RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS

Research is an important part of TRN's development approach.

We believe academic knowledge becomes especially valuable when it is informed by the experiences of communities and translated into practical solutions.

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At the same time, rural communities should be recognised as active contributors to knowledge rather than simply subjects of research.

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TRN facilitates connections between farmers, researchers, universities, agricultural practitioners and local institutions

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Our contributions can include community engagement, field coordination, farmer mobilisation, practical implementation, local knowledge exchange, data collection support and monitoring.

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Our Collaboration With Queen's University Belfast

A Continuing Partnership in Research, Knowledge Exchange and Rural Development

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Thrive Rural Network has worked with research initiatives led through Queen's University Belfast (QUB), Queen's Business School, particularly those concerned with smallholder agricultural inclusion, rural livelihoods, community economic systems and access to agricultural markets.

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The collaboration brings together university-led research and the practical experience of rural communities in Uganda and Kenya.

Across successive projects supported through international development research and impact funding, TRN has contributed to field engagement, farmer participation, implementation support, local coordination and knowledge exchange.

The work has evolved from investigating the challenges facing smallholder farmers to exploring practical responses involving community barter, digital inclusion, agricultural quality management and market readiness.

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International Science Partnerships Fund and ODA-Supported Research, 2024–2025

Understanding Smallholder Livelihoods and Agricultural Market Inclusion

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Research associated with the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) examined challenges affecting smallholder farmers and their participation in agricultural markets.

The work considered the wider economic and institutional environment shaping rural livelihoods, including access to information, market relationships, production constraints and opportunities for inclusive development.

TRN's contribution has included facilitating engagement with rural communities, supporting field activities and connecting academic research with practical development experience.

The research provided a foundation for subsequent initiatives examining community-based economic models, digital inclusion and agricultural value-chain development.

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International Science Partnerships Fund, 2025–2026

Transforming Smallholder Livelihoods Through Community Barter Systems and Digital Market Inclusion in East Africa

This Queen's University Belfast research initiative explored practical ways to strengthen rural livelihoods through community cooperation, non-cash exchange, digital information and more inclusive agricultural systems.

Activities took place across Uganda and Kenya, bringing together community engagement, practical experimentation and applied research.

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TRN contributed to programme coordination and field implementation, including:

• Mobilising farmers and community representatives.

• Facilitating community barter and exchange activities.

• Supporting agricultural knowledge-sharing sessions.

• Coordinating field engagement and local logistics.

• Contributing to farmer information and data collection.

• Supporting monitoring, documentation and reporting.

• Facilitating engagement between researchers and rural stakeholders.

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An important component of the work was the development and piloting of a digital farmer information system to capture household, production and location data.

The project also explored the potential of community exchange systems to improve access to food, reduce dependence on cash and strengthen local economic cooperation

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The collaboration involved Queen's University Belfast, TRN, community participants and regional academic and development stakeholders, including engagement associated with the University of Eldoret.

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Development significance

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The initiative generated practical experience concerning community-led economic arrangements and the potential for digital tools to support inclusive agricultural planning.

It also provided a basis for continued research, programme development and cross-country learning.

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ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, 2025

Accelerating Smallholder Farmer Impact: Knowledge Sharing on Risk, Finance, and Inclusive Market Models in Uganda and East Africa

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This initiative, supported through Queen's University Belfast's Economic and Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Account (ESRC IAA), focused on translating research knowledge into practical approaches for improving smallholder livelihoods.

The work explored how farmers and rural communities respond to economic uncertainty, limited financial resources and exclusion from conventional agricultural markets.

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Particular attention was given to community-based exchange, cooperation, risk, finance and inclusive market arrangements.

TRN's field experience and community relationships helped connect these questions with rural development practice.

The initiative contributed to learning about how locally appropriate economic institutions and knowledge-sharing approaches might strengthen community resilience and expand livelihood opportunities.

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ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, 2026

From Field to Market: Embedding Quality Assurance and Traceability in a Live Smallholder Chilli Supply Chain in Uganda

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This ongoing research-impact initiative builds on earlier work concerning smallholder inclusion and agricultural markets.

It focuses on a practical challenge: helping smallholder chilli farmers develop the knowledge, records, production practices and quality systems needed to participate in more demanding agricultural supply chains.

The programme connects research-informed approaches with a live agricultural production setting in Northern Uganda.

Its principal work areas include:

Farmer Traceability

Developing and strengthening farm records, location information, production documentation and traceability practices.

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Quality Assurance

Supporting practical quality procedures, training and preparation for improved post-harvest management.

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Certification Readiness

Assessing farming practices and identifying the steps needed to prepare participating farmers for relevant agricultural standards.

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Knowledge Exchange

Connecting farmers, agricultural practitioners, researchers and other stakeholders through training and practical engagement.

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Regional Learning

Exploring opportunities for knowledge exchange between Uganda and Kenya concerning agricultural markets, quality requirements and smallholder inclusion.

TRN's involvement centres on community engagement, local facilitation, farmer participation and connecting research activities with practical rural development needs.

The project is ongoing, and certification preparation should not be interpreted as certification already achieved.

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Our Wider Academic and Institutional Engagement

TRN welcomes collaboration with universities, researchers and development institutions interested in rural livelihoods, agricultural markets and community-led innovation.

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Our areas of interest include:

• Smallholder inclusion in agricultural value chains.

• Community-based economic institutions and barter.

• Digital inclusion and agricultural traceability.

• Rural finance and risk management.

• Food security and household resilience.

• Quality assurance and agricultural certification.

• Cooperative governance and farmer agency.

• Sustainable post-harvest systems.

• Research impact and participatory development.

Our objective is to create partnerships in which academic research contributes to practical development while community experience informs research questions, methods and interpretation.

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Interested in research collaboration? Contact TRN to discuss field partnerships, knowledge exchange and joint development initiatives.

Research Funding Acknowledgement

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The initiatives described above have been associated with research and impact support administered through Queen's University Belfast, including ISPF/ODA-related funding and ESRC Impact Acceleration Account awards.

The university's role as grant holder, the academic leadership of individual projects and TRN's contribution as a community-based partner or facilitator are distinct and should be understood accordingly.