), which serves as an active cooling backpack for pharmaceuticals. The Laafi Monitor, produced in 2021, is also a monitoring device for pharmaceuticals.  The target clients for the products are typically ministries of health, laboratories, UN agencies, ministries of agriculture, private companies, pharmacies, and others.  So far, these LAAFI concepts have been trusted by the Ministry of Health in Burkina FASO, the African Development Bank, and the UNDP’s Accelerator Labs.   

  8. Green AI SUCE (AI-Based Agricultural Supply Chain E-Commerce Application) – by OAK-PARK, ICT-Driven Knowledge Park (OAK-PARK) at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

    This innovation seeks to respond to the problem of wastage that the agricultural sector faces due to the untimely delivery of farm produce directly to consumers, among others.  The supply chain e-commerce application developed by the OAK-PARK team of experts seeks to be the most extensive AI-based smart agricultural supply chain solution in Africa worth $5.01billion profitability with increased 50% GDP. Its offers and solutions are countless, including expanding production, market access, providing real-time monitoring, offering profit maximization strategies, providing data-driven insights, streamlining the supply chain, providing intelligent logistics, and securing financial transactions. 
    The application allows farmers to upload available products​ and request warehousing and logistics services and financial aid.  Farmers can​ rent farm machinery and purchase farm inputs among a host of other supply chain requirements. The Green AI-SUCE is designed to respond to farmers’ various requirements. It offers key competitive advantages, such as a digital wallet, being accessible via a mobile phone, offering real-time delivery monitoring and being readily available in Nigeria.   OAK-PARK invites stakeholders and investors to join the team in revolutionizing agriculture in Africa.
     
  9. Modified Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) for Termites Control – Africa Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER), Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria 

    This project presents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for termite control using modified Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles. It presents a solution in response to the devastating ability of termites to inflict structural damage, which poses a significant threat to both urban environments and agricultural landscapes, leading to crop destruction in some cases. To avert termites triggered food shortages and post-harvest food losses, there are various chemical pesticides and insecticides on the market. However, concerns are raised about the environmental impact of such products and their effect on human health. As a response, the project team from the centre modified Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles of different concentrations, with a powerful effect on termite, addressing the limitations of traditional termite control methods. This product is harmless to agricultural produce and humans, as they serve as part of the composition of some human body creams. Additionally, the cost-effectiveness of this product makes it a true game changer in the industry.
     
  10. Antimicrobial Nano-reinforced Bacterial Cellulose Hydrogel (BCH) from Agro-residues: Production and Application in Wound Healing, ACENTDFB, ABU, Zaria, Nigeria​

    ACENTDFB has developed a technology for producing high-yield and quality BCH from agro-wastes, which is applicable in treating burns, diabetic foot ulcers, and other conditions. This innovation utilizes genetic engineering and process optimization to obtain high-quality BCH. There is an increasing demand for BCH as pharmaceutical raw material, and ACENTDFB has the technology to respond to this demand. The invention utilised genetic engineering and process optimization to develop a technique for obtaining high yields of BCH from locally isolated microorganisms grown on agro wastes.  
  11. Harnessing the Power of Microalgae to Tackle Malnutrition Sustainably – Presented by the Africa Centre of Excellence in Food and Nutrition Security (CREATES-FNS), the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania

    This initiative targets providing nutrient-dense microalgae-based products that are environmentally friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective, and it has the vision of revolutionizing nutrition using sustainable microalgae-based solutions.  GAIN, 2024 posits that one in three people worldwide suffers from one or multiple forms of malnutrition, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) indicates that 795 million people do not get the food they need to live healthy lives. The implications of Malnutrition are dire, as, among others, it contributes to increased mortality rates, reduced productivity and inhibited cognitive and physical development, particularly in children.  

    The solution introduced by CREATES-FNS ranges from the microalgae powder itself to different formulations that emerge from the innovations undertaken by the team. The solution is unique because it uses environmentally friendly, highly productive, and cost-effective microalgae cultivation technology. The centre’s production methodology also increases productivity by 25 times, lowers production costs by more than 50%, and reduces land use by 200 times compared to traditional pond systems, which competitors largely depend on.  This invention is backed by science, continuous research and innovation, thereby ensuring sustainability in producing diverse bioactive nutrients.​
     

  12. Production of Cement Using Natural Pozzolanic Material​, Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy Futures (WISE-Futures) Centre​, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Arusha, Tanzania 

    This project introduces the value of producing high-quality cement for construction projects, at affordable prices while promoting an eco-friendly environment. The current challenge in the construction venture is that the available ordinary Portland cement emits high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), thereby contributing to environmental pollution. Its energy consumption is also high and its cementing materials have less strength and durability.  

    WISE-Futures has, therefore, developed an innovative production process for cement that leverages natural pozzolanic material.  This product increases the strength of the cementing material by more than 53% and reduces energy consumption and cost by 45% and 12% respectively.  Its CO2 emissions are also reduced by at least 9%. Among others, this product can be used to construct short and high-rise buildings, bridges and dams​, highways and railways​, blocks and paving​, and pre-cast concrete production.  

  13.  Strengthening Ghana’s Tomato Industry – Presented by the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana, Ghana  

This project’s vision is to establish Ghana as a self-sufficient tomato-producing nation by 2025.​ It targets empowering local farmers with innovative techniques and high-yielding varieties, enhancing food security and nutrition through increased local tomato production, offering profitable opportunities for farmers with high-yielding tomato varieties, reducing dependency on costly tomato imports, and fostering economic growth of the country.  There is a vast tomato supply gap in Ghana, where demand for tomatoes surpasses local production capacity. The challenges include poor yield per hectare and the limited availability of high-quality seeds and farming practices.  The national proposed strategy is to increase local tomato production by 314,000 Metric Tons within three years and introduce high-yielding tomato varieties.  WACCI has, therefore, intervened through its introduction (and production) of certified high-yielding (50 MT/ha) tomato seeds to the Ghanaian market. Its facilitation of on-farm trials and demonstration plots, as well as training programmes for youth and farmers in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), are game changers.  

The significant gap between demand and supply presents a lucrative opportunity for growth and investments.  The current estimated fresh tomato requirement for self-sufficiency in Ghana is 1.8 – 2.2 million metric tons, while the local production stands at 510,000 metric tons only.​ WACCI is therefore calling on investors and collaborators to join the team in empowering farmers and securing Ghana’s tomato future.   

The Call to Investors and Interested Parties

Investors and interested parties with aligned visions and seeking to collaborate with the Africa Centres of Excellence to commercialise these innovations or engage with the centres on these inventions are invited to contact the ACE Programme’s Regional Facilitation Units – The Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa, via the indicated Programme Managers: 

Engaging Africa’s Academic Leaders for Enhanced Global Collaboration

The ACE Programme hosted its maiden Africa Centres of Excellence International Partnership Workshop in May 2024 in Mauritius. A key event on the final day, May 10th, 2024, was a pivotal side meeting attended by nearly 40 university presidents hosting various Africa Centers of Excellence in the programme’s key thematic areas. The discussions, facilitated by Dr. Roberta Malee Bassett, Global Lead for Tertiary Education at The World Bank, underscored the critical importance of international and regional partnerships, examining both the challenges and potential benefits of these collaborations. 

Feedback from University Presidents 

To foster growth and development, it was highlighted that universities need exposure to diverse perspectives to achieve global relevance and cultural intelligence. Currently, internationalization remains a core focus for many African universities, with most establishing dedicated international offices. International partnerships, such as those with cluster universities in Belgium and agricultural programs with German universities, also emerged as being crucial as it provides students with world-class lab experiences and practical learning opportunities on farms. 

The university presidents indicated that long-term collaborations tend to be more effective, with a preference for two-way partnerships. While most current collaborations focus on student exchanges, there is a desire for more faculty involvement. It was indicated that meaningful partnerships should lead to local capacity building while acknowledging the existing skills within partner organizations.

Case Studies of Successful Collaborations
 

  • Harvard University Collaboration: Through a research growth collaboration with Havard University, one university indicated it has developed a strong team of researchers and changed the research culture in its medical school.
      
  • University of Benin: Some institutions such as the University of Benin in Nigeria mentioned benefiting from acquiring simulation labs through their partnership with Havard University. The University President said that this partnership had strengthened their research teams and empowered staff. The University of Benin wants to collaborate around equity / women empowerment and to be capacitated to tell their stories in terms of numbers. 
  • Haramaya University: The University President noted that most international partnerships in his institution were realized through the personal engagements of staff or through conference contacts. The University had since worked towards institutionalizing partnerships through the establishment of an international office and recruitment of a Fulbright fellow to manage it.
     
  • Leveraging Staff Connections/Networks:  Some universities reported establishing partnerships with leading global universities through the connections of their academic staff. The excellent performance of some staff in specific projects, had led to the expansion of some initiatives. It was also indicated that effective partnerships require close engagements and for the university leadership to be involved in the framing of the research questions and the determination of the partnership agenda. 

Contribution of the ACE Program in Facilitating Partnerships

The University Presidents cited several global universities that they were collaborating with and underscored the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) Program as being instrumental in branding African universities, making them attractive for global partnerships. Aside from this, the ACE programme has various initiatives at the project to promote partnerships between the centres and among them and other institutions. The inter-ACE Networks, for instance, is a shining example of such strategies. The university presidents also expressed concerns about sustaining ACE activities, citing the need for advanced labs, physical infrastructure, and the development of soft skills of researchers. 

Internationalization and Strategic Planning 

The University of Mauritius agreed that internationalization was very important and constituted a top priority in their latest strategic plan. They reported having an increased international visibility partly due to the various ranking schemes. Mauritius has a unique case of a decreasing population – leading to a need to attract international students for the local universities to remain viable. The President was concerned about the limited long-term funding to sustain collaborations.  

From the discussions, it became clear that African Universities want to engage more closely with other universities and countries on the continent and beyond. As part of their strategies, some universities in Africa offer tuition differentials to attract regional students for other parts of Africa. The President of the University of Port Harcourt emphasized that African Universities needed to also look within Africa in terms of collaborations and partnerships. He reiterated the need for African Universities to highlight what they bring to the table when partnering with global universities. It was mentioned that The World Bank used to reward non-African partnerships, but this has since changed. 

Examples of Intra-African Collaborations 

The RUFORUM Graduate Training Assistantship (GTA) was highlighted as a good example of collaboration among African Universities. The RUFORUM GTA facilitates pairing of universities to train each other’s staff for free while leveraging the teaching skills of the staff being trained. Additionally, the university of Zambia advocated for collaborations guided by the African Union Agenda 2063 and regional agendas such as SADC, EAC, ECOWAS, and ECCAS.

Encouraging Institutional Engagement and Partnerships 

University presidents were encouraged to proactively seek partnerships rather than waiting for faculty to initiate them. For example, Mbarara University of Science & Technology in Uganda successfully secured a $10 million partnership with Virginia University to support faculty training. Additionally, collaborative proposals were noted to have a higher likelihood of securing funding, with younger universities advised to leverage the expertise of more established institutions. 

Covenant University highlighted the importance of promoting faculty mobility. Despite the risk of losing staff, the institution values the exposure faculty gain from such mobility. It also runs an International Visiting Scholars (IVS) program, which features international faculty teaching virtually as part of its engagement strategies. 

At Redeemer’s University, strategic recruitment is a key focus. The university has successfully recruited a renowned scientist from Harvard University, creating a stimulating work environment to attract post-docs from top universities globally.

Contributions to the Partnerships Discussions by Various Institutions 

Various participating institutions shared valuable insights and examples of successful collaborations that have significantly impacted their academic and research capabilities. 

Bayero University Kano highlighted its benefit from the WANIDA network, which helped them acquire a sequencing machine. University Presidents confessed that they are sometimes unaware of the equipment within their universities. They emphasized the importance of universities collaborating within a country and across Africa, despite the challenges in aligning goals with other institutions. 

The University of Oslo in Norway, a strong research-based university, indicated having grown through carefully cultivated partnerships and collaborations. The Rector stressed the importance of African universities collaborating with each other while also prioritizing linkages with universities in Europe, the Americas, Asia, China, and other continents. African universities were advised to own these collaborations and commit to investing resources. 

Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, which is sixty-two years old, was built largely on partnerships with Russia. They highlighted that staff exchanges should include administrative personnel as beneficiaries to strengthen their capacities. The university prioritizes partnerships to address national challenges. 

Covenant University in Nigeria encourages faculty mobility, despite the risk of losing staff. They recognize the immense value of exposure and run the International Visiting Scholars (IVS) program, where international faculty teach students virtually. The university has been intentional about collaborations, even though funding remains a challenge. 

The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) urged universities not to be limited by language differences in Africa and to collaborate with their peers. They identified a gap related to the absence of a database showing universities’ strengths and interests. A Secretariat should be established to manage such a database. 

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi is celebrating 25 years of collaboration with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. This partnership has survived and grown due to political will from both countries and demonstrates that meaningful partnerships have long-term funding mechanisms. LUANAR is also training Gambian students at their AQUAFISH Center of Excellence. 

Redeemer’s University in Nigeria successfully recruited a renowned scientist from Harvard University, providing a stimulating work environment that attracts post-docs from top universities globally. The university has also established tenure track positions that are funded differently using grants they win. 

The President of the University of Malawi encouraged his colleagues to prioritize meeting and engaging with their African Vice Chancellor counterparts and not only respect colleagues from outside Africa. Universities were reminded that “funding is not a catalyst for good partnerships,” but good collaboration catalyzes funding. 

The Gambia is leveraging the capacities resident in Africa to train their future professors through partnerships with Nigeria and Ghana. A BSc in Engineering has been developed through these partnerships, with KNUST in Ghana assisting through the ACE Project to train their future academics. 

A representative from the Higher Education Commission of Mauritius provided information about opportunities offered by the Government of Mauritius to African countries. For the past 10 years, 50 scholarships have been offered annually to African students. The commission is constructing a database to support the strengthening of collaborations and is establishing a micro-credentials framework. The government also funds researchers from its public universities, focusing on impact and collaboration. 

The University of Cape Coast announced an upcoming meeting of Vice Chancellors under the Association of West African Universities in Senegal. The UCC University President also indicated that his university participates in the Times Higher Education rankings and is currently ranked number one in Ghana and West Africa, and seventh in Africa. 

Conclusion 

The side meeting underscored the need for African universities to take the lead in shaping partnership initiatives. Universities must be driven by strong ideological orientations, aligning collaborations with strategic goals and regional development agendas. The discussions and contributions highlighted the vital role of partnerships in enhancing the educational and research capabilities of African universities, promoting collaboration, and addressing regional and national challenges. 

 

Graduate Tracer Study Reveals Africa Centres of Excellence Graduates Make Giant Strides

83% of Graduates Gainfully Employed

From 8-10 May 2024 24, a crucial gathering took place in Balaclava, Mauritius, involving stakeholders and (prospective) partners of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) initiative who convened to respond to the urgent call for regional and cross-continental coordination and collaboration in addressing global challenges related to public health, climate change, food security, energy, water, and other urgent developmental concerns. 

Dubbed the Africa Centres of Excellence International Partnership Workshop, the three-day event brought together higher education representatives from the World Bank, the French Development Agency, the Association of African Universities, the Inter-University Council for East Africa, the African Union Commission, the European Union, the Africa Centres of Excellence, the European Centres of Excellence,  the governments of the participating centres of Excellence, the private sector, and other development agents to deliberate on advancing the 2023 AU-EU Innovation Agenda.  During the meeting, the project profiled its impactful journey and critical initiatives over the last ten years. 

Moderated by Prof. Kouami Kokou, a member of the ACE Impact Project Steering Committee from Togo, Plenary Session VI of the workshop was devoted to disseminating and discussing the outcomes of a survey undertaken to track the perceived performance, progress, and impact of ACE graduates, especially in the areas of research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The survey, titled – ACE Program Graduate Tracer Study, was spearheaded by MyCos Data, an independent Data Survey & Evaluation and Consulting Services Firm based in China, which specialises in higher education management consulting, and the findings were presented by its Vice President of International Partnerships, Kate Wang.  

The 76-day survey had a response rate of 52%, with 4,295 out of 8,308 master’s and doctorate graduates participating. These graduates were from 65 of the 80 ACEs. Of the 4,295 total respondents, 3,818 were master’s graduates, while the remaining 477 were doctorate graduates from the ACEs. 

Survey Results: Research and Academic Activity 

The survey report indicates that the impact of the ACE initiative began manifesting even before its students graduated. According to the report, 68% of master’s graduates got involved in research projects, while 34% had at least one research paper published during their training period.  Additionally, after graduating from the Centres of Excellence, 47% continued to engage in research projects, and 25% published at least one research paper. 

The research and academic achievements of the ACE program were even more profound at the doctorate level. 80% of doctorate graduates responded to being involved in research projects, while 85% indicated having published research papers during their training under the ACE initiative. Of those whom the ACE model impacted after training, 69% were engaged in research projects, and 74% had research papers published. These achievements were despite mitigating challenges, mostly inadequate access to funding but partly challenges with the accessibility of journals and laboratories, physical environments, faculty expertise, and communication with programme administrators and faculty. 

Apart from students and graduates conducting their own research projects during and after the ACE training, at least the doctorate graduates also collaborated with international entities in the form of conferences and projects, which enhanced their research and academic exposure and expanded their worldview beyond the confines of their centres, universities, and countries. 

According to the survey report, 77% of the respondent ACE doctorate graduates collaborated in at least one international research conference, with 10% of them participating in more than five of those conferences during their training. Following graduation from the Centres of Excellence, another 64% of the graduates participated in at least one international research conference, with 14% featuring in more than five such conferences. Regarding international research project collaborations, 45% of the ACE doctorate graduates participated in at least one, with 2% participating in more than five during their training and 50% after graduation, with 3% participating in more than five of those international research project collaborations. 

Respondents also engaged with the private sector during their PhD studies at the ACEs, including participating in private sector-organized conferences, undertaking internships within private sector organizations, working on joint projects, commissioning research, and receiving additional training from the private sector. They also conducted contract research for the private sector and collaborated with their personnel. 

In terms of satisfaction, respondents were generally satisfied with their internships and industry collaboration experiences both on-campus (58%) and off-campus (45%) despite challenges like unhelpful guidance (11%), lack of respect for personal interest (8%), too much academic pressure (7%), difficulty with professional relationships (7%), irrelevance to the study (6%), and insufficient preparation from coursework (6%).  

Survey Results: Employment Status and Quality 

Besides the remarkable collaborative research and academic achievements, the ACE program also reported high employment rates. According to the report, more than half of ACE graduates found employment in various sectors—private entities, state-owned enterprises, state agencies, research institutions and academia, non-profit organizations, foreign entities, and joint ventures—even before graduation. Again, more than half of the remaining graduates also found jobs within the same year of graduation, with the remaining small percentage (about 15%) getting employed after one year. 

Of the 3,818 master’s graduate respondents, 3,169, representing 83%, were gainfully employed during the survey. Again, out of these 3,169 employed ACE masters graduates, 1,648, representing 52%, found jobs before they graduated; another 507 of them, representing 16%, found jobs within the first three months of graduation; 539 (17%) of them within one year of graduation, while the remaining 475, representing 15% got jobs after one year of graduation. 

Regarding the employment of PhD graduates, out of the 477 survey respondents, 415, representing 87%, were fully employed during the survey period. Again, out of these 415 employed ACE doctorate graduates, 245, representing 59%, got their jobs before graduating from the ACE programme; 58 (14%) of them within the first three months after graduation; another 58 (14%) of them within the first year after graduation; and the remaining 54 (13%) getting jobs after one year of graduation. 

Research Results: Entrepreneurship 

Even though more than half of the respondent ACE graduates (53% for master’s and 56% for doctorate) reported being satisfied with their jobs, good percentages also found themselves in entrepreneurship, a critical aspect of the ACE model. For instance, 10% of the respondent ACE masters graduates, and 12% of the respondent ACE doctorate graduates reported being entrepreneurs. Eight out of every 10 of these entrepreneurs (82% for master’s and 77% for doctorate) are working in for-profit sectors, while the remaining two of the 10 entrepreneurs (18% for master’s and 23% for doctorate) are working in non-for-profit organizations, all adding values to themselves and their families and filling developmental gaps through their research areas, sectors, and societies, thanks to the ACE program. 

Moreover, almost all respondent ACE graduate entrepreneurs (94% for master’s and 98% for doctorate) reported being influenced by the ACE model, with more than half in each case reporting a very significant impact of ACE. The aspects of the ACE education that impacted its graduates to become entrepreneurs range from formal training through coursework (69% for master’s and 58% for doctorate), interactions and collaborations with the private sector (45% for master’s and 53% for doctorate), and impact from degree programme mentors (36% master’s and 44% for doctorate). 

Student Satisfaction, Model Usefulness and Influence, and Alumni Recommendations 

Not only did respondents find teaching and learning under the ACE educational model satisfactory, but they also found it very important to their present academic and professional pursuits. While 88% of respondent master’s graduates and 89% of the respondent doctorate graduates were satisfied with the ACE teaching and learning model they experienced, 98% of each of the two groupings found the ACE model useful in their current situations. 

Almost all the ACE graduate respondents were satisfied with the ACE model and would recommend it to others. When asked about their satisfaction rates, 90% of master’s graduates and 93% of doctorate graduates responded that they were satisfied with their experiences during the training, and 95% each of master’s and doctorate respondents answered they would recommend ACE to others and recommend or recruit its products for available jobs. 

Apart from their desire to be invited to engage ACE alumni through recommendations and job openings, respondents would also want to be engaged in multiple other levels, such as being invited to participate in ACE events, facilitate university-industry collaboration, raise funds or donate to the programme, and provide feedback, such as through similar surveys. 

Survey Recommendations 

Ms. Wang rated the 52% survey response rate as relatively high and the findings very credible and reliable and thus commended the respondents for their cooperation and congratulated the ACE program stakeholders on their achievements. She was also optimistic these rates and achievements could further be enhanced in the future and thus recommended the following for stakeholder consideration: 

  1. Encouraging more ACEs and graduates to participate in future surveys. 
  2. Streamlining the data collection process and reducing errors of repetition and inaccurate information. 
  3. Engaging graduates as soon as they leave the programme and from time to time for a stronger relationship. 
  4. Clearly defining what it means to benefit from the ACE programme to students before they graduate. 

MyCos Data is expected to submit the full survey report to its commissioners—the World Bank and the Association of African Universities—within the next few weeks, following the International Partnership Workshop hosted in Mauritius in May 2024. 

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