SGCI News
Africa’s space sector, while valued at US$22.64 billion in 2024, is still in its early stages—but scientists say it holds significant promise for addressing some of the continent’s development issues….
Africa’s space sector, while valued at US$22.64 billion in 2024, is still in its early stages—but scientists say it holds significant promise for addressing some of the continent’s development issues.
In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki explores how space research and innovation are being used across the continent.
Mary Makuate, a researcher at Cameroon’s Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, shares insights from her experience using satellite data to develop digital maps for the humanitarian response to the 2023 earthquake in Morocco.
Susan Murabana, CEO of The Travelling Telescope Africa Ltd, talks about her efforts to bring astronomy to underserved Kenyan communities.
Her mobile telescope initiative introduces students and local residents to space, aiming to spark interest in science and technology.
And Daniel Okoh, a research scientist at Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency, says Africa must strengthen its own space capabilities.
He tells us how global satellite models often underrepresent the continent, due to a lack of accurate local data, and calls for greater investment in homegrown technologies.
————————————————————————————————————
This podcast was supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of 18 public science funding agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net
Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station.
Related News
Namibia launches BOOSTUP programme to bridge innovation gaps
Many promising technology-driven ideas struggle to progress beyond the concept stage due to limited access to early-stage support and mentorship. These challenges highlight the need for targeted interventions that could transform innovative ideas into viable and scalable solutions. It is against this backdrop that the…
Kenya’s postgraduate research grants
The National Research Fund (NRF), Kenya, invites applications for postgraduate research grants for the 2025/2026 financial year. This national research call is a strategic intervention to strengthen Kenya’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem by supporting high-quality postgraduate research that drives innovation, informs evidence-based policymaking,…
The FONSTI mag: A new era for science storytelling in Côte d’Ivoire
Effective research communication is central to ensuring that science informs policy, reaches communities, and inspires the next generation of scientists. Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), members are increasingly experimenting with creative, people-centred ways of making research more visible, accessible, and relevant beyond academic circles and…
SGCI funded projects
Rwanda’s integrated approach to sustainable agriculture and nutrition
Project Titles & Institution Areas of Research Number of Projects being funded Project Duration Grant Amount In-Kind Distribution Council Collaboration with other councils



