Transdisciplinary Learning Initiatives (TDLI) programme
About The Project
Agroecology is rapidly gaining momentum as a transformative and sustainable approach to reshaping the agri-food system. In this transition, the role of youth and young researchers is pivotal. Through social media engagement, grassroots campaigns, and active participation in policy dialogues, young people are emerging as powerful advocates for the change we envision. To harness this potential, the Transdisciplinary Learning Initiatives (TDLI) programme places youth at the center empowering them through capacity building in agroecology and positioning them as agents of change.
Unlike traditional training models, Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) adopts a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach. The programme brings together participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds and connects them with experts in agroecology and agrobiodiversity (AA) across different sectors. This integrative learning model acknowledges that solving complex real-world challenges particularly those embedded in ecological and food systems requires knowledge co-creation among academia, practitioners, and other stakeholders.
By fostering this inclusive collaboration, TDLI equips participants with the skills needed to design, communicate, and collaborate effectively, enabling them to develop innovative, context-appropriate solutions to socio-technical challenges.
The programme is anchored on two core strategies:
- Building capacity in agroecology, and
- Mainstreaming agroecological principles into university curricula.
To ensure long-term impact and community building, TDLI will also support the formation of a vibrant alumni network, connecting past and present course participants to sustain learning, collaboration, and collective action.
To promote the development of sustainable agri-food systems in East Africa by empowering actors through capacity-building in Agroecology and Agrobiodiversity.
The programme focuses on building the capacity of youth, including both university students and extension officers. Our participant demographic comprises approximately 60% women and 40% men, reflecting our commitment to gender inclusivity and balanced representation.
The programme reaches students from East Africa universities but also global students.
- Create an environment for University Students and Extension Officers to meet with experts and non-experts in the field of agroecology and agrobiodiversity (AA) to prepare the participants to address societal grand challenges.
- Mainstreaming AA principles into university curricula as new topics in existing diploma/degree programmes or as specialized certificates, ensuring their continuity and wider reach
- Disseminate knowledge through workshops and seminarsand online platforms (websites, Infonet, radio programme, knowledge hubs for organic agriculture, living labs) to ensure wider reach and help farmers make informed decisions.
- To establish a vibrant alumni network that fosters connections, promotes professional development, and facilitates collaboration among graduates to support the advancement of sustainable agri-foods systems through agroecology and agrobiodiversity approaches.
- Evaluate the impact of agroecology and agrobiodiversity approaches on transforming agri-food systems through using the three-dimensional sustainability framework.
Learn about the AAITC Course
Agroecology and Agrobiodiversity International Training Course (AAITC)
AAITC is a transdisciplinary short course that seeks to build the capacity of its participants in Agroecology. The course is coordinated by Biovision Africa Trust and offered in collaboration with East Africa universities; The university of Nairobi in Kenya, Makerere University in Uganda and Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania. The course hinges on pre-selected learning outcomes carefully identified based on the trends in the Agroecology, organic agriculture and food systems sectors. Following its transdisciplinary nature, the course is facilitated by qualified trainers from different sectors; universities, national and international research centers, agroecology practitioners and the private sector.
Target area
Eastern Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania), with plans to expand to other East African countries. The programme is also open for international students.
Partners
The course is coordinated by the TDLI Secretariat and features trainers drawn from a diverse range of partners, including higher education institutions, international and national research centers, development organizations, government extension services, alumni, and professional networks.
Direct target groups
University students (Undergraduate, masters and PhD students).
Training phases
The three-week short course is organized into four sequential in-person training phases: classroom instruction, excursions and practical sessions, fieldwork, and dissemination. These will be preceded by a preparatory e-learning phase and followed by a post-training evaluation. Each phase will be led and coordinated by a qualified trainer with expertise aligned to the specific training objectives.
| SNo. | Phase | Duration (days) |
| 1. | Online introductory phase | 30 |
| 2. | In person lectures and discussions | 5 |
| 3. | Field excursions and practical | 5 |
| 4. | Field work (data collection, analysis and presentations) | 5 |
| 5. | Farmer workshop and Policy makers seminar | 2 |
What you will learn and experience
- Introduction to Agroecology and its principles
- Transformative pathways in biodiversity management and conservation
- Transformative resource management in Agroecosystems
- Science and policy interface
- Experience Agroecology in practice
- Agroecological entrepreneurship
- Data collection, analysis and presentation
- Opportunity to engage with different actors in the field of Agroecology including farmers, experts, practitioners and policy makers.