At the forefront of this effort is APHRC’s Catalyze Impact Initiative, dedicated to revitalizing and advancing Africa’s implementation research landscape, providing innovative solutions to these pressing challenges.
The role of research and development (R&D) is crucial in our pursuit of a prosperous continent, especially in light of Africa’s unique challenges. These challenges, including the current polycrisis era, marked by heightened risks such as pandemics, climate change, escalating conflicts, and rising living costs, underscore the imperative for robust R&D and strengthened capacities to bolster Africa’s resilience. At the forefront of this effort is APHRC’s Catalyze Impact Initiative, dedicated to revitalizing and advancing Africa’s implementation research landscape, providing innovative solutions to these pressing challenges.
Central to the Catalyze Impact Initiative is its collaboration with a network of African academic and research institutions to evaluate and enhance their research capabilities. We aim to empower institutions across the continent to assess and elevate their research capacities through a specially designed Research Readiness Assessment Tool. This tool, designed as a modular online self-assessment survey, evaluates critical areas such as infrastructure, policy impact, and financial management. Continentally, the tool has been deployed to over 500 institutions spanning 27 countries, marking a significant stride towards bolstering Africa’s leadership in R&D and leveraging research for impactful outcomes.
Continentally, the tool has been deployed to over 500 institutions spanning 27 countries.
Early reports from six participating institutions within the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) reveal promising areas for improvement. These gaps, identified through the assessment tool, include the limited number of specialized equipment, procurement gaps, and gender policies and ethics review committees. The assessment will empower African institutions to streamline their structures and procedures for research excellence, demonstrating the practical benefits of this assessment tool and painting a bright future for research in Africa.
The Catalyze Impact team has also adopted the Good Financial Grant Practices (GFGP) standard to assess the financial portfolios of research organizations and determine their abilities to write and manage grants effectively. GFGP certification is the world’s first international standard for quality financial governance within research institutes, developed at the African Academy of Sciences. The standard promotes transparency to allow well-informed decision-making on grant issuing. In a global landscape where main funders like the Gates Foundation have only 10% of their research partners as African institutions, the latter require capacity assessment and strengthening to increase recognition and attract crucial grants.
The GFGP certification process involves a self-assessment by organizations, regardless of size or location, to address some of the inequalities in current funding models. Afterward, licensed auditors review the self-assessment and issue certificates once compliance is confirmed. The certificates provide a rating based on four tiers in ascending order: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. This certification validates an institution’s financial governance and enhances its credibility, making it more attractive to potential funders. The benefits of GFGP certification extend beyond financial governance, as it also equips institutions with robust mitigation strategies for risk management and disaster response, positioning them as models for other institutions seeking to enhance their research management capacities and achieve GFGP certification.
The GFGP standard promises to enhance proper financial stewardship within Africa’s innovation landscape. The team has onboarded 40 institutions in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria to complete the self-assessment. Participating institutions consider the process valuable by facilitating the development of new organizational guidelines and SOPs based on the best practices learned. “The journey through GFGP certification ultimately strengthened the quality of the institution’s financial systems and equipped us with robust mitigation strategies for risk management and disaster response. This transformative experience positioned our institution as a model for other institutions seeking to enhance their research management capacities and achieve GFGP certification,” reported a representative from an Ethiopian institute who had completed the process. This reassures the financiers about the financial sustainability of African research institutions, making them feel confident about the future of African research.
The insights gathered from the research readiness assessment and GFGP assessment from the various institutions will be incorporated into another of our projects, the Africa Research Connect platform. This web-based platform is designed to revolutionize research collaboration in Africa, serving as a comprehensive database and networking tool that connects African researchers, universities, research institutions, and funders. These initiatives empower institutions to navigate challenges, enhance research excellence, and attract vital funding, ultimately addressing Africa’s pressing issues through impactful innovation and collaboration. As we look ahead, the Africa Research Connect platform stands poised to revolutionize research collaboration across the continent, embodying a transformative vision for African research to thrive globally.
Join us in breaking systemic barriers, elevating research visibility, and building an ecosystem where African-led evidence shapes continental health and development priorities.
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