By Brandon Moss | AgriFocus Africa

Across Africa’s post-conflict states, rebuilding agriculture has emerged as both an economic imperative and a cornerstone of long-term peace. Increasingly, universities are at the forefront of this recovery—moving beyond lecture halls to rehabilitate land, rebuild farming systems, and embed sustainable, community-centred agricultural practices.

From Mozambique to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), higher education institutions are redefining their role as catalysts of recovery, resilience and social cohesion.

Eduardo Mondlane University: Rebuilding from the ground up

In Mozambique, Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) has adopted a holistic approach to agricultural renewal following the country’s civil war, which ended in 1992. According to Dr Luis Artur, course director for climate change and agrarian systems, the university rapidly expanded its academic offerings to respond to post-war needs.

“The university diversified its agricultural courses from two to five, and student intake has doubled,” he says. “This was essential to support agricultural development in the immediate post-conflict period.”

A defining feature of UEM’s model is its deep engagement with rural communities. Through compulsory field-based modules—Activities Done in January (AJAs) and Activities Done in July (AJUs)—students work directly alongside farmers, learning from local knowledge while introducing improved practices.

UEM has also strengthened its capacity through staff development partnerships with institutions in Italy, the Netherlands and the United States, enabling rapid expansion of laboratory, research and extension services.

Beyond teaching, the university has become a hub for climate-smart agriculture, offering short professional courses and MSc programmes focused on climate-tolerant seeds, agroforestry, improved crop handling, reforestation and advanced soil, water and food analysis.

“Post-conflict realities shape our research priorities,” Artur explains. “Agriculture becomes a gateway to intervening in the whole community—economically, socially and institutionally.”

Youth engagement has been particularly critical. “Young people act as mobilisers, innovators and data collectors, but ethical engagement with local norms is essential to avoid new tensions,” he adds.

South Sudan: Universities as pillars of resilience

In South Sudan, where conflict has persisted for decades, university-based programmes are playing a vital role in rebuilding agricultural resilience. Dr Meshack Malo, former Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) country representative to South Sudan, says sustainable recovery depends on local capacity.

“In the short term, NGOs fill gaps,” he notes. “But long-term recovery depends on indigenous expertise—and universities are central to that.”

FAO partnerships with universities have helped train a new generation of agricultural professionals, reducing reliance on foreign specialists. Graduates are contributing to higher productivity, self-employment and improved seed systems, land rehabilitation and farmer training.

Despite funding and time-horizon challenges, the broader impact is clear. “Students are change agents,” Malo says. “Their involvement in agriculture supports peace-building and shifts communities away from dependency.”

That impact is echoed by farmers on the ground. In Western Equatoria State, farmer and entrepreneur Bafuka John says university-led training empowered women and youth who had lost land, tools and skills during conflict.

“These programmes built confidence, networks and problem-solving skills,” he says. “They strengthened livelihoods and community resilience.”

At the University of Juba, Dr Beatrice Misaka Langwa says post-conflict gaps in training, research and extension services demanded urgent action.

“We focused on capacity-building, modernised curricula and climate-smart, labour-saving technologies,” she explains. Programmes now support returning and displaced farmers through practical training in vegetable production, community seed systems, integrated pest management, land rights advocacy and farmer-led field schools.

“Food security restores livelihoods, reduces violence and strengthens social cohesion,” Langwa says. “It is essential for lasting peace.”

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Linking science and sustainability

In the DRC, universities are working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to integrate scientific research with traditional knowledge. According to UNDP inclusive growth team leader Joseph Ezoua, university programmes complement NGO and government efforts by training future agricultural leaders.

Initiatives such as the Sustainable Agriculture Project (PAAD) under the REDD+ framework promote environmentally sound farming, reduce deforestation and strengthen agricultural systems. Universities play a key role in developing locally adapted seeds, improving soil fertility, optimising water use and advancing agroecology through farmer field schools and innovation platforms.

“Agriculture creates jobs, reduces conflict risk and fosters collaboration,” Ezoua says, despite ongoing challenges around funding and policy integration.

Beyond technology: The social dimension

For Mozambique’s Observatorio do Meio Rural, post-conflict recovery is as much social as it is technical. Executive director Yasser Arafat Dadá notes that in conflict-affected regions such as Cabo Delgado, restoring access to land, labour, inputs and markets often matters more than introducing new machinery.

“Effective innovation is frequently institutional,” he says. “Reactivating local networks and reducing risk are critical to recovery.”

Women, in particular, face disproportionate challenges. Inácio Manuel of Mozambique’s National Farmers Union says women often lose land rights and livelihoods during conflict. University-led initiatives that combine practical training with organisational and marketing skills are helping women and youth rebuild economic security.

Universities as engines of transformation

Experiences from Mozambique, South Sudan and the DRC underline a common theme: African universities are no longer just training institutions. They are bridges between knowledge and practice, agriculture and peace-building.

A 2025 report on community engagement in African agricultural universities highlights a growing shift towards engaged scholarship, while the renewed FAO–RUFORUM partnership reinforces higher education’s role in building climate-resilient agrifood systems.

As post-conflict recovery across Africa increasingly looks to the future rather than the past, universities are emerging as powerful agents of transformation—supporting youth and women, restoring land, strengthening food systems, and turning agriculture into a pathway for peace, resilience and inclusive development.