REFOREST Africa Phase II (2025–2030): Advancing Forest Science, Climate Action and Regional Collaboration
The REFOREST Africa PhD Programme has officially launched Phase Two (2025–2030), building on the successful completion of Phase One (2020–2025), which strengthened doctoral training and research collaboration in forest science across Eastern and Southern Africa. Both Phase One and Phase Two of the Programme are supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The Programme is hosted at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA).
Phase One established a strong foundation through effective governance and management systems, transparent joint recruitment of students, and shared teaching and supervision among partner universities. The Programme successfully implemented a regional sandwich PhD model, strengthened professional and research networks, and supported joint scientific publishing. By 2025, 18 PhD candidates had graduated, with strong progress in gender inclusion (47.6% female enrolment) and targeted support for nursing mothers. The establishment of the REFOREST Reach Community of Practice (RRCoP) further enhanced regional knowledge sharing and research impact.
Phase Two continues under a strong South–South and North–South partnership involving the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Makerere University (Uganda), Hawassa University (Ethiopia), Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique), and the University of Rwanda.
The Programme aims to enhance the quality, relevance, and reach of forest research to support sustainable livelihoods and environmental stewardship in the region. Training and research focus on five strategic thematic areas: commercial forestry and the bio-economy; sustainable natural forest management; agroforestry; climate change; and biodiversity and ecosystems, with cross-cutting attention to gender, governance, policy, and sustainability.
Through advanced PhD training and regional collaboration, REFOREST Africa is expected to develop a critical mass of highly skilled forest scientists, strengthen research and teaching capacity across partner institutions, and generate evidence-based knowledge that informs policy, climate action, forest restoration, and sustainable development, aligned with the SDGs, UNFCCC, and AFRO100.
For Sokoine University of Agriculture, hosting the Programme strengthens its role as a regional hub for doctoral training and forest research, enhances internationalisation, promotes inclusivity, and raises the University’s institutional visibility and global engagement through sustained partnerships, joint research, and staff development.
The Programme Coordinator, Prof. Ishengoma, together with the Management of Sokoine University of Agriculture, sincerely thanks SIDA for its continued and generous support, which has made the successful implementation of both phases of the REFOREST Africa PhD Programme possible.
