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The University of Rwanda-College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (UR-CAVM) is in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) to implement a project titled : “Capacity development for innovation in Rwanda : Strengthening Innovation Partnerships in six districts of Burera, Rutsiro, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Bugesera, and Ruhango to train the Societal University Village Initiative (SUVI) champions on Participatory Research Actions (PRA) in Muhanga District.

From 18-22/12/2023, a research team of UR-CAVM headed by Professor Alfred BIZOZA, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project embarked on a workshop to train the SUVI Champions/Innovation Facilitators (IFs) on Participatory Research Actions (PRA) that will enable them to effectively apply SUVI approach in the context of the project.

During the training, participants will be given theoretical knowledge on PRA and practice the acquired skills. The practical knowledge includes but not limited to : Applicability of Ethical principles and issues involved in working with people, Different techniques of conducting Diagnosis and Rapid Community appraisal, stakeholder-analysis, Community profiling, Community based Monitoring and Evaluation, and Community score among others.

Towards the end of the training the SUVI champions worked together with the trainers to develop tools and questionnaires that should be used to conduct the researches and information regarding the outputs of which University of Rwanda is supposed to deliver in the project mentioned above. The outputs of which UR is keen include the Report on training of 12 SUVI Champions/innovation facilitators on the SUVI approach and its application in target districts, Options for climate-smart agriculture best practices, Report on assessment of business opportunities and partnerships in target value chains, Report on the action research conducted, Report on pedagogic exchange program conducted between UR and ISTOM, and twelve individual business plans, developed by SUVI champions/ innovation facilitators.

The SUVI champions also known as Innovation Facilitators of the project also have the opportunity to ask questions and share their experience and opinions, they have on working with community in respective villages.