The SGCI was established in March 2015 through a partnership between the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF).
SGCI as a Partnership
The first phase of the SGCI focused on enhancing the capacities of councils from 15 countries to manage research, design, and monitor research programmes using robust science, technology, and innovation indicators. It also aimed to facilitate knowledge transfer to the private sector and bolster partnerships between Science Granting Councils (SGCs) and other actors within the science system.
The initial partnership (SGCI-1) concluded in September 2020, overlapping with the commencement of a second five-year phase (SGCI-2), which began in June 2018. This phase is supported by funding from the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), IDRC, and NRF. The German Research Foundation (DFG) joined as an Associate Funder in November 2019, contributing towards specific activities.
In February 2022, the SGCI received additional support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), in partnership with IDRC and NRF. SGCs from 17 countries across Eastern, Western, and Southern Africa have partnered with SGCI to implement the programme. The SGCI aims to strengthen the capabilities of these SGCs to facilitate research and evidence-based policies, thereby fostering economic and social development across the continent.
Themes
The SGCI aims to strengthen the capacities of these SGCs to support research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to economic and social development.
