During the first phase of the REFOREST Programme notable results were realized through Sida support as summarized hereunder in four main categories:
- Establishment of Operational Structures and Systems
- Organizational structures and systems for the programme established and operationalized. These will continue to support the second phase;
- PhD Forest Sciences Curriculum developed, approved and implemented;
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Programme developed and applied;
- Partnership arrangements among the six collaborating universities established. All partners actively participated in the decision-making structures of the programme; and
- Internal management and control systems at SUA strengthened.
- Enhancement of networks and partnerships (S-S and N-S) among institutions
- 82 resource persons mobilized to jointly implement Programme activities including coursework delivery, students’ research supervision, examinations, sharing of knowledge and experience;
- Twenty joint students’ research supervisory teams established and sustained;
- Experts from all partner universities actively participated in students’ examination processes including refereed seminars, examination of theses and Viva Voce. Other interested individuals on students research outputs participated virtually in organized refereed seminars and in Viva Voce sessions;
- Students and supervisors jointly published 49 scientific papers in peer reviewed international journals.
- Strengthened Capacity and Quality of Forest Education and Research
- The Regional Sandwich PhD training model operationalized as Research School successfully launched and jointly piloted by the collaborating universities;
- 18 PhD students (8 female and 10 male) graduated at SUA and 2 female Master of Science students graduated at Makerere University. The programme demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing gender equality throughout its implementation; and
- Informing Policy and Practice in Forestry
- Based on research conducted in students’ home countries, 18 policy briefs produced and shared. The briefs translate research outputs into actionable recommendations; and
- The REFOREST Reach Community of Practice (RRCoP) established as a platform for information sharing.
The first phase of the Programme laid a strong foundation for sustainability and continuity. The lessons learned in implementing the first phase of the REFOREST Africa Programme informed the design of the second phase. Programme activities were very much aligned with regional and global priorities, including SDGs, the African Union Agenda 2063 and addressed pertinent challenges inherent in the Eastern and Southern Africa sub-regions demonstrating the relevance of the REFOREST Africa PhD Programme.
