Strengthening Partnerships Between Science Granting Councils and the Private Sector in Africa

This report captures a key effort under the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) to improve how research is funded, managed, and evaluated when private sector partnerships are involved. Led by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), in partnership with the African Association of Universities (AAU) and others, the project ran from March 2019 to February 2020.

Why Private Sector Partnerships Matter

Science Granting Councils (SGCs) play a vital role in national development. For example, they fund research, shape innovation policies, and connect scientists with real-world needs. However, they face several challenges, such as weak monitoring systems, unclear roles, and limited collaboration with private sector actors.

To address these issues, the project focused on strengthening monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems and building stronger links between SGCs and the private sector.

What Was Done

The project achieved several important milestones:

• MEL training workshops supported 8 SGCs in creating customised MEL frameworks.
• Country visits to Kenya, Botswana, Senegal, and others helped SGCs improve their systems with expert support.
• Digitisation needs were assessed, and a special forum session addressed how to digitise grant management tools.
• Shared learning and capacity building encouraged research collaboration.

Key Lessons and Recommendations

The report highlights several lessons:

• MEL systems must be tailored to each SGC’s role and context.
• Francophone SGCs benefit more from French-speaking experts.
• Public-private partnerships are essential to develop sustainable research ecosystems.

As a result, the report recommends a more collaborative implementation approach, improved funding models, and enhanced integration between IT and MEL teams.