Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI)

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ABOUT THE Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI)

The Science Granting Councils Initiative(SGCI) in sub-Saharan Africa  is a 5-year Initiative which aims to strengthen the capacities of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in sub-Saharan Africa in order to support research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to economic and social development.

The objectives of this Initiative are to strengthen the ability of Councils to:

  1. Manage research;
  2. Design and monitor research programmes based on the use of robust science, technology and innovation (STI) indicators;
  3. Support knowledge exchange with the private sector; and
  4. Eestablish partnerships between Councils and other science system actors.

The Initiative is jointly funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF).

The SGCI in partnership with the African Union Commission and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUC/NEPAD) convenes Annual Forums (AFs) that brings heads of Councils and other science actors in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to meet annually to share evidence, experiences and good practices, and to deliberate and develop interventions in strategic areas of interest.

The forums are of strategic importance to the SGCI as they present a unique opportunity for the SGCI

  • To support and strengthen the voices and views of participating Councils;
  • Contribute to key STI policy debates at regional and continental levels that go beyond its four key objectives;
  • Contribute to the implementation of the African Union Commission’s (AUC) Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024);
  • Contribute to new knowledge as a global “public goods” by commissioning state-of-the-art papers on key STI themes in order to facilitate sharing of lessons and “good practices” from across the world;
  • Provide a platform for sharing information, experiences and lessons amongst participating Councils and with other STI system actors; and
  • Showcase its work to country representatives of the SGCI’s funders, heads of government missions of funding countries, and other interested parties.

The SGCI currently collaborates with 15 sub-Saharan Africa countries .

SGCI member countries

Botswana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Due to their strategic nature, the forums are planned to be held alongside other major events on the continent such as the Global Research Council (GRC) events. This arrangement maximises the opportunity for the Council staff to interact with other key stakeholders such as universities, the private sector, and policymakers.