Posts by Davis Weddi
Ivorian researchers develop solutions to illegal gold mining damage
Locally developed technologies for detecting heavy metals in water and restoring contaminated farmland could help Côte d’Ivoire address the environmental and public health consequences of illegal gold mining. Illegal gold mining has affected 29 of Côte d’Ivoire’s 31 regions, threatening water resources, agricultural land and public health, while costing the country billions of CFA francs…
Read MoreHow research management is changing Africa’s science funders
A new grant appeals procedure in Zimbabwe, improved digital grant management in Namibia, and stronger gender inclusion leadership in Zambia are among the institutional changes emerging from efforts to strengthen research management across Sub-Saharan Africa. Theme one of the Science Granting Councils Initiative Phase II (SGCI-2), implemented by the Southern African Research and Innovation Management…
Read MoreCan Rwanda’s farm waste help restore its depleted soils?
Locally developed vermicompost and biochar show promise for improving crop yields and soil health, but researchers say further testing is needed before wider adoption. The vermicompost process uses tiger worms to break down prepared organic materials into a dark, crumb-like product, while the biochar is made by heating crop residues under restricted oxygen. For Beata…
Read MoreVoices from the SGCI Forum: Building an African-led science system
From calls for African-led research funding to stronger engagement with communities and governments, participants at the 2026 Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) All Partners Forum left Windhoek with a shared sense that Africa’s science and innovation systems are entering a new phase. Held from 28 September to 2 October, the Forum brought together science granting…
Read MoreNRF champions science, climate action and youth empowerment
Kenya’s National Research Fund (NRF) is strengthening efforts to connect scientific research, innovation and youth participation with practical responses to climate and environmental challenges. NRF chief executive officer Dickson Andala represented the fund at the launch of the Climate Policy and Advocacy Training – Cohort I, hosted by AfriYouth Care Group at the Kenya Institute…
Read MoreWindhoek Declaration: African science funders pledge to act as one
Science granting councils say Africa’s research systems need African ownership, steadier funding and less fragmentation. Here is what they agreed in Windhoek. African science granting councils adopted a collective declaration in Windhoek, Namibia, on 1 October 2026, as part of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) All Partners Forum 2026. It sets out how the…
Read MoreAfrica’s science councils urged to turn pledges into real impact
[NAMIBIA] African countries must strengthen collaboration, invest in research and scientists, and take greater ownership of science, technology and innovation if research is to deliver lasting development impact, participants at the 2026 Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) All Partners Forum have said. The call came during the final two days of the Forum in Windhoek,…
Read MoreCouncils urged to take ownership of SGCI-3 as forum turns to systems
[NAMIBIA]Science Granting Councils have been urged to take greater ownership of the third phase of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI-3), as partners turned their attention to the institutional systems and partnerships needed to translate the initiative’s ambitions into results. The call came during Day 2 [Technical Day] of the SGCI All Partners Forum 2026…
Read MoreSGCI All Partners Forum highlights Africa’s research funding needs
[NAMIBIA] African science granting councils are examining their reliance on international research funding as a new dashboard reveals the flow of science, technology and innovation (STI) funding into Africa. More than 170 delegates from across the world are attending the 2026 Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) All Partners Forum, which opened in Windhoek, Namibia, on…
Read MoreNamibia’s role in advancing Africa’s science, technology, and innovation agenda
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From commitment to action – Namibia and the SGCI All Partners Forum 2026 Namibia is an important player in African research, and from 28 September to 2 October 2026, the country will host the Science Granting Councils Initiative’s (SGCI) All Partners Forum in Windhoek. With its experience of developing a national research and innovation system,…
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