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Uganda and African countries at large have been urged to set their own agenda for research on science, technology and innovation. 

Experts say much of the research work being done in Africa is done by researchers from out of Africa. The research is also funded by foreign agencies that have their own agenda that may not be relevant to the local context. 

Dr Kjerts Thorkildsen, the senior advisor for higher education and research at the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), noted that the meeting of research councils in Africa can help increase research, their quality and production. 

Thorkildsen made the remarks on Monday, June 19, during the opening of the one-week regional workshop for science councils and funds from Sub-Sahara Africa at Speke Resort Munyonyo. 

The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and the Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) are hosting the 2023 Regional Meeting from June 19-23 under the theme The Role of Science Granting Councils in Africa’s Development. 

“Sub-Sahara Africa ranks low in the world in scientific research. Most research about Africa is produced by researchers based in Europe and America and not Africa. They are published overseas, not within Africa,” Thorkildsen said. 

She explained that the funding model drives the nature of the research in Africa. 

“External funding comes with external priorities defined by these donors. With donor and foreign funding models being dominant in Africa, Africans are not in the driving seat for research,” Thorkildsen said. 

Consequently, the outcomes of some of the research is not relevant to Africa. Thorkildsen emphasized that research councils are critical in driving relevant research in Africa. She noted that lately nine research projects were funded by 15 research councils in Africa; they were aligned with African priorities and supported by NORAD. 

“One of our (NORAD) priorities is to promote Africa agenda setting. Africa has to invest more in their agenda setting and fund more of their research,” Thorkildse added. 

Martin Ongol, the acting executive secretary at the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology, said the meeting underlines the need to drive research and evidence-based policy-making that contribute to economic and social development. 

Ongol said that through research Uganda has been able to develop products from cocoa such as chocolates and lotions. He said that through research value addition can be made for similar products like coffee among others. 

“We are collectively working towards transforming Africa through science, technology and innovation. May this meeting be a catalyst for inspiration, collaboration, and transformative change,” Ongol said. 

Dr Ellie Osir, the senior program specialist at International Development Research Centre (IDRC), called for strong science, technology and innovation systems and actors to undertake research and manage development goals. 

Osir explained that IDRC is an institution for Canada’s foreign affairs and development efforts. IDRC funds high-quality research in developing countries and works with other funders. 

IDRC supports the SCGI’s goal of strengthening science systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

“The meeting enables sharing of best practices among science councils. Some councils have provided technical support to other councils through peer-to-peer learning. UNSCT has been helping other councils develop online systems,” Osir said. 

Dr Dorothy Ngila, the director of strategic partnerships National Research Foundation of South Africa said researchers in Africa have to tell the impact of the SGCI. 

Ngila said that research councils and institutions facilitate research in their countries and have to work with SGCI. She urged research councils to sign MOUs with each other to take up various research partnerships that are available. 

Dr Annette Quattara, an assistant of the executive secretary of the National Fund for Science, Technology and Innovation (FONSTI) from Ivory Coast while speaking on half of the research councils from Sub-Saharan Africa said the aim of the meeting is to promote research and innovation. 

“The meeting enables us to exchange ideas. There are different councils working together despite language differences. We need to collaborate to get good projects for the sustainable development of our states,” Quattara said. 

Dr Slyvance Okoth, executive secretary of the East African Science and Technology Commission, explained that the commission was one of the initiatives of EAC to manage science, technology and innovation. He said that the EAC works closely with SGCI. “We have to undertake research and translate it to improve the lives of East Africans,” Okoth said. 

The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa was launched in April 2015 to strengthen the capacities of councils in 17 African countries in order to support research and evidence-based policies that can contribute to economic and social development.