News
CTAs: catalysts of Africa’s STI transformation
An interview with Tom Ogada, executive director, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) As part of the Science Granting Councils Initiative’s (SGCI) 10th anniversary reflections, we spoke with Prof Tom Ogada about the critical role played by the Collaborative Technical Agencies (CTAs) in strengthening Africa’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) systems. The Impact story of…
Strengthening research funding practices in Burkina Faso
As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen research and innovation systems across Africa, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) continues to support collaboration, learning, and capacity development among national science funding agencies. In this spirit, the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) and the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA)…
Transforming research for development in eastern and southern Africa
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), will host a Virtual Stakeholder Consultation on Transforming the Research for Development (R4D) Landscape in eastern and southern Africa on 22 October 2025, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EAT). The event will take place online via Zoom, and…
Upcoming SGCI-supported events
Globelics International Conference 2025: Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development to Build Resilience for Global Challenges The 2025 Globelics International Conference will take place from 24–26 November 2025at the National Research Foundation (NRF) in Pretoria, South Africa. This year’s conference focuses on innovation for sustainable and inclusive development to build resilience in the context of…
Why Africa needs its own playbook for measuring STIs
As Africa moves to implement the Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034), one major obstacle is the absence of reliable data. Only three countries, Egypt, South Africa, and Tanzania, have consistently collected national research and development (R&D) and innovation statistics since 2007. Without dependable data, policymakers struggle to make evidence-informed decisions to drive…
Call for expert consultancy: Intersectional dimension of gender-sensitive drought management in East Africa
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) invite qualified experts to contribute to a scoping study and assessment report on “The intersectional dimension of gender-sensitive drought management in East Africa.” The consultancy will provide technical input for the research-for-development study project, Enhancing Resilience to Extreme Drought Events…
Harnessing traditional materials for climate-smart development in Ghana
In Ghana, communities are rediscovering the potential of traditional building materials to drive sustainability and climate resilience. A research team led by Callistus Tengan, professor of construction management at Bolgatanga Technical University, is advancing this mission by integrating eco-friendly materials, renewable energy, and smart technologies into construction. The project, funded by Science Granting Council Initiatives…
SGCI communiqué reaffirms councils’ role in Africa’s STI agenda
The Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Africa’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) agenda. At a two-day meeting from 18-19 September in Accra, representatives of 20 national Science Granting Councils, joined by the African Union Commission (AUC), AUDA-NEPAD, and development partners, declared their intention to strengthen their…
SGCI at 10: SARIMA reflects on research management gains
The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) joined the 2025 Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) All Partners Forum and STISA-2034 Advocacy Meeting in Accra, Ghana, highlighting its pioneering role in advancing research and innovation management across Sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted by Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the week-long gathering carried the theme…
SGCI Forum highlights science partnerships
The 2025 SGCI All Partners Forum and STISA 2034 Advocacy Meeting held last week brought together councils, funders, coordinating technical agencies, and partners to reflect on a decade of progress and chart the way forward for Africa’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) agenda. Since its inception in 2015, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has…
