Support for research call management in Botswana

 

The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) is a multi-donor initiative developed jointly by IDRC, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, and South Africa’s National Research Foundation. SGCI aims to strengthen the capacities of science granting councils to support research and evidence-based policies that contribute to economic and social development; design and monitor research programs and formulate and implement policies based on the use of robust science, technology, and innovation indicators; support knowledge transfer to the private sector; and establish partnerships among councils and with other science system stakeholders.

Since its inception in 2015, SGCI has been strengthening the capacities of science granting councils in 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative’s activities include training, regional exchanges and forums, online training, on-site coaching, and collaborative research. More effective science granting councils are expected to strengthen national science, technology, and innovation systems and ultimately promote nationally led research that contributes to development in participating countries.

Two new cross-cutting dimensions, namely research excellence and gender equality and inclusivity, have recently been added to the Initiative. As part of the SGCI’s second phase, funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and IDRC will provide grants to each council, enabling them to manage research competitions and related activities in areas aligned with their national research agendas.

The purpose of this grant is to support the Botswana Innovation Hub to collaborate with the Department of Research, Science and Technology of Botswana, as well as the Research Council of Zimbabwe, to implement joint research projects in the area of mineral technology. The grant will support several projects designed to provide added value to the mining sector, where there is a high dependence on low-value mineral extraction activities. These projects will also focus on developing human capacity in the sector. More broadly, the grant will support organizational capacity building at the Botswana Innovation Hub, particularly in terms of collaboration with the Department of Research, Science and Technology, and will enhance bilateral research collaboration between Botswana and Zimbabwe.