SGCI News

Across the African continent, Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Africa are key to driving evidence-based science, technology, and innovation policies. These councils play an important role in shaping national development…

Across the African continent, Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Africa are key to driving evidence-based science, technology, and innovation policies.

These councils play an important role in shaping national development agendas and driving progress through strategic research funding and coordination.

They, however, face significant challenges in their digital transformation efforts, including limited funding, outdated infrastructure, a lack of digital skills, and resistance to change, limiting their efficiency, collaboration, and overall impact.

Building Capacity for Digital Transformation in SGCs

Recognising the need to address these digital transformation challenges, a collaborative effort under the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has yielded a promising solution with the launch of the Evi-Pol digital transformation toolkit.

Spearheaded by the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators, in partnership with the African Centre for Technology Studies and the Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, this toolkit offers a practical and structured pathway for SGCs to navigate their digital journey.

The Evi-Pol digital transformation toolkit is a practical, step-by-step guide to support SGCs at every stage of their digital journey, whether they’re just beginning or refining existing systems.

It provides a flexible framework to help SGCs develop tailored roadmaps for their digital transformation, acknowledging their varying capabilities and progress in digitalisation.

Harnessing science and innovation for sustainable development through digitally empowered SGCs can serve as vital bridges between research communities and policy environments, ensuring that investments in science translate into tangible societal benefits.

The toolkit represents an important step toward realising this vision of equipping SGCs with the tools they need to navigate the digital landscape and maximise their contribution to evidence-based policymaking across the continent.

 
Download the digital transformation toolkit and its editable templates [here]

Read more about Evi-Pol [here]
 
Please check out the stories and let us know what you think. We would love to hear from you!
Let’s continue the conversation on our social media
Follow us on LinkedIn

 
Published on 9 May 2025





Categories



Related News

Lead researcher Geoffery Ssepuuya interracting with one of the raw food suppliers which he turns into cricket food

Innovation highlight series: part three

Across Africa, locally driven research is delivering practical solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing development challenges, from food security and clean energy to livelihoods and industrial efficiency. Supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), these innovations show how targeted funding, skills development,…

Matt Wallace and panelists at the Science Forum South Africa 2025

Powering Africa’s science through stronger councils

Strengthening national science granting councils is emerging as one of the most effective pathways for improving how African countries finance and govern science for development. This was the focus of the thematic session on Financing Science for Impact held during the Science Forum South Africa…

Hamidou Duff, the director general of Research at Senegal's Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation

Councils seek solutions to research financing crisis

African countries are working to strengthen research quality, ethical practice, and grant management through the Research Excellence and Good Financial Grant Practices Workshop. The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), together with the Association of African Universities and Senegal’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation,…

SGCI funded projects

agriculture on a farm

Rwanda’s integrated approach to sustainable agriculture and nutrition

Project Titles & Institution Areas of Research Number of Projects being funded Project Duration Grant Amount In-Kind Distribution Council Collaboration with other councils