The Regional Scholarship Innovation Fund (Rsif) Regional Coordination Unit International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) conducted a physical monitoring and evaluation field visit to Haramaya University, located in Eastern Ethiopia. Haramaya is one of the 15 Rsif African Host Universities (AHU).
The visit’s purpose was to discuss the ongoing selection and shortlisting process of Rsif cohort 6 scholarship applications, implementation status and progress of the ongoing PASET-Rsif funded PhD students at the university’s Africa Centre of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation (ACE Climate SABC).
The AHUs host Rsif sponsored PhD scholars in five priority thematic areas, including ICT including big data and artificial intelligence, Food security and agri-business, Minerals, mining and materials engineering, Energy including renewables and Climate change within the universities.
The team led by Dr Evelyn Nguku who is the capacity-building specialist, met the President of Haramaya University, Dr Jamal Yousuf (Associate Professor) and discussed the progress of Rsif scholars undertaking PhD in Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Management. They also discussed the development of future collaboration, including research and innovation projects.
Speaking during the occasion, Dr Yousuf stated that Haramaya University offers quality education and cutting-edge research and the university has received requests for collaboration in research from institutions across the world.
“We are happy the collaboration with Rsif programme has enabled several Ethiopian students to benefit from this scholarship,” he stated.
He added that education is a priority in Ethiopia and hopefully the Ethiopian Government will join other African countries as a contributing nation to the Rsif Project.
Rsif team led by Dr Evelyn Nguku, the capacity-building specialist, met the President of Haramaya University, Dr Jamal Yousuf.
The delegates participated in a campus tour to various laboratories led by Dr Tesfaye Lemma Tefera, Associate Professor of Rural Development and Agriculture Extension and the Rsif co-coordinator at Haramaya University, Dr Bobe Bedadi, the Deputy Centre Leader and Training Research Head and Dr Mulugeta Damie Watabaji, Project Manager at ACE Climate SABC.
On his part, Dr Tefera said the university has so far received two cohorts of Rsif scholars and all have successfully finished their coursework and defended their proposals.
Dr Bedadi took the Rsif delegation through a brief overview of Haramaya University’s milestones and mentioned that they are ensuring that they produce competent graduates. He also stated that the collaboration with Rsif has enabled them to have students from West Africa. “Initially, we had students coming from Eastern and Southern parts of Africa, but because of Rsif Programme, we now have students from Western Africa,” he stated.
Dr Watabaji said the university has several well-equipped laboratories that support various research projects undertaken by the students.
On her part, Dr Nguku mentioned Rsif’s objective of bridging the PhD gap in Africa in the Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (ASET) to support the broader objective of the continent.
“Rsif is contributing to the wider vision of PASET of producing 10,000 doctoral graduates in a decade,” Dr Nguku stated.
“We look at the quality of graduates, timely completion of the PhD programme and fostering partnerships between universities and the private sector/industries to find solutions to local challenges,” Dr Nguku stated and added that the laboratories at Haramaya University are undertaking cutting-edge research, and Rsif is confident its scholars will be mentored and be competent in their specific research areas.
Dr Nguku and the Rsif delegation also had the opportunity to meet Kenyan graduate students studying in the university’s Africa Centre of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation.
More similar visits are being conducted across other AHUs.
The Regional Scholarship Innovation Fund (Rsif) Regional Coordination Unit International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) conducted a physical monitoring and evaluation field visit to Kenyatta University (KU), located in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. KU is one of the 15 Rsif African Host Universities (AHU).
The visit’s purpose was to discuss the implementation status and the progress of the PASET-Rsif funded PhD students of Material Science and Engineering at the Physics department of the university. The AHUs host Rsif sponsored PhD scholars in five priority thematic areas, including ICT including big data and artificial intelligence, Food security and agri-business, Minerals, mining and materials engineering, Energy including renewables and Climate change within the universities. They also undertake projects with support from the research and innovation grants.
There were also updates from the faculty on the performance of the research and Innovation projects funded by Rsif. Scholars were also given the opportunity to discuss any challenges experienced and remedial actions were put in place.
Kenyatta University Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof Caroline Thoruwa during the meeting with Rsif team.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Caroline Thoruwa hailed the model of sandwich placement which she said works well since it gives the students an opportunity to visit other labs across the world.
“The collaboration with icipe goes for many years and is something we are happy about since this programme makes our students very visible,” Prof Thoruwa stated.
“It is an amazing programme since the students get exposed to the best mentoring opportunity. We are looking forward to strengthening this collaboration,” she added.
Rsif Regional Coordination Unit International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) team following presentation when they visited Kenyatta University, one of the 15 African Host Universities ( AHU)
Speaking during the meeting, the Executive Dean in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences Dr Mathew P. Ngugi stated that “The research the students do make impact in the community level and it can be translated to improve lives.”
Dr Walter Njoroge who is Rsif AHU coordinator Physics Department, stated that their dream is to make physics department a centre of excellence and they are on course as far as Rsif scholars progress is concerned.
“About five of our Rsif scholars will be graduating next year and members of staff in the physics department are doing their best. The material science students will graduate on time.
Kenyatta University faculty members follow proceedings of the meeting with Rsif team when they visited the institution.
Prof Raphael Nyenge, Chairperson, the Chairperson Physics Department said, “We channelled the innovation grant in the direction of cancer and diabetes research, and it will be a game changer in people’s lives.”
On his part Dr Julius Ecuru, Manager for Rsif Regional Coordination Units at icipe thanked Kenyatta University for the partnership, adding that their efforts to ensure quality PhD graduates is commendable.
“So far, Rsif has 282 scholars registered in the 15 AHUs. He added that Rsif has 32 international partner institutes across the world. “What we look forward to is closing the skills gap in applied sciences and engineering and PhD is one of the gateways to achieving that,” Dr Ecuru stated.
“Three things we look out for are quality of our scholars to be well rounded and competitive in the labour market; Timely completion of their studies within the stipulated time; and connecting their research with industry,” he highlighted.
He also mentioned that Government of Kenya gave additional funds towards the programme.
Dr Evelyn Nguku who is the capacity-building specialist, stated that Rsif is looking forward to taking the collaboration further into research led networks.
“We already have existing partnerships with KU and they have partnerships in the US, Europe and South Korea through the sandwich placement programme. So, this needs to be taken further to strengthen the research capacity. ”
More visits are expected to continue to other Rsif AHUs.
Talking about our gut health daily is more important now than before. This is because the gut is often referred to as “our second brain”. The reason for this is that the gut influences our overall wellbeing. The state of our gut microbiome affects every aspect of our life, from the moment we eat food and digestion takes place, nutrient absorption to our immune function and mental health. Among the scientists making strides in this field to uncover deeper connections between gut health and chronic diseases is Dr Humphrey Andalo Mabwi, a Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) graduate, whose PhD work revolved around Design of synthetic human gut microbiota ecosystem models for screening novel prebiotics from phytochemicals. Dr. Mabwi also won the best young researcher award at the just-concluded Kenya National Research Festival 2024.
The 38-year-old Kenyan is a lecturer Biology at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and graduated with a Ph.D. in Molecular and Biotechnology at the Sokoine University of Agriculture and did his laboratory research work at Korea Institute of Science and Technology.
Rsif is the flagship programme of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET), managed by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) as the Regional Coordination Unit.
Why study gut microbiota?
Q: What inspired you to focus on synthetic gut microbiota ecosystems, and can you tell us a little bit about your research focus in simple terms?
A: Human gut microbiota has been reported to be associated with the occurrence and development of several chronic metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. However, its is incredibly complex, with hundreds of bacterial species interacting in ways that are hard to fully comprehend. How to easily study the complex gut microbiota inspired me start working with synthetic human gut microbiomes. Synthetic ecosystems offer a simpler, controlled environment for easy investigation of complex human gut microbiota in diseases and health. Synthetic gut microbiome research is all about creating simplified versions of the bacteria that live in our gut to easily study them in a controlled way. In our stomachs and intestines, there are trillions of bacteria that help us digest food, fight off infections, and even influence our mood and brain function. But because the natural gut is so complex, it’s hard to figure out exactly how each type of bacteria works. So, creating synthetic versions of human gut microbiota ecosystem comprising key important types of bacteria, can help to understand how bacteria in our gut affect health and disease. This can also help in development of better treatments and in creation of prebiotics that can restore balance to the gut.
Q: Why is studying gut microbiota important for our health?
A: The gut microbiota is a key player in digestion, immune function, mental health, and disease prevention. By studying it, it’s possible to develop better treatments for various health conditions and improve overall well-being.
Q: What steps are involved in designing synthetic gut microbiota ecosystem?
A: Designing a synthetic gut microbiota ecosystem involves selecting the right bacteria, growing them in lab conditions in the correct medium, assembling them to form a community, and then culturing them in a bioreactor that mimics the human gut, and then testing how they interact and affect health.
Q: Please tell us what are phytochemicals in layman’s language and why they are significant for gut health?
A: Phytochemicals are natural substances produced by plants to protect them from things like bugs and diseases. When we eat fruits, vegetables, grains, and other plant foods, we also get these helpful compounds. Phytochemicals are not essential nutrients like vitamins or minerals, they can still do a lot of good things for our health. By influencing gut microbiota, reducing inflammation, and maintaining the gut barrier, phytochemicals play a vital role in promoting overall gut health, which is increasingly linked to mental health and immune function.
Q: Can you describe the methods you use to screen potential prebiotics from these phytochemicals?
A: The process of designing these synthetic gut microbiota ecosystems is thorough. It starts with selecting the right bacteria, growing them under controlled lab conditions, and then assembling them into a community that mimics the human gut. From there, we test how they interact and affect health, using various bioreactors that simulate the gut environment.
Through these ecosystems, we can screen potential prebiotics, which are compounds that stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
We select phytochemicals based on their known bioactive properties, create a synthetic microbiota to simulate the human gut, and then introduce these compounds at physiologically relevant concentrations. We monitor changes using advanced techniques like 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analyze the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are critical for gut health.
Promising findings
Q: What have been some of your most surprising findings in this research focus?
A: Stability of synthetic microbial communities: synthetic microbial communities displayed a surprising level stability during my experiments. It was surprising also that I managed to replicate my results obtained with synthetic microbial communities using animal model. The same result observed with synthetic microbial communities was also observed using a mouse. This can offer new insights into designing robust probiotic or prebiotic therapies that can persist and function over time.
Q: How do these synthetic ecosystems help in understanding the effects of diet on gut health?
A: Synthetic gut microbiomes provide a versatile platform for dissecting the complex interactions between diet and gut health. They enable researchers to pinpoint specific dietary influences, understand microbial responses, and ultimately guide strategies for improving health through diet.
Q: What potential health benefits could arise from your research?
A: Identifying effective prebiotics can help promote a more diverse gut microbiome, which is associated with better overall gut health and resilience against diseases. Through influencing the gut microbiota composition and function, prebiotics derived from phytochemicals may positively affect the gut-brain axis, potentially alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. By promoting a healthy gut microbiome and SCFA production, prebiotics may lower the risk of colon cancer through mechanisms like improved gut barrier function and reduced inflammation. The identification of effective prebiotics can lead to the development of functional foods and supplements that specifically target gut health, improving public health outcomes.
Q: What challenges do you face when creating these synthetic ecosystems?
A: The human gut microbiome consists of hundreds to thousands of species, each with unique metabolic capabilities. Replicating this complexity in a synthetic model can be difficult. Secondly, the synthetic gut ecosystem must replicate the specific conditions of the human gut, including pH, temperature, oxygen levels, and nutrient gradients. Achieving these conditions can be technically challenging. Synthetic systems can also be susceptible to contamination from unwanted microbes, which can disrupt the intended microbial community. I failed to simulate interactions with the host’s immune system, gut epithelium, and other physiological components that influence microbial behavior and metabolism in my model.
Influencing dietary recommendations
Q: Looking ahead, how do you envision this research influencing future dietary recommendations or probiotic development?
A: By identifying specific prebiotics that beneficially affect distinct microbial profiles, synthetic gut models can help develop personalized dietary strategies that cater to individual microbiome compositions and health needs. Understanding how different individuals respond to various prebiotics can lead to targeted dietary interventions that optimize gut health based on individual microbiome characteristics. Additionally, findings from synthetic gut studies can contribute to the development of evidence-based dietary guidelines that incorporate specific prebiotics for improving gut health, reducing disease risk, and promoting overall well-being. Synthetic gut models will enable the screening of a broader range of phytochemicals and natural compounds for their prebiotic potential, leading to the discovery of new prebiotic sources beyond conventional options like inulin and oligosaccharides. My research can encourage the incorporation of diverse plant-based foods into dietary recommendations, promoting broader dietary patterns beneficial for gut health.
Dr. Humphrey A. Mabwi calls for incorporation of diverse plant-based foods into the diet. Photo/Courtesy
Q: How can the average person apply insights from your research to improve their gut health?
A: Focus on incorporating a wide range of dietary fibers into his/her diet, as different fibers can act as prebiotics. Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Encouraged to focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides a variety of phytochemicals and fibers that can act as prebiotics. Should aim for at least half of their plate to be filled with plant-based foods at each meal. Include foods high in phytochemicals, such as berries, green tea, and spices like turmeric, which may provide additional health benefits.
Take home message
Q: What message would you like to convey to those interested in nutrition and gut health based on your findings?
A: Let us embrace a diverse diet rich in various fibers and phytochemicals. Foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes not only nourish our bodies but also serve as food for our beneficial gut bacteria. We should not hesitate to experiment with less common prebiotic sources. Ingredients like, garlic, onions, can offer substantial benefits in supporting their gut microbiome. We should consider incorporating foods that contain both prebiotics and probiotics. This synergy can enhance the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria, promoting a healthier gut environment. We should keep ourselves updated on the latest research findings and dietary recommendations related to gut health.
As more research continues to unfold, the future of gut health—and our understanding of it—looks very promising. Dr. Mabwi’s work could lead to new strategies for optimizing our microbiota, promoting a healthier, more balanced gut for people not only in Kenya but worldwide
Maputo, Mozambique – A pivotal symposium was recently held at the University of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, to address the urgent need to strengthen PhD programmes and research collaborations aimed at tackling escalating food insecurity exacerbated by climate change.
The event which was organised by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) – the Regional Coordination Unit for the Africa Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund for Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (Rsif) – in collaboration with UEM’s African Centre of Excellence in Agri-Food Systems and Nutrition, brought together leading scholars, researchers and policy makers across Africa.
Themed “Building Resilient Agrifood Systems and Climate Action in Mozambique,” the symposium convened academics and researchers from Mozambique and Rsif African Host Universities (AHUs) with PhD programmes in food security – Sokoine University of Agriculture ( Tanzania), University of Ghana (Ghana), Makerere University (Uganda), and Haramaya University (Ethiopia) – to collectively share climate mitigation and adaptation strategies to improve food production, pest control, and environmental sustainability. Rsif has enrolled 282 PhD students since 2018 in 15 AHUs, with 33.69 % undertaking PhD studies in food security and climate change.
With a report from Food and Agriculture Organisation raising a red flag that over 282 million people across Africa are facing food insecurity, worsened by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, initiatives like Rsif play an important role in building resilient agrifood systems and addressing Africa’s skills gap in agriculture and climate science.
Keynote Insights and Future Directions
Dr. Rachida Mamade, Director of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, highlighted that Mozambique’s Government, through the MozSkills project, has pledged substantial resources to PhD training and innovation in agriculture, aiming to foster a skilled workforce capable of driving agricultural transformation.
Dr. Mamade remarked, “The support from Rsif and MozSkills is pivotal in creating sustainable solutions for Mozambique’s future.”
The symposium showcased UEM’s recent PhD programmes, focusing on pest management, microbial contamination in crops, and nutritional enhancements in soybeans and maize – all important for strengthening Mozambique’s agricultural resilience which in turn would boost food security for the citizenry.
On her part, Dr Ana Menezes, from The World Bank hailed the efforts of Rsif and the MozSkills project in advancing doctoral training and research capacity in Mozambique.
“The collaboration between Rsif African Host Universities and Mozambican institutions like the University Eduardo Mondlane is critical for addressing pressing challenges in food security and climate resilience. By working together, we can build stronger research ecosystems that not only benefit Mozambique but also contribute to sustainable development across Africa,” Dr Menezes said.
Dr Julius Ecuru, Manager, Research and Innovation Coordination Units at icipe, underscored the crucial role of such partnerships in equipping students with the skills needed to become independent scientists who contribute to their countries’ development. “With access to top facilities and diverse academic cultures, our students are globally competitive and can make significant contributions upon returning home,” Dr Ecuru stated.
The participants at the symposium also pointed out critical challenges in PhD training, including delayed graduation due to weak student- supervisor relationships, weak mentorship, low employability of PhD graduates and few post-doctoral programmes.
In tackling the challenges mentioned, the symposium participants proposed various recommendations to establish capacity building workshops, continuous mile stone tracking for the purpose of accountability and supervisor seminars to improve PhD completion timeline.
Group discussions during the symposium.
Besides a proposal to buttress university incubation centres to help PhD students commercialize their research, employers were also urged to recognize the diverse skillset PhD graduates have. Furthermore, participants highlighted the need for dedicated resources to establish postdoctoral and mentorship programmes and emphasized the importance of enhancing student and faculty mobility through international research collaborations.
The symposium discussed and agreed to work together to address challenges in fostering research collaboration, particularly poor research infrastructure and the weak link between research and industry needs. Universities were urged to allocate more funds to improve research facilities and leverage development grants to procure essential equipment. It was recommended that PhD programmes aim to solve real-world industry problems, with curricula updated to align with industry demands. Strengthening partnerships with industry and technical vocational institutes (TVETs) was also emphasized to enhance mentorship and provide PhD students with access to specialised resources and equipment.
Looking Ahead
The symposium set a strong foundation for continued collaboration between Rsif AHUs and UEM, aiming to grow this into a formidable network of African universities with globally recognised PhD programmes in agricultural and food systems and climate action.
The event provided a clear roadmap for strengthening doctoral training and promoting regional cooperation to build resilient agrifood systems in the face of growing climate adversity.
As the world marks International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, we highlight the work of Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche, a Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) scholar, recognised for her contributions to sustainability at COP28 in Dubai. The 28-year-old Cameroonian is pursuing a Ph.D. in renewable energy at the University of Nairobi, with a research placement at the Korea Institute of Energy Research. RSIF is the flagship program of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET), an Africa-led, World Bank-affiliated initiative.
Christelle’s work involves developing hydrogen fuels as a renewable energy for pioneering automobiles and transforming the transport sector in Cameroon to be sustainable. Her focus on hydrogen as a renewal energy source reduces carbon emissions. The buildup of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes warming of the earth, and a cooling effect in the stratosphere where ozone is found. According to scholars, this cooling effect of the stratosphere increases the depletion of the ozone layer.
Reducing carbon emissions
Carbon emissions from fossil fuels use lead to warming of the earth as she explains, “reliance on non-sustainable energy sources like fossil fuels contributes to ozone depletion.” Therefore, developing more sustainable solutions like hydrogen fuels reduces carbon emissions. Her journey into sustainability began four years ago when she learned about Rsif’s mission to build a skilled workforce in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), especially among women.
“Applying was the best decision of my life,” Christelle said. “The funding allowed me to develop my master’s research on clean, affordable, and reliable electricity in developing countries. Rsif opened doors for collaborations with African and global institutions like the Korea Institute of Energy Research. I have worked on cutting-edge projects in carbon neutrality and gained invaluable professional skills.”
Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche participating in entrepreneurship training workshop organized by Rsif. Photo/Courtesy
One of the challenges Christelle faced pursuing a Ph.D. in Cameroon was the lack of financial support. “Rsif not only provided the funding I needed but also access to high-tech equipment and software crucial to my research. I’ve presented at local and international conferences and collaborated with leading researchers, and publishing in high-impact journals has boosted my work’s credibility,” she stated.
Christelle’s research addresses the critical issue of Africa’s high carbon intensity in energy production. Despite being the fourth-largest greenhouse gas emitter globally, only 24.37 per cent of Africa’s energy comes from low-carbon sources.
Ozone depletion
“Cameroon’s transport sector is its largest source of CO2 emissions,” she noted. “While at the Korea Institute of Energy Research, I developed a power-to-mobility model using hydrogen to decarbonize transportation. Several studies have pointed out that transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions which can indirectly affect ozone depletion. Therefore, Christelle’s efforts in the long run aims to contribute to the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions while supporting Cameroon’s energy transition which aligns with the global efforts of climate change mitigation to protect the ozone layer.
“I aim to contribute data-driven insights for policymakers to develop climate solutions,” she said. “It’s crucial that my research translates into real-world impact, addressing climate change through practical policies.”
Christelle’s work addresses two key challenges facing Africa: lack of access to power and climate change. The energy sector is a significant contributor to climate change which can exacerbate ozone depletion. Her innovative solutions like designing three mini grids to meet the energy needs of 18,000 people in Garoua, Cameroon are designed to provide clean, affordable, and reliable electricity across sectors like healthcare and transportation industry. This contributes to stabilizing the climate, which is essential for the recovery and maintenance of the ozone layer.
“I’m contributing knowledge that can influence socio-economic growth and strengthen local research capacities,” she said. “By publishing in international journals, attending conferences, and collaborating with institutions, I’m helping place African science at the forefront.”
Looking ahead, Christelle believes Africa’s future in climate research lies in sectors like food security, renewable energy, and materials engineering. Protecting the ozone layer is essential for ensuring food security through stable agricultural production, while advancements in material engineering can promote sustainable practices that enhance food security and mitigate environmental impacts. “Rsif is supporting young scholars like me to tackle these critical areas.”
She concluded with a message for young African researchers: “Focus on solving relevant issues within your community, ground your work in science and technology, and engage with local stakeholders to ensure your research makes a difference. Stay resilient, because climate action to reduce ozone depletion require long-term commitment.”
