Support for research call management in Zambia

Launched in April 2015, the Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) has been strengthening the capacities of science granting councils (SGCs) as key intermediary actors within national science, technology, and innovation systems. Working with councils in 15 sub-Saharan African countries, the Initiative aims to achieve more effective research management practices; strengthen ability to design and monitor research programs and formulate and implement policies based on robust science, technology, and innovation indicators; increase capacity to manage research competitions and promote knowledge transfer to the private sector; and increase coordination and networking.

The first phase of the SGCI (2015–2020) was jointly funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, IDRC, and South Africa’s National Research Foundation. In July 2018, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and IDRC agreed on a new five-year partnership to deepen and sustain the SGCI. The second phase of SGCI builds on previous achievements by providing research funds to enable the councils to manage research competitions and related activities.

In the context of increasing the ability of the councils to manage research competitions and promote knowledge transfer to the private sector, this project by Zambia’s National Science and Technology Council will support trilateral research calls for projects on renewable energy with Mozambique and Malawi, and bilateral calls for projects on health issues with Mozambique. A third research theme will explore gender dynamics in the science and innovation sector in Zambia.