NRF highlights ten years of SGCI progress in research management

In April 2025, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in Sub-Saharan Africa marked ten years of enhancing the capacity of national public research funders.

Since its inception, SGCI has worked across 17 countries to strengthen science, technology, and innovation (STI) systems by partnering with research councils, development agencies, and regional and international organisations.

A 2014 study that led to SGCI’s formation revealed that while Science Granting Councils play vital roles, such as funding research, advising governments, and managing partnerships, they needed institutional capacity, particularly in research management.

SGCI placed research management at the centre of its early programming to address this.

Strengthening Research Management and Administration (RMA) became a strategic priority, as councils needed robust research management systems and skilled professionals to manage research funds effectively.

The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) and its sister organisations, the Research and Innovation Management Associations (RIMAs), CARIMA, EARIMA, and WARIMA, were key to this effort, offering training, technical support, and peer learning opportunities that covered the full research grant lifecycle.

Through these collaborations, SGCI supported the development of a professional competency framework and launched accredited online courses via the University of Witwatersrand.

Practical tools like grant management manuals and competition guidelines were also introduced.

These efforts helped define RMA as a legitimate profession within funding councils, distinct from university-based roles, and led to the emergence of certified research managers.

An example of this impact is Luiza Mazazire from Namibia, who became the first person in her country to be professionally recognised through the International Professional Recognition Council.

Her career progression illustrates how individual capacity-building contributes to institutional and systemic advancement.

Today, she continues to champion research management at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.

SGCI’s work remains ongoing.

The demand for training and recognition is growing, with continued support extended to countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.

SARIMA is now focusing on building long-term, structured pathways for individuals and institutions.

Acknowledging that staff turnover can hinder continuity, the diffusion of trained personnel across the research ecosystem is seen as a strength, not a setback.

Looking forward, embedding RMA training as a permanent institutional function is essential. Internal Train-the-Trainer models, comprehensive engagement strategies, and professional development tailored to experienced practitioners will be critical to the next phase.

SGCI’s vision for the future is a deeply rooted culture of research management that supports resilient and effective STI systems across Africa.

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Published on 15 May 2025