Voices of SGCI: Council leaders on the direction and ambition of SGCI 3

African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Week in Addis Ababa, 2026

At the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Week in Addis Ababa, earlier this month, leaders of science granting councils reflected on what SGCI Phase 3 represents for Africa’s science and innovation systems. From ownership and alignment to stewardship and sustainability, here are their voices on what fundamentally changes with SGCI 3 and why this…

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One of SGCI’s first members, Malawi, is reaping the rewards

In this interview, Gift Kadzamira, Director-General of Malawi’s National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), outlines the substantial benefits the country’s research ecosystem has gained through the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI). As an early SGCI member since 2015, Malawi has experienced notable growth and transformation. The initiative has provided essential training that has enhanced…

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SGCI is Strengthening Research Systems in Africa: A Conversation with Cephas Adjei Mensah, Ghana

Cephas Adjei Mensah, Director for Research, Statistics, and Information Management at Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI)

African countries are increasingly leveraging regional collaboration to strengthen their research systems and drive socio-economic progress, inspiring hope for the future of the African science community. In an exclusive video interview, Cephas Adjei Mensah, Director for Research, Statistics, and Information Management at Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), discusses how Ghana and…

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What it takes to build adaptive and resilient Councils: A Conversation with Anicia Peters, Namibia

Professor Anicia Peters, CEO of the National Commission on Research Science and Technology in Namibia was interviewed during the 2024 Annual African Science Granting Councils Meeting in Gaborone, Botswana. Professor Anicia Peters, CEO of the National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology (NCRST) in Namibia, underscores the importance of flexible research funding that adapts to…

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