By Peter Ongalo and Nicholas Odongo
Banjul, The Gambia — “We are not inventing anything. We are just sharing lessons that we have gathered from different parts of the continent,” Dr. Nicholas Odongo said, addressing participants at a three-day Capacity Strengthening Workshop on Promoting Efficiency and Effectiveness in Research and Innovation Funding, held from 4–6 August 2026 at the NRIF Complex on the OIC Highway, Bijilo.
Earlier this month, a team from the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), led by Dr. Odongo and comprising Dr. Kevin Ouko and Dr. Eunice Monyenye Omwoyo, travelled to Banjul at the invitation of the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) of The Gambia. The delegation joined NRIF staff, researchers, university representatives, innovation hubs, government ministries, development partners, civil society and the media for a workshop designed to strengthen the foundations of research and innovation financing in the country.
The workshop was convened by NRIF in collaboration with ACTS, with funding from the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI). It brought together 53 participants drawn from institutions including the University of The Gambia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), the Ministry of Health, innovation hubs such as Jokkolabs and the Agro Incubator Hub, and several early-career researchers, with at least 30 percent of participants being women.
Highlights from the workshop
Proceedings opened with welcoming remarks from Professor Momodou Sallah, Executive Director of NRIF, followed by a statement on behalf of ACTS and SGCI from Dr. Odongo, and a keynote address from Professor Pierre Gomez, Honourable Minister of MoHERST.
Over the three days, sessions led by the ACTS team and NRIF technical staff covered a Research and Innovation Framework (RIF) and research synthesis, NRIF’s funding calls and evaluation mechanisms, Good Financial Grants Practice (GFGP) standards, and grants management frameworks, lessons and best practices drawn from the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) — including budgeting and work-plan development, digital and online grants management systems, co-funding arrangements, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), and project sustainability. Additional sessions addressed research translation and knowledge management, led by NRIF’s Dr. Lamin Darboe and Sheikh Tijan Njie, respectively.
Established in 2025 by an Act of Parliament, NRIF is a young institution, but one that participants and organisers alike described as forward-looking. Beyond its core funding windows, the Fund has also moved to anchor its long-term sustainability through an endowment fund — a step ACTS described as an impressive and motivating example of innovative thinking in science financing on the continent.
The workshop’s objectives were to strengthen national capacity in research and innovation funding and grants management, promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing among key ecosystem stakeholders, enhance the transparency and impact of research investment in The Gambia, and position NRIF as the country’s leading institution for coordinating research and innovation financing.
Closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Odongo and Professor Sallah, who reiterated that strengthening research funding requires investment not only in money, but in people, systems and institutions. Organisers noted that a report capturing recommendations and action points, along with policy briefs, would follow to guide next steps for NRIF and its partners.
The workshop received coverage from several Gambian media outlets, including The Voice Gambia, The Point Newspaper, and Tee Trend Media, reflecting strong public interest in the country’s evolving research and innovation funding architecture.
Media Features
- The Voice – Gambia – News Article: NRIF Holds Three-day Workshop On Research Funding and Grants Management: https://www.voicegambia.com/nrif-holds-three-day-workshop-on-research-funding-and-grants-management/
- The Point Newspaper – News Article: NRIF pushes for stronger research system to drive Gambia’s development: https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/national-news/nrif-pushes-for-stronger-research-system-to-drive-gambias-development
- Tee Trend Media – Facebook Post: The National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF), in collaboration with the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), has commenced a three-day Capacity Strengthening Workshop on Promoting Efficiency and Effectiveness in Research and Innovation Funding in The Gambia. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Hx8ze96Jf/
- Tee Trend Media – Facebook Video: National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) Promotes Efficiency and Effectiveness in Research and Innovation Funding in The Gambia.#NRIF#MoHERST:https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1876nqB37x/
- Tee Trend Media –TikTok Video: National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) Promotes Efficiency and Effectiveness in Research and Innovation Funding in The Gambia. https://www.tiktok.com/@tee.trend.media/video/7670553415591726358?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
