Network to accelerate science in Africa launched

By Kiprotich Koros, MESHA Special Correspondent

African science faces a bright future following the formation of a new body to manage and provide funds for research and innovation within the continent.

The Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) has announced 11 programmes to benefit from its USD 70 million fund for research and innovation starting September 2015.

Created with the support of the African Academy of Sciences and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Alliance is charged with promoting science and will lead in the development of an African health, research and innovation strategy according to its Director, Dr. Thomas Kariuki.

“At the moment the African health sciences strategy which ends in 2015 does not have a research and innovation strategy.  AU and NEPAD are leading in the development of another 15-year strategy and AESA is expected to contribute in the development of research and innovation aspects,” he adds. 

One programme, known as Developing Excellence in Leadership Training and Sciences in Africa (DELTAS), will offer grants to science networks and centres. Each programme will receive about USD 5-10 million in the first cycle of funding lasting five years but AESA has been conceived for 20 years.

“The funding is a strong vote of confidence on AESA and the future of science and research in Africa, says Dr. Kariuki.

DELTAS will support leading African scientists to train a new generation of scientists and demonstrate quality science and address weaknesses in research, infrastructure and policy according to Dr Kariuki. DELTAS is being supported by Wellcome Trust and DFID.

“The idea is to build capacity and excellence in centres that are being supported. We look at the totality of issues that is to say,  the scientists, their careers, their remuneration and the programmes and projects they implement,” added Dr Kariuki.

The fund will support networks of scientists and centres addressing one common challenge and these could span several countries.