AAS launches new strategy to boost research management in Africa

Mar 06, 2019

According to the initiators, the programme will respond to the critical gaps that were identified in building the continent’s research and development ecosystems which support a vibrant research culture and leadership.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
 
 A new research programme was recently announced in Nairobi, Kenya to strengthen institutional research management and address very critical gaps therein.
 
The programme dubbed Research Management Programme in Africa (ReMPro Africa) is a brain child of The African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
 
It was unveiled at an inaugural global stakeholders' workshop that attracted research management professionals, researchers, institutional leaders and funders. It aims at maximising time spent on research and innovation.
 
According to the initiators, the programme will respond to the critical gaps that were identified in building the continent's research and development ecosystems which support a vibrant research culture and leadership.
 
The overall goal of ReMPro Africa is to address systemic level challenges in African institutions to create and sustain an enabling research environment that can enhance research.
 
Professor Tom Kariuki, the AAS Programmes Director, said  majority of African researchers often spend more than 80% of their time on routine administration and dedicate little time for research.
 
"This can threaten delivery, integrity and quality of research, which is why specialist research management services are needed to free up their time for research," he noted.
 
He explained that the ReMPro Africa strategy was designed following a series of close consultation with different stakeholders.
 
The AAS and its partners identified research management as a critical gap that is being addressed as one of the four strategic priorities for the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA).
 
AESA is an agenda-setting and funding platform created by the Academy and the African Union Development Agency.
 
Allen Mukhwana, who leads ReMPro Africa, said  creating conducive environments in Africa is essential to maximise research output and impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 
She said the programme will focus on four major themes namely, embracing leadership, sustainable funding mechanism, common standards and best practices and supporting career development and training.
 
However, the ongoing global experts' workshop in Nairobi will accelerate the implementation of the programme by facilitating the development of global research management standards.
 
ReMPRO Africa is backed by Wellcome, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Royal Society, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
 
It is expected to influence more funding for research management to ensure a long-term approach to transforming the research field on a continent especially where a ‘stop-go' approach to research management has reflected the priorities of national governments and international funders. 
 
According to Dr Simon Kay, the Head of International Operations and Partnerships at Wellcome, the success in all organisations is being supported by strong governance and management. 
 
Through the support of Wellcome and other funders for ReMPro Africa, Kay believes that not only will institutional research management systems be strengthened. But more importantly, the staff leading these vital services will see some of the world's biggest funders rally behind them to acknowledge their pivotal role in a productive research system.
 
In his speech, Professor Andrew Thompson, UKRI Executive Champion for International, said that developing efficient research systems is a crucial, capacity-building component to ensure international development research delivers sustainable solutions for a fairer, healthier and more prosperous future for all.
 
"That's why UK Research and Innovation is delighted to be supporting the African Academy of Sciences in its ambitious programme to transform research systems in Africa," he said.
 
Thompson said this programme will enhance the impact of current Global Challenges Research Fund investments and promote further collaboration between UK and African universities as we all work together to address the greatest challenges facing the world today.
 
 
Researchers' Grant
In February 2018, African Academy of Sciences (AAS) awarded four leading researchers in Africa, including a Ugandan, more than 40 billion shillings ($11M) to support their cutting age research projects in the health field.
 
They included Dr. Enoch Matovu (Uganda), Dr. Alfred Amambua-Ngwa (Gambia), Dr. Abraham Aseffa (Ethiopia) and Prof. Ambroise Wonkam (South Africa).
 
Matovu received over 9.8 million shillings (USD2.7 million) to support genomics research aimed to tackle diseases endemic to Africa.
 
Likewise, Dr. Amambua-Ngwa received shs11,329,880,000 (USD3.1M), Dr. Aseffa shs10,233,440,000 (USD2.8M) and Prof. Wonkam shs7,554,471,600 (USD2.067M).
 
According to Deborah-Fay Ndlovu, the AAS Communications Officer, the projects are will take course throughout 2022. The four-year programmes are to promote collaboration through the Human Hereditary and Health in Africa (H3Africa).
 
Matovu's genomics research project further aims to unravel the genetic basis of asymptomatic carriers (producing or showing no symptoms) of sleeping sickness and high bilharzia worm burdens for a rationalised and cost-effective intervention through national control programmes. 
 
World Health Organisation (WHO) defines genomics as the study of genes and their functions, and related techniques.
 
Genomics has helped provide insight into the understanding of diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, which are influenced by genetic and environmental factors, thereby offering insights for developing new diagnostic methods, therapies and treatments.
 
"It is encouraging to see H3Africa funding African scientists who best understand local problems to provide solutions especially for diseases that don't receive global attention yet they are posing a challenge to communities such as bilharzia and sleeping sickness," Matovu said.
 
He further noted that his research is intended for training skilled researchers to clearly understand these diseases for a rationalised approach towards eliminating them from the public.
 
Grants details
Ndlovu explained that in Uganda, the grant will help to identify populations that are carriers of sleeping sickness and bilharzia for effective intervention through national control programmes. This will be done at Makerere University.
 
At the University of Cape Town, South Africa, it will support research to Identify genes causing or associated with hearing impairment.
 
For Gambia, it will focus on studying how genetic differences in humans and malaria parasites affect the progress of disease in individuals and communities in different environments
 
In Ethiopia, it will focus on understanding how genetic diversity in both pathogens and human populations determines who gets tuberculosis with the aim of developing new treatments and vaccines.

 

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