Events

Upcoming Activities in 2023 and Beyond

1. DAAD WAC-SRT SPECIAL SCHOOL

  • To be held late in August and September 2023
  • Scholars from 
    • University of Abdou Moumouni (UAM), Niger
    • Simon Diedong Dombo University for Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), Wa
    • University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale
  • Scholars will be graduated, hence will be certificated after the Special School
    • The Vice Chancellor will inaugurate and close the ceremony
    • Students will visit notable tourist sites in northern Ghana
      • Mole National Park
      • Paga Crocodile Pond
      • Sirigu Shrine
      • The Mystic Stone


2. INCiTiS-FOOD PROJECT INAUGURATION AND TRAINING ON AQUAPONICS

Brief Background of the INCiTiS-Food Project

Over several decades, African city region food systems have been challenged by exposure to shocks and stressors from climate change, with well documented cases of food security impacts. Also, the emergence of the convid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine further contributed to the challenges faced by the food system through several impact pathways. Their combined negative impacts on food and nutrition security have been realized through low food production and supply, poor access to food where available, and weak stability in its supply. Amid these challenges, the simple question is ‘what can we do to improve food and nutrition security in African city regions and reduce the food-system related environmental footprint while contributing to circularity?

The INCiTiS-FOOD project, consisting of 24 partners from 13 countries spread across Europe and Africa are aimed to contribute to addressing this challenge. The partners are Universität der Bundeswehr München (Germany), Aglobe Development Center (Nigeria), Technical University of Munich (Germany), Njala University (Sierra Leone), Fachhochschule Südwestfalen (Germany), Aquaponik manufaktur GmbH (Germany), Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku (Gabon), University of Ibadan (Nigeria), University of Bologna (Italy), Bamenda University of Science and Technology (Cameroun), SunLight Power Africa SP (Kenya), Youth 4 Development (Kenya), Kenyatta University (Kenya), Foodscale Hub (GR), University for Development Studies (Ghana), Agrifood Lithuania (Lithuania), Bavarian Research Alliance (Germany), Stichting Wageningen Research (Netherlands), Egerton University (Kenya), Women Engage for a Common Future (Netherlands), Zurich University of Applied Sciences (CH), InsectiPro Ltd (Kenya), African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (Kenya), and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL).

Within the next four years, the INCiTiS-FOOD project will contribute to solving challenges relating to the four dimensions of food and nutrition security. First, INCiTiS FOOD will contribute to improving the availability of nutritious and safe food through local production. Second, INCiTiS FOOD will help improve food access, including affordability. The third goal of INCiTiS-FOOD is to increase food utilization, including the reduction of food waste. Fourth and finally, INCiTiS FOOD will help improve food stability at all times.

With the launching of INCiTiS-FOOD, the project will empower communities by opening up opportunities for agri-food businesses along the supply and value chains and will achieve environmental justice through transformative food policies. This is to be achieved through interdisciplinary research, integrated best-fit technologies creation and uptake, stakeholder led action, capacity-building, research-practitioner-policy collaborative engagement, and Europe-Africa partnership.

To achieve these objectives, INCiTiS-FOOD will co-create circular agri-food technologies, practices, and business models for an inclusive food system in African cities and towns. The project is based on a multi-actor approach, involving 8 Living Labs (LLs) in six (6) countries from three (3) African regions (East: Kenya; West: Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone; Central: Cameroon, Gabon).

About 2 years into the 4-year project, usability testing will end up in a demonstration phase. This phase involves between 800-1000+ start-ups and scalable small and medium-sized enterprises. Two (2) Open Calls for the Cascade Fund (1,000,000€) will initiate it. Beneficiaries of the Cascade Fund will be surveyed to generate empirical evidence on the co-benefits of the INCiTiS-FOOD technologies and business models, guiding urban food policy roadmaps for African cities.


Upcoming events

  • From 16th – 30th July, UDS INCiTiS-FOOD will host partners for the construction and training on aquaponics at the Nyankpala Campus where the Living Lab is sited.
    • The Vice Chancellor will inaugurate the project and open the training ceremony on the 17th of July. 
    • Participants will tour notable sites in northern Ghana
  • From October onwards, UDS INCiTiS-FOOD Living Lab will onboard and train beneficiary farmers on aquaponics