Dr. Javan Were is a distinguished scholar and development practitioner at the University of Eldoret, actively involved in research, teaching, and community engagement. He plays a leading role in the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev 2.0) initiative, where he coordinates ASEC Work Package 2, focusing on Research for Development and Diversification of Dairy Value Chain. His work supports agricultural value chains, seed systems and the empowerment of youth through applied research and innovation. Dr. Were is passionate about bridging academia and practice to drive sustainable rural development across Africa.