Across sub-Saharan Africa, Science Granting Councils (SGCs) are increasingly expected to do more than fund research — they are expected to lead. Governments look to them for evidence-based advice, ministries expect coordinated STI strategy, and regional bodies expect alignment with continental frameworks like STISA-2034. Yet many Councils still lack the systems, capacity, and institutional standing to play that role consistently.
This project, delivered under the third phase of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI-3), sets out to close that gap. Led by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), the consortium brings together Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII), and the University of Johannesburg (UJ), working alongside Policy Hub partners AUDA-NEPAD and the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST).
Over four years (July 2026 – June 2030), and with funding of CAD 2,000,000 from IDRC, Wellcome, FCDO, Norad, Sida and DFG, the project works directly with Councils and STI-mandated ministries and agencies to:
- Align national policy with STISA-2034 — supporting Councils to develop, review, and strengthen STI policies and implementation plans so they speak the same language as the continental strategy.
- Institutionalize the use of evidence — helping Councils build and operationalize Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) frameworks, and supporting them to assess the impact of the research and innovation they fund.
- Build policy leadership capacity — facilitating national policy dialogues, multi-stakeholder engagements, and peer learning so Councils can engage with confidence and document the influence they’re having.
- Strengthen data governance — training Councils to manage STI data as a strategic asset, and producing cross-country synthesis reports that track progress against STISA-2034.
- Scale proven tools — promoting the uptake of existing toolkits, implementation guides, and MEL templates, rather than reinventing them for each country.
Delivery combines tailored technical support, national and regional consultants, an STI Policy Helpdesk for on-demand advice, and peer-to-peer mentorship between Councils — recognizing that institutional change sticks best when it’s built with, not just for, the people who have to sustain it.
The project contributes directly to SGCI-3’s Outcome 2: enhanced strategic leadership and STI policy influence by Councils — with the ultimate aim of stronger, evidence-driven STI systems that support sustainable development across sub-Saharan Africa.
What this project will deliver:
- At least 6 Councils supported to develop or strengthen STI policies aligned with STISA-2034
- At least 15 Councils supported on MEL frameworks and impact assessment
- 24 national STI policy dialogues and multi-stakeholder engagements facilitated
- At least 15 Councils supported to strengthen data governance systems
- 12 documented cases of policy influence
Project Contacts
- African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) | Project Email: stipolicychampions@acts-net.org
- Dr. Agnes Lutomiah, | African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) | Email: A.Lutomiah@acts-net.org
- Prof. Nouhou Diaby | Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) | Email: nouhou.diaby@ucad.edu.sn
- Dr. Il-haam Petersen | The Human Sciences Research Council – Equitable Education and Economies (HSRC-EEE) | Email: ipetersen@hsrc.ac.za
