1. African Centre for Agro-Ecology & Livelihood Systems (ACALISE)
UMU
PROGRESS REPORT , ace ii Technical Meeting, Lusaka, 9th-10th May 2018
By Dr Jude SSEbuwufu, Centre leader

2. Background
UMU is a Church-founded private, not-for-profit University The Mission is to provide quality higher education, training, and research for the betterment of society, guided by ethical values SLOGAN Making a Difference

3. KEY DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE
• Low production and productivity levels
• Environmental degradation
• University curricula which lack a multidisciplinary approach
• Decadent moral fibre of society
• High levels of vulnerability (low levels of resilience to shocks)

4. Key objectives of ACALISE
To train a new breed of M.Sc. (300) and PhDs (32) in Agroecology and Livelihood Systems to propagate innovation and transformation of society
To spearhead the integration of ecological approaches in Agriculture and related disciplines
To initiate critical regional collaborations for devpt.
To mainstream the teaching of Ethics

5. HIGHLIGHTS OF PROGRESS (Issues and Challenges)
National launch, Nov 15, 2017
ACALISE operating
since August 2016

6. University Governance enhanced
Univ. Management Team and Heads of Department trained
Capacity building in soft-skills for administrative staff
Considerable autonomy to ACALISE
PhD training to 8 staff to ensure lasting capacity of the Centre
Limited structural renovations

7. Teaching and Learning improved
New curricula (2 vs 4)
Skills gap analysis in Agro-ecology
PhD Students recruited (9 vs 32)
MSc Students recruited (294 vs 300)
Exceeded the 30% target of female students (36%)
Short courses training
1st African Agro-ecology Conference hosted
Learning facilities being upgraged (40%)

8. RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
Launch of the hosting of the African Journal of Agro-ecology
Partnership with Elsevier
Research proposals of PhD students are being worked on
MSc Students in the field working on their research
Research on insects as feeds for people and cattle

9. External revenue generation
Around USD 400,000 earmarked
Funding proposals written
Working with productive sector
Tuition fees from students and short courses
Commercialization of the University farm

10. Utilization of Funds (Nov 2017- May 2018)
Total IDA funds disbursed to ACALISE USD 1,127,676
Total net (%) consumed by 7th May 2018, is 51%
Outstanding procurements due, June 2018 (around 18%)
Funds(balance) due to partners, June 2018 (around 13 %)
Salaries/operational costs due, May/June 2018 (around 3%)
By 30th June, around 85%

11. Key Challenges vs Remedies
Lukewarm response from sections of private sector/industry
Limited number of regional (female) students
Lack policy frameworks/organs for regional accreditation of programmes
Limited space for accommodation of students with families
Under-budgeting for some activities
Guidance from WB country office vs already agreed processes (ACEII)
Bureaucracy vs autonomy in some Universities
Build trust gradually
Advertising in regional fora, and providing full scholarship
Trying to engage RUFORUM
Written to WB to guide us on purchasing of a semi- finished hostel
Review of AWP and seek WB/IUCEA approval
Seeking audience with ACE II TTL

12. 32-self contained rooms