Implementing open science in East Africa is picking up speed
March 17, 2023Stakeholders, including academics, researchers and policy-makers in Tanzania, intend to adopt open science and present the plan to the government and implementation partners for funding. However, the decision to make research more accessible means they also have to deal with...
The NRF hosts a Learning Visit of the Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa
February 13, 2023The National Research Foundation (NRF) is hosting its sister agencies from Botswana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire and Tanzania for a learning visit during 13 – 14 February 2023. The visit provides the opportunity to cross-share...
Owning change: Reflections on Peer Learning Workshop 3
February 3, 2023Owning change: Reflections on Peer Learning Workshop 3 “Sharing allows one to learn from others and realise that our challenges are common and create a space to collectively address them and we can overcome them”. – Peer Learning 3 workshop...
Can artificial intelligence help to achieve inclusivity?
January 20, 2023Artificial intelligence can play a role in finding solutions to many of Africa’s development challenges, but it requires a sensitivity to context, not to mention a healthy scepticism towards the idea of technology as objective or unaffected by the positionality...
Innovation for Development: SGCI-funded Projects in Africa
December 7, 2022The inaugural Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) academic symposium took place on 6 December as part of the ongoing African Science Granting Councils and Partner Meetings in Cape Town. The SGCI has facilitated the funding of over...
Africa’s Funding Councils Meet for Impact
December 7, 2022Participating councils of the Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) deliberated on progress, focus and initiatives to advance research and innovation since the SGCI was established. Participating in the SGCI’s Annual Forum held parallel to the World Science...
Call Extension for the Establishment of the African Open Science Platform (AOSP) Regional Nodes
December 6, 2022This call for expressions of interest is to solicit applications to host regional nodes for the African Open Science Platform (AOSP) in five African Regional and Economic Communities (RECs) – namely at the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East...
The NRF Hosts Strategic Meetings to Advance Research Partnerships in Africa
December 5, 2022The National Research Foundation (NRF) will host the African Science Granting Councils and Partner Meetings during 4-8 December 2022 in Cape Town in parallel to the World Science Forum (WSF) hosted by South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)....
New report highlights the need for research-based policy in Africa
November 21, 2022Globally, the use of research in formulating policy, gained traction just after World War II and became a standard of best practice for governmental and non-governmental organisations towards the end of the 20th century. Consequently, nations of the Global North...
Women in research – More than a numbers game
November 7, 2022When policy-makers and strategic planners gather to talk about addressing gender and inclusivity issues in research, the predominant focus tends to be on how to bring more women into the existing science, technology and innovation system through the implementation of...
New report highlights the need for an intersectional approach to addressing gender inequality in grant-making.
October 25, 2022Sparked by growing momentum in addressing gender equality and diversity in research, a new report by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) explores how an intersectional approach can support gender transformative grant-making practices. There has been growing awareness that addressing...
One year of implementing the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chair in Research and Action against Cancer
October 19, 2022In October 2021, Prof Olga Lompo and Prof Samira Ouédraogo officially started implementing research and training activities under the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) at Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo (UJKZ) in Burkina Faso, the first ever research chair awarded...
Call for Expression of Interest: Establishment of the African Open Science Platform (AOSP) Regional Nodes
October 17, 2022This call for expressions of interest is to solicit applications to host regional nodes for the African Open Science Platform (AOSP) in five African Regional and Economic Communities (RECs) – namely at the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East...
O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chair in Technology Entrepreneurship and Youth Employability launched
October 14, 2022The research chair hosted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana and awarded to Prof Nathaniel Boso was launched on 13 October 2022. The launch was officiated by the KNUST university leadership with representation from the...
NRF/CORP SPP/02/2022-23
October 14, 2022Bid Description: THE APPOINTMENT OF A SERVICE PROVIDER TO OFFER CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ON RESEARCH AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT FOR THE SCIENCE GRANTING COUNCILS INITIATIVE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (SGCI) FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. Bid No. NRF/CORP SPP/02/2022-23 Date: 26 September 2022...
Call for Nominations: Members of the Governing Council of the African Open Science Platform (AOSP)
October 4, 2022The African Open Science Platform (AOSP) seeks nominations of candidates to serve as members of its Governing Council. Since the formalisation of the platform, it has been guided by an Advisory Committee – a voluntary group of eminent and knowledgeable...
The SGCI mourns the loss of Mr. Filipo Zulu
October 3, 2022It is with deep sadness that the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in Sub-Saharan Africa family has learnt of the untimely passing of Mr. Filipo Zulu, Acting Executive Secretary, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), Zambia. Since the inception of...
Call for proposals for service provider to offer capacity development on research and grants management for the SGCI
August 25, 2022The SGCI invites project proposals from organisations (including think-tanks, institutes, universities, and agencies) with proven experience and track record to support science granting councils in research management. The successful organisation will enter into an agreement with the NRF for the...
Appel de propositions pour aider les organismes subventionnaires de la recherche scientifique de l’Afrique à élaborer des cadres politiques et des structures habilitantes pour les partenariats public-privé
July 27, 2022L’Initiative des organismes subventionnaires de la recherche scientifique (IOSRS) en Afrique subsaharienne sollicite des propositions de projets d’organisations (y compris des groupes de réflexion, des instituts, des universités et des agences) ayant une expérience et des antécédents avérés pour aider...
Call for proposals to support Africa’s Science Granting Councils in developing policy frameworks and enabling structures for public-private sector partnerships
July 27, 2022L’Initiative des organismes subventionnaires de la recherche scientifique (IOSRS) en Afrique subsaharienne sollicite des propositions de projets d’organisations (y compris les groupes de réflexion, les instituts, les universités et les agences) ayant une expérience avérée et des antécédents en matière...
Appel de propositions pour soutenir les organismes subventionnaires de la recherche scientifique en matière de communication stratégique et d’application des connaissances
July 27, 2022L’Initiative des organismes subventionnaires de la recherche scientifique (IOSRS) en Afrique subsaharienne sollicite des propositions de projets d’organisations (y compris les groupes de réflexion, les instituts, les universités et les agences) ayant une expérience avérée et des antécédents en matière...
Call for proposals to support Africa’s Science Granting Councils in strategic communications and knowledge translation
July 27, 2022The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) invites project proposals from organizations (including think tanks, institutes, universities and agencies) with proven experience and track records in strategic communications and knowledge translation. For more information, please consult: Call for...
SGCI call for Expressions of Interest (EoI): “Foresight in Research and Innovation for Development in Africa”
July 26, 2022The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) invites concept notes from researchers/experts with proven experience and track records to write a state-of-the-art research paper on the theme: “Foresight in Research and Innovation for Development.” The assignment will be conducted between September 2022 and February...
Appel à propositions: Renforcer les capacités des organismes subventionnaires de la recherche scientifique en matière d’égalité des genres et d’inclusion
July 11, 2022L’Initiative des Organismes Subventionnaires de la Recherche Scientifique en Afrique subsaharienne (IOSRS) invite les organismes (y compris les « think tanks », les instituts, les universités et les agences) ayant une expérience et des références avérées à soumettre des propositions...
Call for proposals: Strengthening the capacities of Science Granting Councils in gender and inclusion
July 11, 2022The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) invites project proposals from organizations (including think tanks, institutes, universities, and agencies) with proven experience and track records to deepen ongoing work with councils that enhances gender, equality and inclusion. The...
Invitation à un échange scientifique Afrique-Allemagne : “Intensification durable de l’agriculture”
July 7, 2022La Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG – Fondation allemande pour la recherche) invite les chercheur·se·s intéressé·e·s de tous les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne et les chercheur·se·s de toutes les universités et instituts de recherche d’Allemagne, incluant explicitement les universités de sciences appliquées, à...
Invitation to an African-German Scientific Exchange: “Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture
July 7, 2022The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) invites interested scientists from all Sub-Saharan African countries and researchers at all universities and research institutes in Germany, explicitly including universities of applied sciences, to take part in a scientific exchange in the...
Call for Proposals: Strengthening of national research and innovation funding agencies in West Africa
June 28, 2022The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) is calling for proposals to support the strengthening of national research and innovation funding agencies in West Africa. The work will strengthen agencies where they already exist and where they do...
Impact of Links project in Zambia highlighted
May 28, 2022In its quest to help local journalists increase public trust in COVID-19 vaccinations currently being rolled out in the country, a local organisation says it has scored some success after embarking on training about 130 journalists on best ways to...
Lusaka students offer cheaper ventilator
May 28, 2022Countries worst affected by the Covid-19 pandemic are trying to procure lung ventilation equipment, which assists or replaces breathing for critically ill patients, pumping oxygen into the blood to keep organs functioning. Arising from the above scenario, a group of...
Rising need for research among institutions calls for increased funding
May 27, 2022Countries in sub-Sahara Africa are making significant strides in development thanks to increased uptake in research and development that seeks to raise the quality of lives through social and economic improvement. In line with efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals,...
Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology Launches O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chair Initiative
May 26, 2022The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) launched the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chair on May 18, 2022, in Arusha. The O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chair Initiative is the first Research Chair at NM-AIST, focusing on the...
Research Pathway to solving Zim’s energy crisis
May 26, 2022Energy is at the heart of all efforts aimed at attaining the country’s Vision 2030 of becoming an upper middle income economy, as well as a major driving force behind the attainment of all Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
Rwanda Investing In Research To Influence Policy Processes
May 26, 2022Approaches to the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of policy influencing activities has been recognized as one of the pillars for Rwanda to improve policy implementation during the second phase of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI 2) in Sub-Saharan Africa...
The Science Granting Council Initiative: A catalyst for more research projects
May 25, 2022The Science Granting Council Initiative is now in its second phase and drawing experience from seven years, Science Granting Councils and their partners have not only learned a lot from implementing various projects but are now better placed to venture...
Research projects promoting Tanzania’s industrialization agenda.
May 24, 2022When the late President John Magufuli delivered a speech to inaugurate the new Parliament at the end of 2015, he stressed that industrialization was a key priority of the government and that industries producing goods such as clothes, textiles and...
Mozambique’s cows set to drive local yogurt industry
May 23, 2022Fifty-four year old Agripa Congolo dumped his well-paying job as a painter in South Africa and returned to his homeland in Xai xai, Mozambique’s southern province of Gaza to take care of his father’s livestock following his death in 1992. Since then, Congolo...
COVID-19 Disrupts Regional Research Projects Far, Wide
May 21, 2022The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on science has been large, disrupting the conduct of wide-ranging research and forcing scientists to scale down or completely stop work on finding solutions to some of the pressing problems facing our society
Mozambique’s native fruit drives bright future for vulnerable communities
May 18, 2022Martinha spends 80 Meticais (2.54) for a round trip to buy a 20 litre bucket of both Mapfilua or Monkey oranges and then sells in small portions for 50 meticais ($.79 cents). These fruits and plants are turning into a...
EAC Researchers Developing Food Systems Through Mass-Rearing of Locusts
May 17, 2022Rwandan agricultural researchers are striving to join forces with their counterparts from the East African Community (EAC) within a win-win framework during the second phase of Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI2) implementation. Through this partnership, scientists from Rwanda and Kenya...
Recalibrating Rwanda’s Research And Innovation Engagement
May 10, 2022KIGALI: A number of regional research projects were funded by Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in close collaboration with national granting councils from four African countries including Rwanda in strengthening science, research and innovation systems. The SGCI as a multi-funder...
Africa’s science-granting councils are failing women
May 6, 2022Equality-promoting funding policies “still in their infancy”, review finds Many national bodies disbursing African research funding grants are failing to address gender imbalances in their support, a review paper has found. The paper, published in April in the journal Frontiers...
Mozambique’s FNI at slow pace as Namibia is analyzing the PUCFPFPF agreement
May 1, 2022The University of Maputo (Mozambique) in Namibia, UNAM has no finalized the joint project that was carried out bu the Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique (IIAM) and the University of Namibia, UNAM titled: Processing, Upscaling and Commercialization of Derivative Food...
NRF and MINDS Announce Partnership Agreement for Joint Postgraduate Scholarship and Exchange Programme for Africa
April 12, 2022The National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS) have formalised a prominent agreement for a joint postgraduate scholarship and exchange programme for Africa. The scholarship programme will support postgraduate students in critical fields for the...
Researchers aim to boost production of tilapia native fish species
March 29, 2022Researchers from Zimbabwe and Malawi are trying to develop a genetically superior broodstock of tilapia to boost productivity, enhance food security and support smallholder farmers to realise better returns from fish value chains.
NRF South Africa to host the Africa Future Earth Global Secretariat Hub
March 23, 2022The National Research Foundation (NRF) is pleased to announce its selection to host the Africa Future Earth Global Secretariat Hub. The Africa Hub will join eight global hubs namely: Canada (Montreal), China (Beijing), France (Paris), Japan (Tokyo), South Asia (Bengaluru),...
Zim, Malawi in joint bio-fertilizers research
March 17, 2022Scientists from Zimbabwe and Malawi are working on a joint research project to develop bio-fertilisers which are inexpensive and eco-friendly to help boost crop productivity for smallholder farmers and reduce the use of chemical fetilisers which are damaging the quality...
Mozambique government, partners join forces to improve dairy farming
March 17, 2022Arnaldo Dimande, a peasant farmer in the region of Machiane, saw a chance to transform his ambition of becoming a milk producer into a reality when a United States Department of Agriculture USDA-funded Land O’Lakes dairy project was launched in...
Three lessons Rwanda needs to learn from Science Granting Councils Initiative
March 16, 2022http://rwandadispatch.com/three-lessons-rwanda-needs-to-learn-from-science-granting-councils-initiative/
Ghana learning best practices in research management from other African countries – Association of African Universities
March 13, 2022The Association of African Universities (AAU) says Ghana is learning best practices in how to manage research grants through the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI). Director of ICT Services, Communications and Knowledge Management at the AAU, Nodumo Dhlamini believes the move will make it possible...
Science Granting Council Initiative improves transparency in management of research grants – Association of African Universities
March 13, 2022The Association of African Universities (AAU) says the ability of Ghana and other African countries to prudently manage research grants from donor partners has improved greatly due to the country’s participation in the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI). According to...
BIUST receives windfall to support graduate training
March 10, 2022The Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST) – has participated in the implementation of the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI). The Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) is focused on strengthening the capacities of Science Granting...
SGCI Plays Capacity Building Role among Ethiopian Researchers
March 4, 2022Research experts say that the sub-Saharan Africa’s Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has played a motivational and capacity building role among Ethiopian researchers and it should be carried out in a more sustainable manner.Selamyhun Adefris, Director General for Research and...
Researchers will be more efficient if they have more management freedom
March 3, 2022FONRID is currently positioned as a donor only. He is not a direct policy influencer. But he accompanies the politicians. If FONRID had power over policies, this would allow it to review its status in the current environment. What is...
Making women count: Closing gender data gaps in STI
March 1, 2022The availability of national gender disaggregated data is essential in addressing persisting gender disparities in STI on the African continent, yet comprehensive reviews of available literature are scarce. Through work led by South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the...
Gender and inclusivity in Science Granting Councils: A participatory approach to achieving sustained systemic change
February 28, 2022Through work led by South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the SGCI has adopted an intersectional and participatory approach to embed gender and inclusivity at SGCs. By utilizing the Gender Action Learning methodology developed by Gender at Work, the...
Bright Bwalya: Fighting epilepsy with innovation
February 3, 2022Bright Bwalya, a Zambian youth, who is among the millions fighting epilepsy, has come up with a device called Seizure Assistant which allows patients to call for help when they are in need.
STI Help Desk Initiative for Science Granting Councils in Sub-Saharan Africa Launched
February 1, 2022The SGCI has established a ‘help desk’ as a dynamic interactive online platform whereby the Councils solicit relevant expertise that match their needs towards enhancing their policy and decision-making role. Through the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), this initiative...
Government urged to support locally produced food products
January 27, 2022A woman from Oshiziya village in the Oshana region has called on the government to support entrepreneurs who make food products using underutilised indigenous fruits, vegetables and plants in order to grow their businesses and gain access to formal markets....
NSTC-NTBC disburses K11.3m in grants
January 18, 2022January 18, 2022, will forever be a memorable event for 21 local innovators, youths and researchers dotted across different parts of the country. This is because it was on this day when the successful applicants were awarded grants by the...
O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative
January 15, 2022The O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) builds on the work of Oliver Tambo, a prominent South African and pan-Africanist with a science education background, who believed in creating change through education and in cooperation and solidarity among African...
Rwanda STI investments spur innovation and Science-Industry collaboration
January 6, 2022During the second phase of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI2) which begun in 2018, NCST is emphasizing the use of robust science, technology and innovation (STI) to strengthening its capacity through knowledge exchange with other national science councils in...
COSTECH: Building internal capacity through SGC program to promote STI
December 7, 2021Tanzania, like many African countries, experiences a slow development process since its research capacity is not strong enough to address social and economic challenges. This calls for the need to improve research management in its institutions of higher learning as...
Scaling up technology and innovation to lift the economy of small producers
December 6, 2021One of the responsibilities of Science Granting Councils (SGC) is to promote social and economic development of small producers through application of science technology and innovation. The Councils are thus central to funding and catalyzing research and innovation in order...
SGCI and GRC hold the 2021 Annual Meeting of African Science Granting Councils
November 18, 2021The SGCI and the Global Research Council (GRC) virtually convened the 2021 Annual Meetings of African Science Granting Councils on 16 – 18 November 2021. The SGCI Annual Forum and Masterclass on the theme Public Engagement in Research and Innovation brought...
SGCI Funding Leverages more government funding for RSTI in Malawi
October 21, 2021The National Commission for Science and Technology of the Republic of Malawi (NCST) is one of the science granting councils that has been participating in the Science Granting Councils Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa. This programme has been instrumental in developing...
2021 SGCI Regional Meeting Spotlights the Importance of Research and Development Roadmaps
June 30, 20212021 SGCI Regional Meeting Spotlights the Importance of Research and Development Roadmaps The SGCI held its Virtual Regional Meeting on 29-30 June, 2021 to facilitate cross learning, experience sharing, and networking amongst the Science Granting Councils (SGCs) and with other...