On 22nd July 2025, the TAGDev 2.0 Program at Egerton University held an impactful inception meeting with 28 out-of-school refugee youth at CDN Plaza in Nakuru, marking the beginning of a transformative journey toward economic self-reliance and dignity. This training introduced the participants to the ASEC-Out-of-School Youth (OSY) empowerment program with the Graduation Approach embedded as a key formula for building sustainable livelihoods. The Graduation Approach, as applied by ASEC, is a structured, group-based methodology that equips youth who are not in education or formal employment but have some work experience with practical skills, financial access, and peer support to successfully launch and sustain enterprises within Kenya’s agrifood system.
The session opened with remarks from Prof. Nancy W. Mungai, TAGDev Program Coordinator, who emphasized that refugees, despite facing displacement and limited opportunity, have the potential to thrive when equipped with the right tools, mindset, and institutional support. She encouraged the youth to take charge of their future, make use of the program’s offerings, and transform their economic realities. A representative from the Department of Refugee Services (DRS) applauded the initiative, reaffirming the government’s commitment to refugee inclusion through models that go beyond humanitarian relief and foster long-term livelihoods.

Farmers Embrace Innovation at Egerton University’s TAGDev 2.0 Model Farm Field Day

On Thursday, 3rd July 2025, the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Development (TAGDev 2.0) Program at Egerton University hosted a  Farmers’ Field Day at its Model Farm. The event benefitted 55 farmers from across Njoro Sub-County. The focus was on bridging the gap between research and practice, offering hands-on exposure to affordable, climate-smart Technologies, Innovations, and Management Practices (TIMPs) that smallholder farmers can adopt to enhance productivity and climate resilience.

The TAGDev 2.0 Program, Egerton University is privileged to be among the key partners supporting the adoption of Competence-Based Education (CBE) in higher education institutions across East Africa. Currently, a four-day training is underway at Egerton University to equip academic staff with the necessary skills and understanding to transition to CBE and to fast-track the adoption CBE across different academic programs. Speaking during the opening of the workshop, Prof. Charles M’Erimba, representing TAGDev 2.0 Program Coordinator Prof. Nancy Mungai, described the training as a “critical step toward reimagining higher education to remain not only academically rigorous but also contextually relevant and impact-driven.”

On June 18, 2025, the Dairy Training Institute (DTI) Naivasha held a stakeholder meeting to officially launch the Agrifood System & Entrepreneurship Consortium (ASEC) project under the TAGDev 2.0 program, Egerton University. The event, chaired by the Institute’s Principal and ASEC Team Leader, Mr. Abraham Biwott, brought together approximately 30 participants from diverse sectors, including government agencies, local cooperatives, community-based organizations, and private enterprises. The meeting served both as an introduction to the ASEC project and a strategic forum to explore collaborative pathways for achieving its core objectives, which include youth empowerment through dairy entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, gender and social inclusion, and policy engagement for systemic impact.

The event attracted a wide and representative group of stakeholders from Naivasha, Gilgil, and Ol’joro-Orok sub-counties. Participants included departmental heads from DTI, officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Cooperatives at both county and national levels, representatives from the Kenya Dairy Board, Kenya Forestry Service, Sheep and Goat Station, and the Livestock Recording Centre, as well as local administrators such as area chiefs and Members of County Assembly (MCAs). Leaders from community organizations and private sector actors also attended, reflecting strong interest in the project’s inclusive development agenda. Organizations represented included Eagle’s Green Developers, Team Climate Change Naivasha, KAMWE CBO, Eden Thriving, Banadesh Women Group, Reno Agri-foods & Dairy Academy, Aim Far, Oljoro Foods Ltd, CAP Youth Empowerment Institute, Uhotani SACCO, and the Mai Mahiu Flood Victims Chairperson.

Discussions during the meeting revolved around five interlinked themes: youth inclusion, dairy entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, gender and social inclusion, and policy engagement. They emphasized the need to strengthen youth participation in the dairy value chain through enterprise development, technical training, and mentorship. There was a shared recognition of the importance of adopting climate-smart dairy practices to enhance environmental resilience and sustainability. Gender and social inclusion were also strongly emphasized, with calls to ensure that women and marginalized groups are fully integrated into all phases of the project. Policy representatives highlighted the need to align ASEC activities with both local and national policy frameworks to enhance sustainability and institutional backing.

Beyond formal presentations, the event provided a space for open dialogue, visioning, and inter-sectoral collaboration. Stakeholders reflected on their potential roles and proposed concrete strategies to support DTI Naivasha in realizing the ASEC vision. By the end of the session they had established a strong foundation for partnership and expressed commitment to continued collaboration through technical support, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilization. The meeting concluded with a unified call to action to work together toward transforming the dairy sector using inclusive, innovative, and sustainable approaches.

By: Carol