Establishing Funding Agencies

Supporting frameworks for the establishment of new funding agencies in West Africa

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) works with national funding agencies to strengthen research and innovation (R&I) systems in West Africa. With support from SGCI, countries in West Africa have established funding agencies that disburse funds for research and innovation, and support policy formulation. In several countries, these functions were previously performed by Departments/special Units within Government Ministries.

So far, SGCI support has focused on enhancing the performance of existing agencies in Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire. SGCI also facilitated the development of institutional frameworks to support the establishment of new funding agencies in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia.

This work contributes to building robust institutions that will support long-term, sustainable development. By supporting the creation of effective R&I funding mechanisms, SGCI has helped position these agencies to drive scientific progress, stimulate innovation, and contribute to socio-economic development throughout the region.

We partner with funding agencies to:

• Establish new funding agencies in countries where they did not exist to support local research and development initiatives, and foster innovation. The new agencies play a crucial role in bridging the gap between government policies and the needs of the scientific and entrepreneurial communities, ensuring sustainable growth and development.
• Support new agencies to develop frameworks for research and innovation funding. These frameworks include guidelines for grant applications, and mechanisms for monitoring and assessing the impact of funded projects. By providing structured support, these agencies help ensure that funding is allocated efficiently and effectively.
• Improve research and innovation funding by supporting agencies to review and strengthen national policies and funding systems.
• Strengthen the capacities of funding agencies by adopting best practices and facilitating peer to peer learning from established Science Granting Councils across Africa.

Through this initiative, SGCI has supported participating funding agencies in building sustainable R&I ecosystems in West Africa.

By strengthening their capacities and encouraging collaboration, SGCI advances scientific research, and supports innovation and socio-economic development across the region.