Strengthening Africa’s Science Systems for Future Crises

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed major weaknesses in how African science systems respond to emergencies. To help address these challenges, the Covid-19 Africa Rapid Grant Fund (CARGF) was created in 2020, supporting 73 projects across 17 countries, focusing on strengthening Africa’s science systems. Lessons from this programme have now been captured in a new policy guideline to better prepare Science Granting Councils (SGCs) for future crises.

What the CARGF Achieved

The fund helped to:

• Support vital Covid-19 research and science communication efforts
• Strengthen Africa’s collective science response
• Encourage new collaborations across the continent and globally

Yet, the initiative also revealed deep challenges—limited resources, rigid systems, weak coordination, and inequality in access to support.

Key Lessons and Values

The guideline identifies several core principles that should guide future action:

• Resilience: Build systems that can adapt and respond quickly
• Equity: Ensure inclusion of marginalised groups
• Innovation: Encourage creative, flexible problem-solving
• Coordination: Foster stronger partnerships across sectors and countries
• Human-centred approaches: Prioritise communication, trust, and well-being

Action Points for SGCs

To strengthen preparedness, the guideline recommends:

1. Build Organisational Resilience

• Develop agility and risk management skills
• Train leadership in adaptive management
• Support staff with remote work tools and flexible systems

2. Plan Ahead

• Create an emergency response strategy and team
• Set aside funds and draft flexible funding models
• Map roles and processes in advance

3. Improve Grant Processes

• Use automated and simplified grant systems
• Pre-load institutions into databases for faster disbursement
• Make reviews and project timelines more flexible during emergencies

4. Strengthen Research Institutions

• Train grant officers and support early-career researchers
• Establish research offices in universities
• Collaborate with regional research management bodies

5. Foster Ongoing Partnerships

• Promote joint learning and shared resources
• Address language and system differences for smoother collaboration

Strengthening Africa’s Science Systems

African SGCs have a crucial role in ensuring the continent’s science systems are crisis-ready. By embedding these lessons, values and actions into their core operations, they can help transform emergency challenges into opportunities for lasting impact.