Strengthening communication skills of young researchers in Anglophone East Africa

8-12 December 2025, in Uganda. Strengthening communication skills of young researchers in Anglophone East Africa.

Access Agriculture, leading GFAiR's Collective Action on Inclusive Digital Agriculture and in partnership with RUFORUM, conducted a residential workshop designed for selected early-career researchers who are affiliated to institutions of higher learning or national research institutes in sub-Saharan Africa.

1. The workshop for Francophone countries was held, 24-28 November 2025, in Centre Songhai, Benin
2. The workshop for Anglophone countries was held, 8-12 December 2025, in Uganda.

This regional capacity-building workshop was to strengthen the communication skills of young researchers in Anglophone East Africa. The event brought together early-career researchers from diverse disciplines to enhance their ability to communicate scientific evidence clearly, confidently, and strategically to different audiences, including policymakers, development practitioners, farmers’ organizations, and the media.

Through a mix of practical training sessions, peer learning, and hands-on exercises, participants built skills in scientific writing, policy briefs, oral presentations, and digital communication. The workshop aimed to empower young researchers to increase the visibility, relevance, and impact of their work, foster regional networking, and contribute more effectively to evidence-informed decision-making in agricultural and food systems across East Africa.

Continuous feedback, peer review, and coaching enabled participants to apply new skills directly to their own work, strengthening confidence, clarity, and outreach impact.

ERAs (Entrepreneurs for Rural Access) are local, independent entrepreneurs who use access-friendly communication tools—especially farmer-to-farmer videos—to deliver practical agricultural knowledge to rural communities. They operate as service providers, often organizing village screenings, facilitating discussions, and linking farmers to locally relevant innovations in agriculture, natural resource management, and livelihoods.

Rather than acting as trainers or extension agents, ERAs function as knowledge intermediaries and rural communication entrepreneurs, adapting content to local languages and contexts while building sustainable micro-businesses around information services. The model strengthens last-mile knowledge delivery, enhances peer learning among farmers, and creates income opportunities for young professionals engaged in rural development.