In a significant move toward strengthening regional collaboration in health and environmental systems, the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jembi Health Systems NPC of South Africa and Associação Moçambicana para Sistemas Informativos Sustentáveis (MOASIS) of Mozambique. The MoU formalizes a tripartite partnership aimed at advancing the One Health approach, which promotes the integrated management of human, animal, and environmental health. The agreement also supports the development of robust veterinary information systems, digital health platforms, disease surveillance, capacity building, and systems integration throughout the SADC region. The signing ceremony took place at BUAN, where Vice-Chancellor Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele, Jembi CEO Professor Christopher Seebregts, and MOASIS Executive Director Ms. Marina Chichava each underscored the importance of the partnership for regional health transformation. In his remarks, Professor Mosepele highlighted BUAN’s strategic intent to become a regional leader in One Health and veterinary information systems. “This MoU reaffirms our commitment to building systems that not only address current health challenges, but also prepare our region for future threats through integrated, innovative, and inclusive approaches,” he said. He further noted that this partnership enables BUAN to leverage digital health and interdisciplinary research to drive evidence-based policymaking and public health resilience across Southern Africa. “Our goal is to become a hub for excellence in One Health surveillance and to support capacity building in disease control, informatics, and environmental health,” he added. The collaboration will facilitate the exchange of knowledge, joint research initiatives, development of integrated public and veterinary health systems, and shared participation in international health networks, including the Enhancing Research for Africa Network (ERFAN) and institutions across the European Union. Jembi Health Systems and MOASIS bring decades of experience in implementing digital health projects, public health information systems, and supporting government-led surveillance initiatives. Both organizations have been at the forefront of health informatics development in Africa and are expected to play a key role in the technical and operational execution of the collaborative projects. The MoU also paves the way for securing joint funding, organizing regional conferences and workshops, and forming partnerships with additional academic, governmental, and civil society stakeholders working in the fields of One Health, veterinary sciences, and health information systems. With this partnership, BUAN positions itself at the center of a growing network of institutions committed to innovative, cross-border solutions for complex health challenges.      

  On 25th -27th August 2025 , the Vice Chancellor of BUAN, Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele and his delegation embarked on a stakeholder engagement mission in Selebi Phikwe, signaling the University’s long-term commitment to the town’s economic revitalization and sustainable development. During a landmark full council address, the VC highlighted Selebi Phikwe’s potential to transform from a post-mining town into a beacon of sustainable growth. With the closure of the BCL mine, he emphasized that “Phikwe’s future does not lie in its past, but in innovations anchored on the land and the people.” The engagements included strategic dialogues with the Zone 7 Farmers’ Association, ResClime, BOMASE Civil Society Network, and the Mmadinare Fish Hatchery — focusing on aquaculture, climate-smart agriculture, and community-driven development. The VC reinforced BUAN’s active presence in the region through initiatives like: A strategic partnership with Selebi Phikwe Citrus (SPC) to offer hands-on training for students The launch of a Bee-keeping Symposium that birthed the Phokoje Farm Bee School A forthcoming land rehabilitation program to restore over 200 hectares of post-mining land through sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, and youth empowerment He shared BUAN’s bold vision: “We want to walk with you in your journey of revitalisation. From aquaculture to agro-tourism, from short courses to land restoration—this is not just a project, it is a vision for environmental rebirth and economic diversification.” In a show of tangible support, BUAN also committed to helping the Council commercialize its assets through the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) — free of charge — to drive financial sustainability. Selebi Phikwe is no longer just a mining town. With BUAN and local partners on board, it is becoming a living laboratory of resilience, innovation, and hope. #BUANImpact #SelebiPhikweRevitalisation #SustainableDevelopment  

      Botswana has officially launched the 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), reaffirming its commitment to leveraging higher education as a cornerstone for agricultural innovation and sustainable development across Africa. The launch event, was hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) in Sebele. It brought together key stakeholders from government, academia, and development organizations from across the continent.   The gathering marked the beginning of a series of activities leading up to the main AGM scheduled for December in Gaborone. It served as both a strategic and symbolic occasion, highlighting Africa’s growing urgency to align its universities with national and continental priorities such as food security, climate resilience, economic diversification, and youth empowerment.   In his remarks, BUAN Vice Chancellor, Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele, stressed the need for African universities to evolve into “fourth-generation” institutions—universities that are not only centers of knowledge but also dynamic players in local innovation ecosystems. He pointed out that despite the continent’s population increasing nearly fivefold since the 1960s, agricultural productivity has remained stagnant, a reality he described as a failure of higher education institutions to fully embrace science and innovation. “We need universities that transcend national boundaries,” said Prof. Mosepele. “Institutions that are engaged with industry, government, and civil society, and that place technology and innovation at the heart of their operations.” His message was a clear call to action for African universities to redefine their purpose, align more closely with the needs of society, and lead the charge in building a resilient, innovation-driven future for the continent.   Present to officially pre-launch RUFORUM was the Minister of Higher Education, Honourable Prince Mooketsi Maele. In his Keynote address he emphasized that Africa’s youthful population represents a unique opportunity that must be matched by robust investment in higher education and research. While acknowledging RUFORUM’s achievements in postgraduate training—supporting over 6,200 master’s and 2,800 PhD candidates—he expressed concern over Africa’s low ratio of scientists, with only 198 per million people, far below the global average of 1,150. “This must change,” Minister Maele asserted. “If Africa is to break the cycle of dependency and underdevelopment, our universities must lead in knowledge production, innovation, and economic transformation.” He also highlighted the need to reverse the decline of agriculture in Botswana’s economy. Once contributing 40% to GDP in 1966, the sector now accounts for just 2%, signaling an urgent need to revitalize it through science-driven solutions.   The Minister’s address was inspiring an urgent reminder that Africa’s future hinges on its ability to harness the potential of its youth, reinvest in knowledge systems, and reclaim strategic sectors like agriculture through research and innovation. The official pre-launch of RUFORUM marks not just a milestone, but a renewed commitment to building universities that are truly engines of transformation across the continent.   The event was also co-hosted by the RUFORUM Executive Secretary, Professor Patrick Okori. In his address, Okori praised Botswana for hosting the AGM and reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to building a continent-wide platform for research, training, and innovation. He emphasized that the AGM’s theme; Positioning Africa’s Universities to Effectively Impact Development, speak directly to the continent’s complex challenges and emerging opportunities. Referencing key African Union frameworks such as the CAADP Kampala Declaration and the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP), Prof. Okori stated that RUFORUM aims to significantly increase Africa’s scientific productivity and ensure that research translates into practical outcomes new technologies, jobs, and enterprises. He said that, youth engagement remains a top priority, citing ongoing training events, hackathons, and mentorship programs already taking place as part of the pre-AGM agenda. “No contribution is too small. As an African proverb reminds us: if you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito.” His message resonated with the gathering: that through shared vision, inclusive participation, and sustained investment in science and innovation, Africa's universities can be powerful engines for sustainable development across the continent.   The launch event concluded with panel discussions where speakers urged all stakeholders being governments, universities, development partners, and the private sector to collaborate more deeply and to reimagine the role of higher education in shaping Africa’s future.   With the main AGM set to take place in Gaborone in December, the momentum from this pre-launch positions Botswana as a key convener of transformative dialogue on education, innovation, and inclusive development across Africa.