Program Overview

Introduction to the TNE WAGON2Africa Program

The TNE WAGON2Africa program, also known as WAter enerGy fOod Nexus 2 Africa, is a collaborative initiative between Italian and African universities. The primary objective of this project is to develop a network of universities to stimulate cooperation and share best practices, focusing on the water-energy-food nexus (WEFN) and related themes and dimensions.

Program Overview

The program aims to address the complexity of the water-energy-food nexus by adopting a global and transversal approach, considering multiple dimensions, synergies, and interdependencies associated with the production and consumption of water, energy, and food. The project will focus on four areas of interest:

• Science, technology, and digitalization
• Economy, enterprise, and management
• Human, social, and legal sciences
• Sustainable agro-food systems, natural resources, and bioeconomy

International Cooperation

International cooperation is crucial for sharing best practices and supporting innovative solutions to improve the sustainability of the WEFN sector. The project will support three lines of action:

• International mobility of students
• Mobility of teaching staff
• Advanced skills courses for graduate personnel

Strategic Geographic Area

The strategic geographic area of interest for the project is East Africa, with the establishment of an African hub in Nairobi, Kenya, to coordinate activities in other participating African countries.

Consortium and Partners

The consortium consists of 10 Italian universities, coordinated by the Politecnico di Torino, with a strong complementarity of skills and training areas. The coordinator and other partners have extensive experience in international collaboration on educational exchanges and agreements, creation of new campuses, hubs, and laboratories abroad, as well as capacity-building initiatives.

Participating Universities

The participating universities include:

• Politecnico di Torino
• Alma Mater Studiorum - Universitŕ di Bologna
• Universitŕ degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro
• Universitŕ degli Studi di Palermo
• LUISS Libera Universitŕ Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli
• Universitŕ di Foggia
• Universitŕ degli Studi di Firenze
• Universitŕ degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
• Universitŕ di Sassari
• Universitŕ di Torino

Network of African Universities

The network of African universities associated with the project includes at least 61 institutions in 14 East African countries. A significant number of these universities already have exchange agreements with the Italian universities in the consortium.

Advanced Skills Courses

The project offers two Advanced Skills Courses:

UTA-Do (Urban Theory Africa Doing)

• Dates: 9-13 February 2026
• Location: Urban Centre, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
• Scientific Coordinators: Prof. Francesca De Filippi, Prof. Andrea Pollio, Politecnico di Torino
• The course aims to address the challenges faced by urban scholars and professionals in Africa and promote interdisciplinary dialogue to amplify African perspectives in the global urban debate.

Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biomaterials for the Green Transition

• Dates: 16-20 February 2026
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya
• Scientific Coordinators: Prof. David Chiaramonti, Prof. Michel Noussan, Politecnico di Torino
• The course focuses on the "energy" element of the water-energy-food nexus and aims to train young talents and professionals to promote sustainable production of biofuels and a climate-resilient agricultural and energy system in Africa.

Program Details

The program details, including descriptions, requirements, admission criteria, and research areas, are designed to support the development of a network of Italian and African universities, laying the groundwork for future joint degree programs and broader collaborations.