Under the agreement, the two institutions would conduct compelling research into areas such as climate change, poverty, gender, women empowerment and livelihoods.

Aside from that, the institutions would also exchange programmes to promote academic excellence.

The Vice Chancellor of UDS, Prof. Seidu Al-hassan, signed on behalf of the university while the Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, John Nkaw, signed on behalf of the non-governmental organisation.

Centre of excellence

Signing the agreement at a brief ceremony in Tamale last Monday,  Prof. Al-hassan described the initiative as a novelty as it would go a long way to reposition the university as a centre of excellence in research in northern Ghana.

He said as a research-based university, the MoU would help the two institutions to undertake compelling research that would help build credible data for policy makers and development partners.

"The UDS has been looking forward to have such industry relationship whereby we can have industries asking to collaborate with us to do something together, and I am sure this is just the beginning.

“We have been thinking about how we can translate all the theories  into  improving  on the lives of the people," he said.

He added that the, "UDS has been thinking how we can be the hub of research in northern Ghana, on issues of climate change, poverty, gender and livelihoods, with the initiative, we will look at how we can put the data in the pool so that with time, we can make good use of them".

While lauding ActionAid Ghana for considering the university for the partnership, Prof. Al-hassan expressed his outfit's commitment to ensure that both parties achieved the needed results for the benefits of the people.

Development drive

For his part, Mr Nkaw said data generated from the research would enable the government to prioritise its development drive.

He said the MoU formed part of his outfit's commitment to advance public policy advocacy in the country, saying, "we are currently implementing our country strategy paper seven, which is dubbed Active Citizens for Social Justice, which seeks to improve the livelihoods of women and their rights.

"UDS is a very credible research based organisation so we are looking at how we can leverage their expertise to generate compelling research data to advance policy making and development in the country, particularly Northern Ghana " he noted.

Mr Nkaw reiterated his Action Aid Ghana's commitment to work with the  government to ensure that policies were gearing  towards promoting women rights and consolidating  peace in the country.