African RUFORUM and Mastercard TAGDev 2.0 Scholarships 2026/2027 |...

African RUFORUM and Mastercard TAGDev 2.0 Scholarships 2026/2027

Posted 2026-04-17 10:00:15

African RUFORUM and Mastercard TAGDev 2.0 Scholarships 2026/2027

The TAGDev 2.0 scholarship programme has returned its open call for the new academic year. This opportunity gives students across Africa a structured route into agriculture and development focused graduate study. The deadline demands early action, so do not delay.

The Problem This Funding Solves

Graduate study in agriculture and rural development remains chronically underfunded across much of Africa. This is especially true at institutions outside established research hubs. The TAGDev programme, an acronym for Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Better Contribute to Growth and Development, was designed precisely to address that gap. Now in its second phase, TAGDev 2.0 builds on an earlier RUFORUM Mastercard Foundation collaboration. It expands institutional reach and reinforces a pipeline of technically skilled, locally embedded graduates. These graduates can contribute directly to food security and rural economic growth on the continent.

Where Applications Are Being Accepted

The 2026/2027 cohort will enrol across twelve universities spread across Sub Saharan Africa and North Africa. Here is the complete list:

Uganda: Gulu University and Uganda Martyrs University
Kenya: Egerton University and the University of Eldoret
Zimbabwe: Africa University
South Africa: University of the Free State
Malawi: Malawi University of Science and Technology
Nigeria: University of Port Harcourt
Ghana: University of Cape Coast
Cameroon: University of Bamenda
Benin: National University of Agriculture
Morocco: Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique

Together, these institutions represent a spread from West Africa to Southern Africa and the Maghreb. This range reflects TAGDev’s ambition to develop agricultural capacity at a continental scale.

Eligibility and Access Priorities

Applications for the TAGDev 2.0 RUFORUM scholarship open themselves to both male and female candidates. However, the programme explicitly prioritises several groups:

Women seeking advanced degrees in agriculture
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Applicants with disabilities

This targeting reflects a wider Mastercard Foundation commitment to equity centred higher education access across the continent. Prospective applicants should review the specific academic and professional requirements published by their preferred partner university. Entry criteria and available programmes vary significantly by institution, so check carefully before applying.

Programme Reputation and Institutional Backing

RUFORUM’s work in agricultural higher education has earned recognition across the continent as a sustained effort to raise the quality and relevance of university level agriculture training. The Mastercard Foundation, which backs the TAGDev 2.0 scholarship programme, has committed billions of dollars to African tertiary education over the past decade. The Foundation ranks among the most consequential funders of African student access globally. Scholarships funded under this partnership carry weight not only in financial support. They also offer professional networks and institutional credibility to graduates entering the agricultural and development sectors.

Who Should Apply

The TAGDev 2.0 Mastercard Foundation scholarship suits specific candidates best. Here is who should prioritise this opportunity:

African Postgraduate Students: You must hold African citizenship and seek a master’s degree in agriculture, agri business, rural development, or related disciplines.
Serious Career Intentions: You must intend to work on the continent after graduation. The programme wants locally embedded professionals, not graduates who will emigrate immediately.
Marginalised Backgrounds: Candidates from displaced or marginalised backgrounds who meet academic criteria should treat this as a competitive opportunity. You can pursue graduate training that you might otherwise be unable to fund.
Geographic Flexibility: The multi country structure allows you to target institutions best matched to your academic background. You are not confined to a single university’s intake.

How to Apply

Visit the RUFORUM Website: Navigate to the TAGDev 2.0 section. Find the links to each partner university’s dedicated application page.
Select Your Target University: Choose the institution that offers programmes matching your academic background and career goals.
Review University Specific Requirements: Each partner university has published its own application requirements and process. Read them carefully.
Gather Your Documentation: Collect your academic transcripts, degree certificates, recommendation letters, and personal statement. Start this process immediately.
Submit Through the Partner Portal: Apply directly through the relevant partner university portal. There is no single centralised system for all twelve institutions.

Click Here to Apply

Deadline and Next Steps

The submission deadline for all TAGDev scholarship 2026 applications is 1 May 2026. This leaves less than three weeks from today’s date. Here is your action plan:

Do not wait until the final days. Technical issues or missing documents could derail your application. Visit the RUFORUM website today, identify your target university, and submit your TAGDev 2.0 scholarship application before the 1 May deadline. Your funded master’s degree in African agricultural development awaits.