Although many people think of agriculture as low tech and innovation field, those involved in agricultural education or industry know that it’s actually quite the opposite – year on year new solutions and efforts are being made towards bridging the gap between the real life and classroom in agricultural field that change the life of students, farmers and entrepreneurs across the world. More and more farmers are turning to data science to make informed decisions using precision technologies. However, this kind of initiatives are much less (if any) observed in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that severely lags behind in their development despite the fact that most people are engaged in small farming as primary economic activity. In addressing this imbalance, CHAIN steps up the agricultural innovation and collaboration potential in SSA targeting engagement of teaching and non-teaching university staff, agricultural students, farmers and industry representatives. It introduces a more holistic and human-centred approach to agricultural education, training and innovation in the region through: developing a master program in Food Value Chain (FVC) at beneficiary HEIs; building teacher capacity at beneficiary HEIs to use promote learning methods and use teaching methodology prone to entrepreneurial thinking and innovation, with emphasis on e-learning and digital tools; and establishing Collaborative Holistic Agriculture Innovation Nests offering support to innovation initiatives of students, farmers, and entrepreneurs. While on immediate impact level the project brings modernized curricula prone to innovation and increased employability of students, CHAIN in the long run fosters efforts around food safety and security in targeted African countries and communities, by developing and promoting “careers of the future,” in the agricultural sector. It thus provides impetus to tackling some of the core global developmental issues including production of more food with less inputs,

With a burgeoning population across Africa, characterized by a significant youth demographic, the challenge of youth unemployment persists, exacerbated by limited opportunities in the formal sector. The informal economy absorbs the majority of new entrants, offering precarious and low-quality jobs. In response, the STREAMING project aims to develop strategies for fair, healthy, and environmentally sustainable food systems across the continent. By fostering connections between basic research and practical implementation, STREAMING seeks to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among various target groups, including women, researchers, students, and farmers. Through networking platforms, innovation hubs, startup scouting, and training programs, the project aims to bridge academia-industry gaps and promote the adoption of sustainable practices and technologies in African food trade systems. Additionally, with a focus on policy analysis and recommendation, STREAMING aims to inform trade policies in Africa and Europe, with an emphasis on removing non-tariff barriers to trade and enhancing resilience against external challenges such as climate change. By integrating stakeholder perspectives, empirical research, and innovative solutions, STREAMING strives to contribute to the establishment of fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food systems continent-wide.

AFRIFOOD-Links AfriFOODlinks aims to improve food and nutrition security, while delivering positive outcomes for climate and the environment, and building social and ecological resilience in 65+ Cities (15 African and 5 European Implementation cities and 40+ Network Cities) cities by: 1) applying an urban food systems lens to promote shifts to healthy, sustainable diets, 2) transforming urban food environments through real-world socio-technical experiments; 3) promoting inclusive multi-actor governance to empower public officials, small businesses and communities with ownership and agency to shape their food systems; and 4) accelerating innovative, women- and youth-led agri-food businesses to support local value addition and inclusive economic participation. AfriFOODlinks invests in direct food system change in 5 African Hub Cities, and invites 10 African and 5 European Sharing Cities to join the Hub Cities on a mutual-learning journey, to share their innovative food systems and to co-design specific pilot projects for implementation in each Sharing City. Researchers, posted within each of the 20 local governments, will support the city to articulate its identified food system challenges and own authentic approach to improving access to healthy, nutritious food - with a particular attention to vulnerable groups - and reducing food related environmental impacts through food systems intervention. In this way, these implementation cities become flagships - beacons of inspiration for urban food systems transitions across the continent to inspire and share with over 40 Network cities, who are invited to adopt and adapt.