Building an Open-Source Curriculum for Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) in African Universities

Building an Open-Source Curriculum for Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) in African Universities

• 1.
  Building an Open- Source NUSCurriculum Evidence from a Multi-Regional Network of Universities Strengthening University Teaching on Opportunity Crops Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa 9-11 June 2026 · Accra, Ghana · FAO & FARA Francois Stepman Advisor GFAiR
• 2.
  The problem: opportunitycrops are absent from higher education Opportunity crops are absent from university curricula • Only 33% of universities surveyed have a dedicated NUS module; nearly half have none at all. • Graduates enter agrifood research, policy and enterprise without skills to engage with NUS value chains. • Africa: 1 in 5 people face hunger; over 1 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. NUS are part of the answer. • The knowledge exists; in farmers, communities, and research institutions. It is however missing from formal education.
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  Open-source global publicgood. All 26 modules freely accessible worldwide, built by 42 contributors from 26 countries. Systems-based, practice-oriented teaching. Links production, nutrition, climate, markets and policy - with NUS at the centre. Managed by RUFORUM, facilitated by GFAiR. Funded by the European Commission and IFS (Sweden). Launched Nairobi, December 2025. 1 2 3 The NUS Open-Source Curriculum Network
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  Key findings fromthe NUS Network Baseline Survey, January-March 2026 - 57 institutions surveyed across 25 countries (40 Africa, 17 Asia / LAC / Other) - 84% want to co-develop open NUS modules for embedding in existing courses - 74% willing to pilot September 2026; 24 Tier 1 institutions ready immediately - Only 33% have a dedicated NUS module today; a clear and actionable gap Top priority: Processing & value addition (37 institutions), then Entrepreneurship (29), Agronomy (26) 42 contributors mapped across 26 countries; Climate & biodiversity leads demand at 21% What the evidence shows: baseline across 57 institutions
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  Shaped by evidencefrom 42 contributors across 26 countries: • Block 0: Foundations & Systems (3 modules) • Block 1: Production & Agronomy (4 modules) • Block 2: Post-Harvest & Processing (4 modules) • Block 3: Value Addition & Markets (4 modules) • Block 4: Nutrition & Health (4 modules) • Block 5: Climate & Biodiversity (3 modules) • Block 6: Policy & Food Systems (3 modules) • Block 7: Capstone & CoP (3 modules) • Two delivery routes: embed in existing courses OR standalone micro-certificate • Competency-based design; low-bandwidth e-learning; open licence • Climate & Biodiversity - 21% • Production / Post- Harvest / Value Addition - 18% each • Policy (11%), Nutrition (10%), Foundations (4%) Architecture Curriculum architecture: 8 blocks, 26 modules
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  Route 1: Embedin existing courses. Individual modules inserted into undergraduate or postgraduate programmes. 84% of institutions prefer this route. Target: September 2026. Route 2: Micro-courses with certification. Groups of 2-4 modules as standalone short courses. Priority packages: Post-Harvest, Enterprise, Agronomy, Climate Resilience, Value Chains. 72% of institutions willing to pilot online. 37 institutions can share teaching assets within 4 weeks. Framework finalised June 2026 - pilots launch September 2026. 1 2 3 Two delivery routes - meeting institutions where they are
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  Three readiness tiersbased on baseline indicators ● Tier 1 (24 institutions): Immediately pilot-ready across all 4 readiness indicators ● Tier 2 (18 institutions): Clear interest; need light support on approvals, platforms, or staffing ● Tier 3 (6 institutions): Targeted for 2027 cohort; actively supported for readiness building ● Action 2026: Fast-track Tier 1 pilots; provide support packages for Tier 2 ● Map approval pathways early; mobilise open teaching assets from 37 institutions Pilot readiness: 42 institutions ready or near-ready by September 2026
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  84% of institutionsare ready to co-develop and pilot NUS content. September 2026 is the start date. Regional capacity and global commons; 42 contributors from 26 countries shape the modules. The open licence means Africa’s pilot experience is both recognised and reused globally. Connecting to the innovation ecosystem. Modules link students to value chains, accelerators and MSMEs eg. incubators at Egerton, Chinhoyi, and partner universities. 1 2 3 What this means for the regional agenda on opportunity crops
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  Thank YOU