Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Energy: Highlights from the 2025 CSO Summer School

The 2025 Summer School hosted by the African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Operations in Resource Management and Food Supply (CSO) brought together students, faculty, and sustainability professionals for an intensive five-day learning experience focused on one of the most pressing global issues: sustainable energy in developing nations.

Held at the Confucius Institute, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) from May 19th to 23rd, the summer school was themed "Empowering Communities: Sustainable Energy in Developing Nations." It offered a dynamic mix of lectures, discussions, and field experiences.

Day 1: Laying the Foundation
Dr. Erick Mkwizu opened the academic program with an introduction to the core concepts of sustainability and energy sustainability. Participants gained foundational knowledge of renewable energy technologies, culminating in a summary session and a welcome dinner that fostered networking among attendees.

Day 2: Economics and Data-Driven Approaches
Prof. Günter Lang introduced participants to the economic perspectives of sustainability, including valuation methods like contingency valuation and hedonic pricing. His second session focused on how data applications can enhance energy sustainability, illustrating real-world use cases and tools.

Day 3: Innovation and Efficiency
Led by Prof. X.N. Iraki and Prof. Ulingeta Mbamba, the third day addressed energy entrepreneurship, home energy efficiency, and university-level innovation. The day also included a guided university tour, giving participants insights into the host institution’s sustainability initiatives.

Day 4: The Future of Energy
From discussions on emerging issues in energy entrepreneurship to a compelling session on the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s impact on energy systems, participants were exposed to future-oriented perspectives. The day ended with a cross-national discussion on sustainability programs in Tanzania, Germany, and Kenya.

Day 5: Cultural Connection and Closing
The final day featured a city and museum tour of Dar es Salaam, offering a cultural backdrop to the academic content. A brief closing ceremony followed, wrapping up the week’s learning and connection-building.

Driving Sustainable Futures: Highlights from the 2025 Community Workshop in Nairobi:

On May 14–15, 2025, the Africa Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Operations for Resource Management and Food Supply hosted a vibrant Community Workshop on Sustainability at the University of Nairobi. With the theme "Sustainable Business Practices for Inclusive and Resilient Socio-Economic Growth," the two-day event brought together a diverse mix of stakeholders from academia, business, civil society, and government.
The workshop opened with keynote addresses from high-ranking dignitaries, including Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry, and senior university leadership. Panel discussions and plenary presentations featured insights from industry leaders such as Safaricom, ECO Bank, KAM, and SDGs Kenya Forum.
Participants explored current sustainability trends shaping business operations in Kenya, shared case studies on best practices, and engaged in deep discussions on emerging challenges and opportunities. Facilitated breakout sessions allowed for focused conversations on policy, innovation, and private-sector engagement.
The event concluded with a call to action to strengthen collaboration among sectors and promote long-term sustainability. A guided field excursion within Nairobi gave participants a firsthand look at real-world sustainable initiatives. This workshop reinforced the Centre’s mission to promote practical, community-rooted solutions for sustainable development and inclusive economic growth in the region.

Academic Collaboration in Action: 2025 Faculty Workshop Builds Momentum for Future Sustainability Research
Held on May 16–17, 2025, the Faculty Workshop convened academic leaders and researchers from the University of Nairobi, University of Dar es Salaam, and Kühne Logistics University at the University of Nairobi Towers. The event marked a significant milestone in the ongoing work of the Africa Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Operations for Resource Management and Food Supply, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and supported by the Kuehne Foundation.

The workshop served three major goals:
1. Reviewing the Centre’s activities over the past four and a half years

2. Developing a strategic proposal for future funding and program expansion

3. Exchanging insights on teaching innovations and research trends in the Global South

Participants explored current transformations in higher education, reviewed academic programs from all three universities, and discussed best practices for integrating research impact into teaching.
Key presentations were delivered by Prof. Maria Besiou, Dr. Lars Gerold, and several senior faculty members, setting the tone for focused discussions on curriculum improvement and inter-institutional collaboration.
A highlight of the workshop was the collaborative effort to draft a roadmap for the Centre’s next phase—anchored in regional impact, international cooperation, and academic excellence. As the two-day meeting concluded, participants agreed on key action points and reaffirmed their commitment to long-term research and teaching partnerships to address sustainability challenges in Africa and beyond.

The 4th African Conference on Operations and Supply Chain Management (ACOSCM) held on 27th - 28thJuly, 2022 in Nairobi. The University of Dar es Salaam won first place in both the best overall paper and best oral presentation categories

The 2022 Autumn School Training held at the University of Dar es Salaam had participants from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Germany. A total of 50 participants and 10 instructors attended the event.

Launch of Bachelor of Commerce in Procurement and Supply chain Management program on 1st December, 2022 at the University of Dar es Salaam Business School. The launch was officiated by Prof. Bonaventure Rutinwa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Dar es Salaam. The event was also attended by the Dean of the University of Dar es Salaam Business School, Acting Dr Latifa Mbelwa; Kuhne Foundation Global Education Manager, Dr. Daniel Zapata; the Head of Department of General Management, Acting Dr. Gerald Magova; Academic leader Prof. Ulingeta Mbamba and the Coordinator of African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Operations in Resource Management and Food Supply, Dr. Tumsifu Thomas

Group photo at the launch of the Bachelor of Commerce in Procurement and Supply chain management program

On March 14th and 15th 2023, the National Clean Cooking Stakeholders' Workshop took place in Dodoma, and the participants included the African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Operations in Resource Management and Food Supply (ACESO) from the University of Dar Es Salaam. During the workshop, ACESO presented their research findings on the use of biomass residue for energy and soil amendments, which could lead to enhanced productivity and sustainable food supply by reducing deforestation and improving soil quality. Their research included an assessment of the energy policy framework, the availability of biomass residue for solid biofuel production, the solid biofuel value chain, market assessment, and a comparative cost-benefit analysis, among other factors. The Centre was represented by Dr. Tumsifu Elly and Dr. Michael John.

A cross section of the workshop participants during the National Clean Cooking Stakeholders' Workshop in Dodoma

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