Strengthening Research Institutions in Africa: Seven Country Needs Assessments

This work provides a high-level assessment of the research and innovation systems and key research organisations across 7 African countries

From:
Department for International Development
Published
25 June 2020
Country:
Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
Document Type:
Research Paper
Theme:
Research Communication and Uptake
Authors:
Fosci, M, Loffreda, L, Chamberlain, A, Naidoo, N, Velten, L, Johnson, R

Abstract

The seven needs assessment reports provide a high-level assessment of the research and innovation systems and key research organisations across seven African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. These countries have been considered for inclusion in DFID’s ‘Strengthening Research Institutions in Africa’ (SRIA) programme. The reports seek to identify the main challenges to research capacity strengthening, and some priority areas for intervention, in order to support decision-making at DFID and among national partners. The study does not seek to explore issues such as the historical causes of the current situation or the role of the media and other political actors which, albeit important, fall outside the scope of these reports.

The findings of the seven needs assessment reports are summarised in the synthesis report. Findings in all reports are based on quantitative and qualitative data collected through desk-based research and informant interviews conducted between March and October 2019. Over 100 indicators are used to assess each country’s research environment and political economy context, research production and research diffusion performance. Some of the qualitative findings are based on the views of a small but balanced number of stakeholders and should be verified through further research.

This work was conducted independently by Research Consulting and is funded by the Department for International Development’s Strengthening Research Institution in Africa programme.

Citation

  • Mattia Fosci and Lucia Loffreda, (2019). Strengthening Research Institutions in Africa: A Synthesis Report. Research Consulting.

  • Mattia Fosci, Lucia Loffreda, Lennart Velten, Rob Johnson (2019) Research Capacity Strengthening in LMICs: Rapid Evidence Assessment. Report for the SRIA programme. Research Consulting.

  • Mattia Fosci, Lucia Loffreda, Andrew Chamberlain, Nelisha Naidoo (2019). Assessing the needs of the research system in Ethiopia. Report for the SRIA programme. Research Consulting.

  • Mattia Fosci, Lucia Loffreda, Andrew Chamberlain, Nelisha Naidoo (2019). Assessing the needs of the research system in Ghana. Report for the SRIA programme. Research Consulting.

  • Mattia Fosci, Lucia Loffreda, Andrew Chamberlain, Nelisha Naidoo (2019). Assessing the needs of the research system in Kenya. Report for the SRIA programme. Research Consulting.

  • Mattia Fosci, Lucia Loffreda, Andrew Chamberlain, Nelisha Naidoo (2019). Assessing the needs of the research system in Nigeria. Report for the SRIA programme. Research Consulting

  • Mattia Fosci, Lucia Loffreda, Andrew Chamberlain, Nelisha Naidoo (2019). Assessing the needs of the research system in Rwanda . Report for the SRIA programme. Research Consulting

  • Mattia Fosci, Lucia Loffreda, Andrew Chamberlain, Nelisha Naidoo (2019). Assessing the needs of the research system in Tanzania. Report for the SRIA programme. Research Consulting

  • Mattia Fosci, Lucia Loffreda, Andrew Chamberlain, Nelisha Naidoo (2019). Assessing the needs of the research system in Uganda. Report for the SRIA programme. Research Consulting

Published 25 June 2020
Contents