African Union Research Grant Programme

The African Union Commission (AUC) ensures that science and technology in Africa contributes to its sustainable development efforts. The main objective of AUC is to contribute to the well-being and improved quality of life for the African citizens. To this end the incorporation of the AU in 2002 was accompanied by the setting up the AUC with a special Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology to drive this strategic programme.

This has further generated remarkable momentum in deploying science as a tool for development in Africa. The AUC created a Conference of Ministers in charge of Science and Technology (AMCOST) as a platform for the Union to periodically deliberate on science and technology issues. In 2005, the AUC through the AMCOST successfully developed Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) to secure our competitive advantage and to leverage on capacities by emphasizing our research and development to respond to our challenges as well as requirements.

The CPA brings together the AUC’s and NEPAD’s science and technology programmes and it expresses Africa’s common objectives and commitment to collectively use science as a development tool through science and technology capacity building; knowledge production and management; and technological innovation.

The Second Call for Research Projects and Proposals will be limited to the following science and technology strategic priority actions:

• Post-harvest and agriculture;
• Renewable and sustainable energy, and;
• Water and sanitation.

The implementation strategy for the grants is through the creation of partnerships (research networks) for regional and sub-regional co-operation and of inter-institutional cooperation in Africa through setting up of consortia of scientists with minimum participation of at least three organisations out of which a majority should be Member States in the ACP Group of States, from at least two different African countries.

For more information, refer to www.au.int/en/dp/hrst/rgp.

To view other opportunities, refer to www.ngopulse.org/group/home-page/other-opportunities.