Arsi University Academic Staff and Students Participated in the International WEFACE Seminar in Senegal: Empowering Women and Promoting Student Mobility in Agriculture
From October 26 to November 1, 2025, the University of Sine Saloum El Hadj Ibrahima NIASS (USSEIN) hosted the WEFACE International Workshop and Annual Seminar, part of the Women Empowerment in Food and Agriculture Cooperatives through Enabling Market Access (WEFACE) project, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The events took place at USSEIN’s Mbadakhoune campus and across several locations in Senegal, including Kaolack, Toubacouta, Fimela, Pout, and Dakar.
The seminar, held under the theme “Women Empowerment in the Agri-Food Sector,” brought together 23 university lecturers and students from Senegal, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Germany. Participants gained valuable insights into small food-processing enterprises and women’s cooperatives through field visits and exchanges with inspiring entrepreneurs ranging from traditional food preservers to pioneering innovators such as Senegal’s first strawberry farmer.
The opening ceremony on October 27 was attended by Madame Marieme Hann Kouyaté, Prefect of Guinguinéo, and presided over by Rector Prof. Diégane Diouf, who highlighted the essential role of rural women in local development and expressed gratitude to international partners for their collaboration. Representing Arsi University, Ethiopia; specifically the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CoAES) were five academic staff members and six outstanding undergraduate students participated. The academic team included: Mr. Degefu Kebede, Lecturer in Agricultural Economics and WEFACE Project Coordinator; Dr. Abebe Megersa, Assistant Professor in Plant Science and WEFACE Project Member; Tizita Mamo, Mebrat Tola, and Dr. Hani Solomon, Academic Staff at CoAES.
The selected undergraduate students, chosen for their academic excellence, motivation, leadership potential, and commitment to gender empowerment within the WEFACE student mobility program, were: Edilawit Kefyalew, Keneni Debebe, Tamirat Fikadu, and Lemi Kedir (Agricultural Economics), Mesert Geta (Food Science and Post-Harvest Technology), and Betelhem Agegnehu (Agribusiness and Value Chain Management).
Throughout the week, the Arsi University delegation actively participated in sessions on women’s leadership, agricultural innovation, and youth skill-building, along with field visits to local cooperatives. These experiences provided a unique platform to exchange ideas, expand networks, and strengthen cross-border academic collaboration.
In conclusion, this mission highlights Arsi University’s unwavering commitment to international collaboration and global engagement. It reflects the University’s dedication to creating opportunities for academic excellence, cultural exchange, and shared learning beyond borders. By advancing its Key Performance Indicator (KPI) commitments under Theme 4: Internationalization and Global Engagement of the Ministry of Education’s performance agreement, Arsi University continues to strengthen staff and student mobility, build lasting global partnerships, and position itself as a vibrant center of innovation, University of Applied Sciences, and international cooperation.
Watch highlights here: YouTube Link