Management of research and innovation funds by National Research Fund – Mozambique

The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) is a multi-donor Initiative funded by IDRC, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, South Africa’s National Research Foundation, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the German Research Foundation. Since its inception in 2015, SGCI has strengthened the capacities of science granting councils in sub-Saharan African countries to support research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to economic and social development. Specifically, SGCI is strengthening the capacities of councils in managing research, using data and evidence in policy and decision-making, funding research and innovation projects, strategic communications and knowledge translation, and gender equality and inclusivity. As part of the SGCI’s second phase, IDRC and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation agreed on a new partnership to deepen and extend SGCI’s strategic engagements with up to 17 councils over four years (2022–2025) in areas that complement SGCI’s ongoing activities. These areas include supporting the councils to fund and manage research and innovation projects.

The overall goal of this project is to support Mozambique’s National Research Fund (FNI) to manage research calls in priority areas that align with the country’s science, technology and innovation strategy and with FNI’s strategic plan. These areas include agriculture and agro-processing, sustainable agricultural practices, climate-smart technologies and renewable energy. The calls are also expected to strengthen FNI’s capacity to manage research while promoting collaboration with private sector actors and involving women in research and innovation.