African universities have been challenged to move beyond being passive recipients of international aid and take full ownership of collaborative projects, as stakeholders at a high-level leadership forum in Nairobi called for partnerships that deliver measurable institutional and societal impact.
The call to action was made during the IMPACT HE Leadership and Stakeholder Forum held from May 4–7, 2026, which brought together university vice-chancellors from Kenya and Ethiopia, European funding agencies, continental higher education networks, Kenyan government and regional policy actors to deliberate on the future of higher education cooperation in Africa.
The IMPACT HE project is spearheaded by Dr. Shem Kuyah of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology as the Principal Investigator, working alongside co-principal investigators Dr. Henry Kissinger and Phillip Oyier. The Programme is coordinated by OBREAL.
Held under the theme “African Universities Driving Local Development: Visibility, Advocacy, Impact,” the forum focused on strengthening African leadership in international cooperation projects while ensuring that research partnerships translate into tangible societal and economic benefits.
In his opening address, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, challenged universities to rethink the role of research and international collaboration in Africa’s development agenda.
“At the heart of this conversation is a simple but profound question: How do we ensure that research cooperation genuinely transforms societies, strengthens institutions, creates jobs, informs policy, and improves lives?” Prof. Abdulrazak posed, noting that for Africa, the question was no longer theoretical but urgent.
The PS observed that African universities must increasingly position themselves as engines of innovation, industrial transformation, entrepreneurship, and policy development rather than remaining centres of teaching alone. He stressed the need for stronger governance systems, accountability in the management of research funds, and institutional structures capable of sustaining long-term partnerships.
He emphasized that research must increasingly move beyond publications and result in startups, patents, industries, policies, jobs, and community-driven solutions capable of improving livelihoods and strengthening public confidence in science and innovation.
Abdulrazak further urged African universities to invest in research chairs and centres of excellence in strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, climate science, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and digital innovation. He also called for mission-oriented “Grand Challenge” programmes capable of mobilizing universities, governments, industry, and development partners around Africa’s pressing societal needs.
The stakeholder’s forum coincided with the launch of the “Study and Research in Africa” (SRiA) initiative, a European Union-supported programme coordinated by DAAD aimed at repositioning Africa as a destination for academic mobility, research, and innovation cooperation.
Ahead of the leadership forum, approximately 40 international relations and grant management officers from partner universities participated in a closed training workshop held from May 4 and May 5. The workshop focused on project proposal development, budgeting, legal frameworks, project management, dissemination strategies, and institutional capacity development as part of a broader effort to strengthen universities from within.
The forum also featured discussions on African universities as drivers of local and regional development, bringing together stakeholders from continental networks including the Association of African Universities, IUCEA, SARUA, ARUA, and CAMES. Policy discussions further involved representatives from the African Union Commission, the East African Community, and SADC.
A separate session examining European Union funding and “Team Europe” approaches provided African stakeholders with an opportunity to openly assess the effectiveness of existing cooperation structures and advocate for more equitable and mutually beneficial partnerships.
The Deputy Ambassador of the European Union to Kenya, Ondřej Simek, noted that the EU is marking 50 years of diplomatic relations with Kenya and reaffirmed education as a core pillar of cooperation. He stressed that all development investments ultimately depend on strong human capital and highlighted the EU’s focus on positioning Kenya as a hub for knowledge, talent, and innovation through initiatives such as the Study and Research in Africa (SRiA) programme, alongside increased investment in climate action, people, and institutional strengthening.
He added that the success of partnerships should be judged by their real impact on people, especially in terms of education, skills, and job creation for future generations, aligning with broader calls at the forum for more results-driven, mutually beneficial collaboration between African and European institutions.
Elizabeth Colucci, Director for Education Policy and Programs at OBREAL, said the forum reflects a growing call for Africa to take a more decisive leadership role in shaping higher education partnerships. She noted that the programme is designed to generate tangible societal impact while positioning African universities at the forefront of policy dialogue and agenda setting in global cooperation frameworks.
She added that the initiative responds to the urgency of long-standing calls for stronger African leadership in research and academic collaboration, emphasizing that universities on the continent must move beyond participation to actively shaping the direction, priorities, and outcomes of international partnerships.
Dr. Shem Kuyah said the IMPACT HE initiative comes at a critical time, particularly in strengthening institutional capacity to manage the growing complexities of international research and development projects. He noted that such training is essential for universities seeking to remain competitive and effectively navigate increasingly demanding partnership environments.
He further emphasized that in order to retain and expand donor portfolios, institutions must adopt more flexible and responsive internal systems.
According to him, this requires more fluid departmental processes that enable faster coordination, improved efficiency, and better alignment with the expectations of international collaborators, reinforcing the need for stronger institutional readiness to deliver on global partnership ambitions.
