US $5.5 million grant to help Kenya launch science accelerator

The Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) was launched thanks to US$5.5 million in initial seed funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Welcome Trust and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

African and international partners launched the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA), a new initiative that aims to help drive Africa’s research agenda and build scientific capacity across the continent.

AESA was created by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency.

Currently, Africa accounts for 15 per cent of the global population and 25 per cent of the global disease burden, but only produces about 2 per cent of the world’s research output. Although more than 60 per cent of African countries have increased their recent investments in science, over half of African countries still invest less than 0.5% of their GDP on research – far less than the global target of 1 per cent. Increased domestic investment in research is needed to accelerate the long-term health and development progress required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

“Now is the moment for African governments to take action and prioritise funding for local scientific research and innovation – our continent’s future depends on it,” said H.E. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius. “As a scientist, entrepreneur and a president, I’ve seen first-hand the impact that investments in science can have both on individual researchers and on a country’s development.”

Endorsed by African Heads of State and Government, the Nairobi-based AESA aims to support the implementation of the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA-2024) and the African Health Strategy (AHS) for 2015-2030. Ministers of Health tasked the NEPAD Agency within the context of AHS to develop the continent’s health research agenda at the AU Specialised Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control in April 2015.

“The launch of AESA today is a significant milestone in driving investment in health research and lifting science across the continent,” said H.E. Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Agency. “AESA will ensure that Africa contributes to the global pool of scientific knowledge and technological innovations.”

In addition to serving as a scientific think tank, AESA will manage more than US $70 million in Africa-focused research programmes as part of its broader effort to build pan-African scientific capacity and leadership.

“Building capacity for science, technology and innovation is a strategic and critical investment for Africa’s future,” said Prof Berhanu Abegaz, Executive Director of AAS. “Today, we are proud to launch new initiatives that will help harness Africa’s scientific potential to contribute to the wellbeing of Africa’s people.”

To this end, AESA will play a key role in the implementation of the two grant programmes announced today, DELTAS Africa and Grand Challenges Africa.

“Africa is home to some of the most dynamic innovators and institutions, poised to advance the continent’s research agenda,” said Dr Thomas Kariuki, Director of AESA. “Working in collaboration with key African and international partners, AESA will help provide researchers with the funding, training and resources they need to succeed and drive forward Africa’s development.

The AESA launch ceremony also featured the announcements of two grant programmes intended to support Africa’s future research leaders: the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science (DELTAS) Africa Awards and Grand Challenges Africa.