Towards Minimizing Research Inequities in Africa: Lessons from the ARISE Programme

Abstract

Through an ambitious development blueprint called Agenda 2063, Africa is on a mission to creating the ‘Africa We Want’ by the year 2063, centred on science, technology, and innovation. While the 2063 development agenda portends attainment of socio-economic development and prosperity in Africa, it brings with it an enormous need for strategic investment in research to ensure that no one is left behind. This paper presents insights from the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) programme on inclusive research capacity strengthening investment in Africa. The insights are drawn from a comprehensive candidate selection process for ARISE, from which 45 researchers (from a pool of 929 applicants) are recruited for ARISE Fellowships. The 45 early-to-mid-career researchers, 37% of which are women, are hosted in 45 institutions of higher learning located in 38 countries across Africa, conducting 5-year research fellowships with grants of up to €500,000 each. The insights from the ARISE programme contribute to the debate on effective approaches to programme scoping, design, and delivery, underscoring the need for consideration of scientific excellence in the context of diversity in research support capacity and investments across Africa.

Technology, cyber security and the 2023 elections in Nigeria: Prospects, challenges and opportunities

“…Studies have suggested that this widespread malpractice continued due to the manual methods used in the process (Jibia & Zake 2020), culminating in calls for the total reform of the electoral system in Nigeria. A direct outcome was the decision to deploy technology to ensure the quality and integrity of the electoral process (Jega & Hillier 2012). This study summarises technological deployments in Nigeria's elections with the timeline indicated in Figure 1.…”