Strengthening the Practices and Resilience of Science Granting Councils in Sub-Saharan Africa in Research and Grants Management (October 2023-September 2026)
The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), in partnership with the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA), participates in the Science Granting Councils Initiative Phase 2 (SGCI II) as a Collaborating Technical Agency (CTA). Building directly on the foundations, lessons, and achievements of SGCI Phase 1, SARIMA continues to leverage its established networks, tools, and approaches to strengthen research and grants management practices across Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Drawing on the capacity built, systems strengthened, and relationships established during SGCI Phase 1, SARIMA contributes to the next phase of the initiative by deepening and scaling support towards more effective, coordinated, and resilient research management systems. The initiative now supports 17 countries: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, as well as two new participating countries, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
SARIMA continues to lead the Research Management thematic, transitioning from foundational capacity building to strengthening practice, embedding systems, and enhancing institutional resilience. SARIMA programme combines training, technical assistance, and peer learning to further institutionalise good practices, enhance professional capacity, and sustain a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing among SGCs.
Planned activities for SGCI II
Assessment of research and grants management capacity, practices and needs to inform targeted capacity strengthening plans.
Capacity Strengthening: Building on SGCI Phase 1 training, SARIMA provides targeted virtual courses to deepen technical competencies.
Professionalisation of Research Management: Continued promotion and application of the Professional Competency Framework (PCF).
Technical Assistance & Systems Strengthening: Expanded in-country mentoring and support
Knowledge Exchange & Networks: Strengthening peer learning, collaboration, and sharing of best practices.
Tools, Resources & Dissemination: Ongoing development, sharing and promotion of use of the practical tools and knowledge products.
SGCI Phase 2 reinforces and extends the gains of Phase 1 by embedding stronger systems, enhancing institutional resilience, and supporting the long-term sustainability of research management practices across participating councils in Sub-Saharan Africa.
SGCI funding partners: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (United Kingdom), the International Development Research Centre (Canada), the National Research Foundation (South Africa), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sweden), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Germany), and the Government of Norway(Norway).
