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 supported 17 councils in sub-Saharan Africa in strengthening research management, fostering regional collaboration, and promoting gender equality and inclusion.

This year’s Forum marks a milestone gathering, inviting participants to reflect on lessons learned over the past decade, share stories of change, and explore new strategies to mobilise funding, deepen partnerships, and align more closely with continental priorities.

Day two marked the official opening of the Forum. Moderated by Ibrahim Asante, the session began with opening remarks from Santiago Alba-Corral, vice president of Programs and Partnerships at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), who reaffirmed IDRC’s commitment to SGCI as a driver of science-led development in Africa.

He also welcomed Angola and Togo as the newest members of the Initiative.

Martin Ongol of the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology and Abigail Opoku Mensah of the Ghana National Research Fund reflected on the role SGCI has played in strengthening national councils and enhancing their ability to support research and innovation.

A keynote address by Yusif Sulemana, Ghana’s deputy minister for Lands and Natural Resources, highlighted the critical role of science, innovation, and partnerships in advancing Africa’s development agenda. His remarks set the tone for a day of rich discussions and knowledge exchange.

Participants engaged in interactive sessions exploring lessons from the second phase of SGCI, with councils sharing experiences on building effective public-private partnerships, mainstreaming gender equality and inclusivity, digitalising grants management systems, strengthening research excellence and financial practices, and establishing new councils.

The sessions underscored the progress made by councils in improving systems and practices, while also pointing to areas where continued collaboration and investment are required.

In a plenary led by Rebecca Hanlin of the University of Johannesburg, delegates identified three key systemic lessons emerging from SGCI-2, reflecting on the areas where councils have collectively advanced and where further progress is needed.

The day closed with a vibrant poster exhibition where councils and technical agencies presented their stories of change, creating opportunities for peer learning, networking, and exchange. The Forum ended with deep resolve to strengthen partnerships for the next steps for SGCI.

This summary draws on coverage compiled by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) during the Forum.

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Published on 23 September 2025