SGCI communiqué reaffirms councils’ role in Africa’s STI agenda

Santiago Alba-Corral, Vice-President of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

The Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Africa’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) agenda. At a two-day meeting from 18-19 September in Accra, representatives of 20 national Science Granting Councils, joined by the African Union Commission (AUC), AUDA-NEPAD, and development partners, declared their intention to strengthen their…

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SGCI at 10: SARIMA reflects on research management gains

SARIMA AND SGCI 10

The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) joined the 2025 Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) All Partners Forum and STISA-2034 Advocacy Meeting in Accra, Ghana, highlighting its pioneering role in advancing research and innovation management across Sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted by Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the week-long gathering carried the theme…

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SGCI Forum highlights science partnerships

SGCI at 10 All partners forum Ghana

The 2025 SGCI All Partners Forum and STISA 2034 Advocacy Meeting held last week brought together councils, funders, coordinating technical agencies, and partners to reflect on a decade of progress and chart the way forward for Africa’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) agenda. Since its inception in 2015, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has…

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Angola and Togo join SGCI

Francisco Cundacami Bondo (FUNDECIT, Angola)

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has officially welcomed Angola and Togo as new members. With their addition, SGCI now numbers 19 councils across the continent, strengthening its role in supporting science, technology, and innovation (STI) systems in Africa. The announcement was made on 15 September in Accra, Ghana, as partners, funders, researchers, and policymakers…

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IDRC-funded partnership develops new poultry vaccine in Brazil

International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is funding a public-private partnership to create a new poultry vaccine in Brazil.

International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is funding a public-private partnership to create a new poultry vaccine in Brazil. The initiative is part of InnoVet-AMR 2.0, a four-year partnership between IDRC and the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF). The goal is to reduce the emerging risk that antimicrobial…

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SGCI all partners forum to chart course for next phase

Addressing the SGCI 2024 forum in Botswana.

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) will hold its 2025 All Partners Forum and Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2034 (STISA-2034) advocacy meeting in Accra, Ghana. The meeting will reflect on lessons and capture recommendations for the next phase. The Forum will take place from 15–19 September at Labadi beach hotel. It coincides…

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SGCI research fund beneficiary wins 2025 Africa food prize

A section of the garden at Githunguri Level 5 Hospital showing managu (left) and other types of vegetables. Photo Courtesy of Prof. Mary Abukutsa

Mary Abukutsa, a leading researcher on African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and a Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) research fund beneficiary, has been named the 2025 Africa Food Prize laureate for her ground-breaking work in advancing African indigenous vegetables. The announcement was made in Dakar, Senegal, during…

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Researchers offer sustainable future for Malawi’s tobacco industry

Research team members -Dr Junice Dzonzi and Chisomo Mussa

Malawian researchers are using crop residues to help farmers cure tobacco while saving trees, cutting costs, and easing the nation’s deforestation crisis. The crop’s reliance on firewood for curing is driving deforestation, putting both forests and livelihoods at risk. Tobacco is Malawi’s economic backbone, accounting for two-thirds of foreign exchange earnings and employing thousands of…

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Ask the expert: Nicholas Ozor on strengthening research in West Africa

During the high-level policy dialogue in Abuja_Nigeria

In this Ask the expert article, Nicholas Ozor, executive director of the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), shares highlights of the Strengthening the National Research and Innovation Funding Agencies in West Africa (SRIFA) project under the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI). Strengthening the National Research and Innovation Funding Agencies in West Africa (SRIFA) ATPS,…

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Ask the expert: Lorenza Fluks on SGCI’s gender project

Lorenza Fluks spoke about the Science Granting Councils Initiative's (SGCI) Gender, Equity, and Inclusivity (GEI) project

In this Ask the expert article, Lorenza Fluks spoke about the Science Granting Councils Initiative’s (SGCI) Gender, Equity, and Inclusivity (GEI) project, led by the Human Sciences Research Council in collaboration with Jive Media Africa, Portia UK, and Gender at Work, which supported the foundational work during Phase I. 1. Tell us more about the…

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