Building stronger science systems: SGCI’s third phase accelerates Africa-led research
The investment will support the implementation of the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034) and will be delivered through the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), a partnership led by Science Granting Councils from 20 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
This international contribution was announced ahead of the African Union (AU) summit of heads of state to be held at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2026. It builds on a collective pledge made by SGCI member councils in September 2025 to work with the AU to strengthen the continent’s science, technology and innovation systems and drive sustainable development.
This new support responds to Africa’s urgent need for stronger science systems to address challenges such as climate change, health threats, food insecurity and rapid technological advances. Science Granting Councils play a critical intermediary role in these systems by funding, managing and translating research and innovation into policy and practice. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, national councils face interconnected challenges and, as a result, African research and innovation remain underutilized as drivers of sustainable development.
Starting in March 2015, two successive five-year phases of the initiative (SGCI-1 and SGCI-2) have addressed systemic constraints by co-investing in local research projects and strengthening councils as institutions. SGCI has helped national science councils strengthen their key organizational capabilities, improve the design and management of research calls, enhance research and innovation governance and advance evidence‑informed policymaking, strategic communications and knowledge uptake. It has also worked with councils to mainstream gender equality and inclusion, enabling public‑private partnerships and commercialization and supporting the creation of new councils.
Running from 2026 to 2030, the newly launched third phase (SGCI-3) will expand Africa‑led research, strengthen national and regional science, technology and innovation policy engagement and build long‑term institutional capabilities. A new SGCI Alliance will enhance African leadership in research priority‑setting and STISA‑2034 implementation, with multi-country research calls expected later this year.
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