Supporting STISA 2034: SGCI Multilateral Research Call advancing Africa’s Science, Technology and Innovation priorities

Scope

The SGCI Multilateral Research Call in support of STISA-2034 will fund collaborative, multi-country research projects that advance Africa’s science, technology and innovation priorities and contribute to sustainable development outcomes across the continent.  

The call supports research aligned with five thematic streams:   

• Agriculture 
• Health 
• Artificial intelligence and Digital technologies
• Energy 
• Environment 

Through this call, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) seeks to: 

• Support high-quality research that addresses regional development challenges 
• Strengthen cross-border partnership 
• Promote the use of evidence in policy and practice 

Consortia must include institutions from multiple participating SGCI countries and demonstrate how their proposed research contributes to national and continental priorities.  

The call aims to strengthen Africa’s science, technology and innovation ecosystem while generating knowledge and innovations that support inclusive and sustainable development. 

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by a consortium consisting of one lead applicant organization and two to four co-applicant organizations from participating SGCI countries.  
 
All applicant organizations must: 

• Be eligible institution types 
• Nominate a full-time principal investigator 
• Demonstrate the capacity to manage research funding 
• Propose research that aligns with at least one of the call’s thematic streams and research avenues 

More details

For more information, please read the detailed call for proposals document and frequently asked questions.  

The Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034) is the African Union’s continental framework for driving socio-economic transformation through science, technology, and innovation (STI). STISA-2034 positions STI as a key driver of Africa’s response to global challenges such as: 

• Climate change 
• Pandemics 
• Food insecurity 
• Energy access 
• Economic shocks 

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) is a continental platform of 20 national Science Granting Councils that support research and innovation aligned with national and regional development priorities. Through this call, SGCI is supporting collaborative research that contributes to the implementation of STISA-2034 across five priority thematic streams: Agriculture, Health, Artificial Intelligence, Energy, and Environment. 

Funded by: 

• Participating African Science Granting Councils 
• The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) 
• The Government of Norway, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 
• Wellcome  

The call seeks to generate high-quality, policy-relevant research, strengthen regional partnerships, and accelerate the uptake of research evidence to support inclusive and sustainable development across Africa 

How to apply

To submit an Expression of Interest, applicants must complete and submit their application through the SurveyMonkey Apply (SMA) portal. Click the "Get started" button below to access the application portal.