Accra: Science Granting Councils across Africa are transitioning from merely funding research to playing an active role in shaping both national and continental policy through evidence, accountability, innovation, and inclusion. This strategic shift is critical to ensuring that science and technology are at the forefront of Africa's development agenda, enabling Councils to significantly impact policies, foster innovation, and provide tangible benefits to society.
According to Ghana News Agency, these goals were underscored during a panel discussion at the 2025 Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Forum in Accra. The forum convened representatives from 17 councils, international funders, and African Union institutions to review lessons learned over the past decade and finalize plans for the initiative's next phase.
Launched in 2015, the SGCI is supported by partners such as the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the German Research Foundation (DFG), and South Africa's National Research Foundation (NRF). The initiative's first two phases (2015-2025) focused on strengthening African councils in research management, policy engagement, gender equality, and regional collaboration.
The upcoming third phase (2026-2030) will prioritize delivering results, influencing policy, and enhancing African ownership, in alignment with the African Union's Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034).
Ms. Esperance Munganyinka, Head of the National Research and Innovation Fund at Rwanda's National Council for Science and Technology, highlighted Rwanda's approach to policy as a continuous cycle of design, implementation, monitoring, and revision. Rwanda revised its Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy in 2020, committing over eight million dollars to 126 projects, with 80% funded by the government. The revised policy focuses on six priority areas: food and security, water and infrastructure, health, energy, ICT, and climate change.
Ms. Neema Tindamanyire from Tanzania's Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) shared that their Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning framework has assessed over 400 projects. The assessments led to reforms, including more flexible reporting schedules and targeted calls for environmental research, supported by the World Bank.
Ms. Lesego M. Thamae of Botswana's Ministry of Communication and Innovation discussed their adoption of digital solutions, such as the 2023 introduction of a Research Information Management System to coordinate funding applications and track research across ministries. The system aims to improve accountability and transparency, requiring researchers to register before accessing grants.
C´te d'Ivoire's National Research and Innovation Fund (FONSTI) has implemented measures requiring researchers to submit policy briefs at the conclusion of their projects, ensuring research findings reach decision-makers. Mr. Armand Coulibaly, Administrative and Finance Director of FONSTI, emphasized the training of researchers in intellectual property protection to bolster commercialization.
