Kyambogo to spearhead translation of research into policy

The vice chancellor of Kyambogo University, Prof Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya has said the university will soon come out with a manual on ways to translate research output into policy and tangible social practice.

Katunguka was opening a three-day training workshop that started on March 27, 2023, at Royal Suites Bugolobi, under the theme, ‘Translating science into policy and practice’.

The training attracted academics from Kyambogo University, Makerere University, University of Dar es Salaam, Nairobi University, University of Embu, Nelson Mandela University, University of Gondar, Institute of Environment and Research Burkina Faso, Mekelle University, Ethiopia and other research agencies.

Being the second of its kind, the first training having taken place in March 2022, Katunguka said the series conducted under the the Agriculture for Food Security 2030 (AgriFoSe2030) programme will lead into publication of a manual for their graduate students and other researchers generally.

The training was conducted by researchers from University of Gothenburg, and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences along with some local facilitators, and financially supported by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The training of researchers in research-policy interaction skills addressed many pertinent topics such as why there is disconnect between researchers and policymakers and how such a gap can be narrowed or closed.

Course participants trained in presentation of scientific results, understanding and describing their roles in policy-making processes, mapping and analyzing the policy landscape relevant to their research and identifying possible research-policy and practice linkages.

They also developed practical modes of implementing scientific research findings while considering the value of indigenous knowledge and how to effectively communicate research findings to varied agricultural policy and practice audiences at local, national and regional levels.

While noting that not every research will lead to policy, Katunguka stressed that if a researcher identifies the problem rightly and involves the stakeholders in the problem, the impact will be substantial, and be easily noticed and picked up by policymakers and administrative implementers.

He emphasized the general objective of the programme, which is to strengthen individual skills and capacities, and national and regional networks to enhance policy engagement and science-based sustainable agriculture and food security.

AgriFoSe was established with the main objective of contributing to the social, economic and environmental sustainability of smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and South and South-East Asia for improved food and nutrition security.

Dr Judith Irene Nagasha, the principal collaborator of the programme, said the AgriFoSe2030 programme aims to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 of “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” in low-income countries.

“We synthesise and translate existing science into policy and practice, and develop capacity to achieve this,” she said.

jmusinguzi@observer.ug