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[KAMPALA] Ugandan researchers are transforming discarded banana stems into textiles, hair extensions and sanitary pads, positioning the East African nation to capitalise on growing global demand for sustainable fibres. The Banatex-EA (Banana Textiles in East Africa) project at Busitema University, eastern Uganda, has created spinnable banana fibre that can be used in textile production, presenting…

As the landscape of global research and innovation is evolving, Africa is taking steps towards building a robust research management system. At the forefront of this transformation is the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), whose collaborative efforts with regional Research and Innovation Management Associations (RIMAs) are reshaping how research is managed, funded,…

Here is a recap of stories published in the latest Footprint Newsletter. Across the continent, researchers are working hand in hand with farmers to develop practical solutions that respond to the challenges of food insecurity and climate change. This month’s edition brings you three such stories. From Uganda’s coffee fields to vegetable farms in Kenya…

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in partnership with the National Research Foundation, South Africa, and the German Research Foundation (DFG), hosted a peer learning visit in Bonn, Germany. The event was held from 8 April to 10 April. SGCI funding partners, collaborating technical agencies, and public funders from 13 countries across Africa were in…

Ask the Expert is our new feature that brings you insights straight from leading scientists in diverse research fields. Every edition will feature interviews with experts who offer their knowledge, actionable tips, and personal stories. In this inaugural edition, we spoke with Dr. JPR Ochieng Odero about what makes a successful grant proposal. Ochieng Odero…

[NAIROBI] For many years, Sammy Ndungu, a smallholder farmer in Kiambu, central Kenya, struggled with low yields due to reliance on rain-fed agriculture. His vegetables, including spinach and African nightshade, often dried up during droughts. But in 2024, things took a brighter turn as researchers from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) introduced…

Africa’s oceans are vital for economic growth, supporting fisheries, tourism, and coastal livelihoods. But the costs of plastic pollution in our seas are mounting. The World Bank puts the cost of the damage caused by marine plastic pollution at up to US$33,000 per tonne of plastic waste, in West Africa alone. As pollution worsens, researchers say stronger…

[NAMIBIA] A lack of protein is a major contributor to malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries, where many people’s diets are heavily dependent on staple crops. To tackle this problem in Namibia, researchers started a food and nutrition project to train farmers in the use of a biofertiliser to produce protein-enriched legumes. The project, led by researchers…

Science is not just about discovery, it’s about impact, and SGCI is helping to make this difference happen. The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) is enabling researchers across Africa to break down obstacles and transform ideas into life-changing solutions. From transforming agricultural practices in Namibia to developing life-saving technologies in Nigeria and enhancing baking standards…

[KAMPALA] Ugandan researchers have developed a method to transform the waste generated by leather production into a nutrient-rich agricultural solution for coffee farming. The innovation addresses critical challenges in Uganda’s agricultural sector, by targeting waste management and soil fertility through a scientifically advanced approach to organic fertiliser production. By turning the waste from leather processing…