EngageSDGs - Developing university capacity in SADC towards participatory approaches in pursuing the SDGs

The Overall Objective of EngageSDG is to build capacity in SADC universities to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs in their local environments through the use of participatory approaches. The project intends to promote the engaged university model by focusing on the use of participatory approaches (PA) for the production of knowledge, and their potential to create innovative relationships between SADC universities and the communities within which they are embedded, in addressing SDGs.Specific Objectives•To develop a report on the State of Play relating to the use PAs in HE in three SADC countries•To develop a conceptual framework, and supporting digital ecosystem, to support decision-making, capacity development and collaboration amongst HEI in the SADC in the use of PAs for local engagement.•To develop the capacity of HEI in South Africa, Mauritius and Zambia, and in the SADC more widely, to adopt PAs for local engagement•To create a sustainable community of practice for the use of PAs in community-oriented knowledge production. The project targets HEI in South Africa, Mauritius and Zambia. It includes 5 EU HEI, and 2 associations, SARUA and OBREAL Global.Beneficiaries include university leaders, academic staff, administrative and technical staff, role-players in communities.The main Deliverables are•An Integrated Participatory Framework to support decision-making on the use of PAs among university leadership and staff within the SADC HE sector•A digital academic eco-system to support learning and collaboration amongst HEI in the SADC in the use of PAs for local engagement.•Implemented pilot projects on the use of PAs by the SADC partner institutions.•A capacity development programme for HE leadership and staff from 20 HEI in SADC, on the use of PAs for local engagement.•A sustainable SARUA community of practice for HE engagementThe overall project outcome is a network of HEI in the SADC capacitated in the use of PAs towards SDG implementation