African Science Granting Councils

Okunade Samuel, Teboho Moja

Description

This book delves into the research-policy nexus as it relates to development in Africa. It does so by examining four country-cases - Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya and Zambia - while referring to South Africa as a possible exemplar case.

The book reaffirms that the majority of governments in Africa spend less than one per cent of their GDP on research and development (R&D) despite the commitment to raise their research funding levels contained in the Lagos Plan of Action (1980). Hence, reliance on external funding for research persists on the continent.

To manage research engagements and public funds, Science Granting Councils (SGCs) have been established. These institutions are held accountable for how public funds are spent and how the research they fund contributes to the advancement of society.

To-date, the SGCs and researchers have demonstrated in various ways how funded research contributes to the advancement of society. However, there appear to be differences in opinion amongst key stakeholders in terms of what constitutes research priorities as well as expectations in terms of the returns on research investments made.

This book brings to the fore the importance of research and its outcome on societal development, and reveals the stake that African governments hold in the process. The book encourages African governments to show greater commitment to providing funding for research on the continent.

This is critical if governments are to assume a lead role in the continent's development agenda. It would also set the stage for partnerships with other stakeholders, including industry and funding organisations. Researchers are also encouraged to work closely with the SGCs to ensure the valorisation of research products for societal benefit. This has a potential to unlock more funding for research in Africa which, in turn, would drive the development of the continent.

Sujets

• Social Science
• Sociologie, société et politique

Informations

• Publié par: African Minds
• Date de parution: 23 janvier 2024
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781928502807
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 13 Mo

Extrait

African ScienceGranting Councils TowardsSustainableDevelopmentinAfrica

Teboho Moja and Samuel Kehinde Okunade

Afrîcan Scîence Granîng Councîs

Towards Susaînabe Deveopmen în Afrîca

Teboho Moja and Samuel Kehînde Okunade

AFRICAN MINDS

Published in 2023 by African Minds 4 Eccleston Place, Somerset West, 7130, Cape Town, South Africa [e-mail] www.africanminds.org.za

2023 African Minds

All contents of this document, unless specied otherwise, are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors. When quoting from any of the chapters, readers are requested to acknowledge all of the authors.

ISBN (paper): 978-1-928502-79-1 eBook edition: 978-1-928502-80-7 ePub edition: 978-1-928502-81-4

Copies of this book are available for free download at: www.africanminds.org.za

ORDERS: African Minds Email: [e-mail]

To order printed books from outside Africa, please contact: African Books Collective PO Box 721, Oxford OX1 9EN, UK Email: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

Acknowedgemens Lîs of frequeny used acronyms

1

2

3

4

5

v vîî

Knowedge Producîon and Poîcy în Afrîca: An ïnroducîon 1

ThePoîîcsofResearch,KnowedgeProducîonand Poîcy în Perspecîve

CaseSudîesofCounrîesînAfrîca:HîgherEducaîon Sysems and Scîence Granîng Councîs

ASudyofGovernanceandFundîngofAfrîcanScîence Granîng Councîs: Empîrîca Fîndîngs

TowardsaFormîdabeResearchandïnnovaîonBasefor Susaînabe Deveopmen în Afrîca

References Abou he Auhors

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29

77

103

109 121

Acknowledgements

Thîs book îs an oucome of a projec on he sudy of he governance srucure of seeced Scîence Granîng Councîs (SGCs) în Afrîca. The sudy was funded by The Carnegîe Corporaîon of New York. The sudy woud no have been possîbe wîhou he suppor and co- operaîon we receîved from he seeced SGCs – Boswana, Côe d’ïvoîre, Kenya and Zambîa – especîay under he dîicu îmes and chaenges posed by rave resrîcîons due o he Covîd-19 pandemîc. Of îmmense împorance, was he suppor ha we receîved from he Naîona research Foundaîon (NRF) Souh Afrîca from he begînnîng of he projec o îs concusîon. The conrîbuîons made by some îndîvîduas wî no go unacknow- edged. They încude Dr Meody Menz-Coezee (Unîversîy of Preorîa) and Dr Dorohy Ngîa. Fînay, he Unîversîy of Preorîa hrough he Cenre for he Advance- men of Schoarshîp îs deepy apprecîaed for beîevîng în hîs projec and for provîdîng he needed suppor for îs success.

v

KPï NGO NRF R&D PPP RSTï SGC SGCï STï

List of Frequently Used Acronyms

Key Performance ïndîcaors Non-Governmena Organîsaîon Naîona Research Foundaîon Research and deveopmen Pubîc-prîvae parnershîp Research, scîence, echnoogy and înnovaîon Scîence granîng councî Scîence Granîng Coucî ïnîîaîe Scîence, echnoogy and înnovaîon

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1

Knôwégé Pôûctîôn àn Pôîcy în aîcà

an intôûctîôn

Appyîng knowedge generaed hrough research o sove socîea h probems gaîned more racîon foowîng he renaîssance perîod (14 o h 17 cenury) and has become îndîspensabe for some socîeîes (Konîg, 2017). Asîde from he învenîon, înnovaîon, and deveopmen ha comes wîh he scîenîIc knowedge generaed hrough research, hîs knowedge îs fas becomîng he foundaîon upon whîch governmens formuae and împemen poîcîes(Baîey,2010; Koenîg, 2005; Konîg, 2017). The research–poîcy nexusîs a opîc of îneres amongs schoars and governmens. Many governmens– for exampe, he Unîed Saes (US) and hose în he European Unîon – are încreasîngy usîng research producs and knowedge produced o frame poîcy (Guckman, 2013; Nuey e a., 2002; Soare, 2013; Naîona Research Councî, 2008). Knowedge produced hrough research has he poenîa o înluence poîcy decîsîons because î provîdes empîrîcaknowedge based on sudîes and observabe rends. These scîenîIcay generaed însîghs enabe predîcîons regardîng he rajecorîes of socîea srenghs,

1