News

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…

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…

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…

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…

[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…

[KUMASI, GHANA, SciDev.Net] For years, frontline nurses at community-based health planning services have been forced to improvise with limited resources, no labs, no ultrasound machines, and sometimes no electricity. When complications arose, patients needed to travel to better-equipped hospitals, often several kilometres away. “We see cases where pregnant women are transported on bicycles or motorbikes…

[ACCRA, SciDev.Net] In Ayigbe, a rural community in Ghana’s Bono Region, 35-year-old Michael Kyereme paid off a university debt of GHS 3,500 (US$335) in just three months. He managed this not by getting a highly paid salaried job, but by selling juice made from the fleshy part of the cashew fruit that most farmers throw…

Namibia’s National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) took centre stage at Metascience 2025, the world’s largest gathering of metascientists. The event was hosted by the Research on Research Institute (RoRI) and the Centre for Open Science in London from 30 June to 2 July. The conference convened more than 830 delegates from 65…

The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) hosted the 2025 annual research dissemination conference in partnership with the Network of Early and Mid-career Researchers in Africa, NEMRA. The conference was held on 1-2 July at the Yusuf Lule CTF Auditorium, Makerere University, Uganda. The two-day event gathered graduate students, early-career researchers, and seasoned…

The National Research Fund (NRF) Kenya is leading the development of the country’s first-ever Masterplan for research funding. The Masterplan is a strategic step toward transforming Kenya’s research landscape. Backed by strong government support and international partnerships, the Masterplan aims to align national research investments with Kenya’s development priorities, unlocking the full potential of science,…