News & Events

On February 24–25, 2026, the Pro-RUWA 2.0 kick-off workshop was held at IPR/IFRA in Bamako. The event was attended by the Malian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Bouréma Kansaye, and the German Ambassador to Mali.

This second phase marks the integration of IPR/IFRA as a key partner. The initiative focuses on training researchers and strengthening expertise in sustainable land management, agriculture, and natural resources to support a sustainable future for Mali and the sub-region.

We are thrilled to announce that the DAAD has officially confirmed the second funding phase for Pro-RUWA, running from 2026 to 2030. Starting January 1, 2026, Pro-RUWA 2.0 will build on our momentum to continue training the next generation of West African scientists. We are also proud to welcome our newest partner institution: Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquée (IPR/IFRA) from Mali.

We wrapped up a highly active year of capacity building in December.

Writing Week in Ouagadougou: In December 2025, Pro-RUWA hosted a successful writing week in Burkina Faso, where Master’s and PhD students worked alongside supervisors to finalize scientific manuscripts.

Completed E-Learning Cycles: The network successfully concluded several high-demand online courses in 2025, including R-Statistics, GIS for Beginners, and Agent-Based Modeling.

On-Site Technical Workshops: Our team delivered hands-on training in KoboCollect in Niamey and practical Microsoft Excel/Word sessions for agricultural students in Benin.

The Pro-RUWA community had a strong presence at Tropentag 2025 in Bonn, Germany. Our scholars collaborated with international research initiatives, presenting their work and expanding the network's visibility on the global stage.