Regional students enrolled in ACEs

CRAFS has enrolled three regional master's female students, seven PhD students, and four other females in various programs in the School of Natural & Applied Sciences. Nine students are under CRAFS scholarships; the IUCEA, the regional unit for ACEs, funds one.

Capacity building through short courses

So far, CRAFS has trained over 224 postgraduate students and early career researchers in the following short courses:

• Data analysis using R, 89 participants.
• Tidy Time Series Analysis and Forecasting using R, 102 participants.
• Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Malawi, 29 trainees.
• Water Management & Hygiene, 14 trainees.

Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)

CRAFS has partnered with public and private institutions, namely the University of Rovuma (Mozambique), Mbarara University of Science & Technology (Uganda), Kyungil University (South Korea), University of Johannesburg (South Africa), ACENUB-Mzuzu University, Farm Radio Trust, Zakudimba Farmers Corporative and Tehilah Enterprise. So far, the MoUs have enabled staff exchanges between Mbarara University and CRAFS.

Faculty and PhD student exchanges

CRAFS has supported international, regional, and local faculty and student exchanges. At the international level, 4 PhD students (1 female) and four faculty (2 females) have participated in academic exchanges at the University of Oslo-Norway, Bath-Spar University-UK and the University of Trieste-Italy, respectively.

At the regional level, three faculty (2 females) have participated in the exchange programme at Mbarara University of Science & Technology, Uganda (2) and Christian University in Nairobi-Kenya (1). Locally, five faculty (one female) and two postgraduate students have participated in a staff-student exchange programme at the Malawi University of Business & Applied Sciences (MUBAS).

Research and publications

CRAFS has, so far, over 30 internationally recognised publications, with international (22) and regional co-authored publications (19).

Activities outside formal MoUs

Under CRAFS, two faculty members have participated in international workshops to train postgraduate students and early career researchers. Dr Elias Mwakilama has trained at least 15 international faculty and students in data analytic skills for one health. Between Dec 11th and 15th, 2023, CRAFS hosted Prof Bahman Rostami-Tabar of Cardiff University to offer a short course training in "Tidy Time Series Analysis and Forecasting using R".

Another faculty member, Dr Tsirizani Kaombe was co-hosted by the ACEPHEM at the Kamuzu University of Health Science to train postgraduate students in Nairobi on "Academic paper writing and publication" at Christian University of Nairobi in October 2023. Mrs Lucia Kabanga-Mtonga conducted a four-month research study in Trieste from September to December 2023.

Capacity building for institutional readiness

Staff training capacity in various areas of data management (2, 1 female), drone management and remote sensing (7, 1 female), monitoring and evaluation and Safeguards (3), communication Strategy (2), Finance & Auditing (4), and Procurement (2).