Posts by Davis Weddi
SGCI all partners forum to chart course for next phase
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…
Read MoreSGCI research fund beneficiary wins 2025 Africa food prize
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…
Read MoreResearchers offer sustainable future for Malawi’s tobacco industry
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…
Read MoreAsk the expert: Nicholas Ozor on strengthening research in West Africa
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,…
Read MoreAsk the expert: Lorenza Fluks on SGCI’s gender 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…
Read MoreWomen researchers driving change through SGCI-funded projects
Across Africa, women are contributing to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and leading transformative projects that tackle some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. Through their work, they are breaking stereotypes, solving real-world problems, and inspiring the next generation of girls to see themselves as scientists, innovators, and changemakers. With funding from the Science…
Read MoreHighlights from the second research management symposium
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), in collaboration with Côte d’Ivoire’s Fonds pour la Science, la Technologie et l’Innovation (FONSTI), recently convened the second annual Research and Innovation Management (RIM) Symposium in Abidjan. The symposium gathered Science Granting Councils (SGCs), researchers, development partners, and policy leaders to take stock of progress and lessons from…
Read MoreFONSTI launches policies to boost research governance
The Fund for Science, Technology, and Innovation (FONSTI) has made a significant move in strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s national research system by officially launching eight institutional policies. The polices were launched during a high-level workshop in Grand-Bassam held from 15 to 16 July under the theme “strengthening scientific governance through the structuring of FONSTI’s policies. A…
Read MoreFONRID awards student innovation
The National Fund for Research and Innovation for Development (FONRID) hosted the first edition of University Innovation Day at Thomas Sankara University. The event, which was held on 17 July, provided a vibrant platform for showcasing the ingenuity of young innovators. The initiative is part of FONRID’s broader commitment to fostering a thriving environment for…
Read MorePay-as-you-go solar irrigation supports rural women
[NAIROBI] A solar-powered, “pay-as-you-go” irrigation system being piloted in Mozambique and Zambia is reducing farmers’ dependence on rainfall and easing the burden of water collection on women. The two countries are prone to both floods and droughts, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. Since early 2024, Zambia has been in…
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