CTAs: catalysts of Africa’s STI transformation

Tom Ogada, executive director, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

An interview with Tom Ogada, executive director, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) As part of the Science Granting Councils Initiative’s (SGCI) 10th anniversary reflections, we spoke with Prof Tom Ogada about the critical role played by the Collaborative Technical Agencies (CTAs) in strengthening Africa’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) systems. The Impact story of…

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Strengthening research funding practices in Burkina Faso

support the Fonds National de la Recherche et de l’Innovation pour le Développement (FONRID)

As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen research and innovation systems across Africa, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) continues to support collaboration, learning, and capacity development among national science funding agencies. In this spirit, the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) and the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA)…

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Transforming research for development in eastern and southern Africa

Virtual Stakeholder Consultation on Transforming the Research for Development

The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), will host a Virtual Stakeholder Consultation on Transforming the Research for Development (R4D) Landscape in eastern and southern Africa on 22 October 2025, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EAT). The event will take place online via Zoom, and…

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Upcoming SGCI-supported events

SGCI Ghana

Globelics International Conference 2025: Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development to Build Resilience for Global Challenges The 2025 Globelics International Conference will take place from 24–26 November 2025at the National Research Foundation (NRF) in Pretoria, South Africa. This year’s conference focuses on innovation for sustainable and inclusive development to build resilience in the context of…

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Why Africa needs its own playbook for measuring STIs

Cross section of SGCI members and stateholders

As Africa moves to implement the Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034), one major obstacle is the absence of reliable data. Only three countries, Egypt, South Africa, and Tanzania, have consistently collected national research and development (R&D) and innovation statistics since 2007. Without dependable data, policymakers struggle to make evidence-informed decisions to drive…

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Call for expert consultancy: Intersectional dimension of gender-sensitive drought management in East Africa

A cross section of SGCI members at the 2025 all partners meeting.

The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) invite qualified experts to contribute to a scoping study and assessment report on “The intersectional dimension of gender-sensitive drought management in East Africa.” The consultancy will provide technical input for the research-for-development study project, Enhancing Resilience to Extreme Drought Events…

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Harnessing traditional materials for climate-smart development in Ghana

Researchers observing the blocking making process in the machine. Credit: Prof Callistus Tengan

In Ghana, communities are rediscovering the potential of traditional building materials to drive sustainability and climate resilience. A research team led by Callistus Tengan, professor of construction management at Bolgatanga Technical University, is advancing this mission by integrating eco-friendly materials, renewable energy, and smart technologies into construction. The project, funded by Science Granting Council Initiatives…

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