Global Courant 2023-05-13 16:19:26
The Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) has launched the second phase of a multimillion-dollar program to develop world-class research and African scientific leaders on the continent while strengthening African institutions.
The second phase of the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training, and Science in Africa (DELTAS Africa) program will raise $70 million through joint funding from Wellcome and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
DELTAS Africa II is funding 14 consortia in nine African countries, with partnerships and networks around the world, to produce high-quality scientific data and information for evidence-based decision-making, generated by world-class scientific leaders working in conducive and enabling environments. It also encourages the development of a critical mass of globally competitive research leaders.
African governments have invested in the basic elements of research and development (R&D), such as higher education systems and infrastructure. However, African countries contribute 1.3% of global R&D with average national budgets of 0.4% of their gross domestic product (GDP), compared to a global average of 1.4%-1.7% (UNESCO Science Report Towards 2030).
As a result, the continent’s research capacity lags behind the rest of the world. This capacity is paramount in addressing the ongoing health challenges that disproportionately affect the continent with (the highest) global burden of disease at 25% (World Health Organization).
“The DELTAS Africa program paves the way for new scientific leaders to address Africa’s most pressing public health challenges, generating data and evidence that informs Africa’s policy and development agenda. In phase one we have already seen how impactful science funding can be.
“These scientists have contributed to global health policy development, improved research infrastructure and increased scientific knowledge through peer-reviewed publications and health innovations. The funding has created a critical mass of globally competitive research leaders who are now internationally recognized,” said Dr Alphonsus Neba, Deputy Director of Programs and DELTAS Africa Program Manager, SFA Foundation.
DELTAS Africa II, (2023 to 2026), supports 14 programs in 75 institutions across 36 countries, including institutions in North Africa and Lusophone countries that were previously not covered.
The consortia, led by world-class African research leaders, recognize the interconnectedness of climate change, food security and health and the need to balance research excellence and equity. The emphasis of DELTAS Africa II is on intra-African cooperation, involvement and partnership between relatively resource-rich and resource-poor institutions.
The consortia, led from Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe, are advancing evidence and knowledge on key R&D priorities, including discovery, translation, implementation and operational sciences for infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV and tuberculosis; neglected tropical diseases; non-communicable diseases; and social sciences and humanities. The leaders will be supported to contribute to scientific research, policy and practice and to stimulate scientific innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent.
“In this second phase, we are working on a program that is truly pan-African, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary.
“Together, we bring a broad range of expertise to address the challenges of our continent and ensure that researchers and institutions are not left behind in their efforts to close the critical gaps in the scientific ecosystem. All this to ensure healthy and productive countries to accelerate economic growth,” said Dr. Tom Kariuki, Executive Director of the SFA Foundation.
DELTAS Africa II, now being implemented by the SFA Foundation, continues to invest and increase Africa’s research capacity by growing the number of scientific leaders producing high-quality scientific data and information for evidence-based decision-making, while strengthening Africa’s R&D ecosystem .
“Wellcome is committed to funding ambitious and creative research across Africa that addresses some of the most pressing health challenges facing our world.
“We are very excited to work with the SFA Foundation and partners to support high-quality, world-leading research across Africa and develop the continent’s growing research and development sector,” said Cheryl Moore, Chief Research Programs Officer at Wellcome .
“In addition to funding research, support from Wellcome and the UK Government is aimed at developing global standards for grant due diligence, research governance, open access to science and enabling public participation in research.
“These components are an essential part of strengthening the wider research ecosystem to enable partner countries to achieve sustainable economic growth in line with national and UK priorities,” said Dr. Jordan Kyongo, Research & Innovation Adviser, British High Commission, Nairobi
