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:
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
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.