This book examines how African universities can foster meaningful collaborations with farming communities to tackle contemporary agricultural and rural development challenges. It introduces Community Action Research Platforms, an approach that has allowed universities to move beyond academia and engage deeply in targeted agricultural value chains. Developed within **RUFORUM, a pan-African network focused on capacity building in agriculture**, this method has been tested across multiple countries over 15 years. The book draws insights from 21 projects across **Benin, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, showcasing the role of universities as catalysts for multi-sector solutions that enhance productivity, climate resilience, rural livelihoods, market access, biodiversity conservation, and food security. By repositioning universities as drivers of development, it highlights practical lessons and success stories from researchers, practitioners, and students working to bridge the gap between academia and society.