How the SGCI makes a difference for Africa’s Science Granting Councils

The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) is a multi-donor initiative. It is funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF-SA), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), and the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Strengthening National Research Ecosystems

Since its inception in 2015, the SGCI has been strengthening the capacities of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in sub-Saharan Africa. These efforts support research, innovation, and evidence-based policies that drive economic and social development.

The SGCI Annual Report 2023 shares results achieved between July 2022 and October 2023. It outlines the collective progress made by all SGCI partnerships during this period, measured against previously agreed objectives. The report also draws on a shared SGCI logical framework, which is included in the publication.

Responding to Strategic Challenges

The ongoing second phase of the Initiative (SGCI-2) is backed by renewed partnerships with FCDO, IDRC, Norad, Sida, NRF, and DFG.

SGCI-2 supports Science Granting Councils from 17 countries through six SGCI thematic areas. These thematic areas respond to challenges identified in a 2014 scoping study, subsequent political economy analyses, and various stakeholder consultations.

The main challenges included:

• Limited capacity to use evidence for policy and decision-making
• Limited research management capacities
• Unsustainable funding for research
• Poor application of knowledge for economic and social use
• Poor coordination with other agencies

Tracking Progress and Delivering Results

As SGCI enters a critical phase in its development, the SGCI Annual Report 2023 demonstrates how shared vision, strategic partnerships, and local leadership are driving real impact across Africa’s STI landscape.