‘Meta network’ set to amplify Africa’s voice in science

The new African Science, Technology and Innovation Leaders’ (ASTIL) forum that has just been launched promises to significantly amplify the continent’s voice in global science at a time when nationalism and protectionism in other regions of the world are undermining the interconnectedness of the scientific community.

The forum brings together six founding organisations, collectively representing some of the continent’s most influential and respected bodies.

The goal is to foster collaboration among the continent’s scientists and policymakers. The initiative will focus on strategic exchange, policy development and advocacy, with plans to expand and engage more organisations and partners over time.

The launch, on 20 March, took place at Stellenbosch University (SU) in South Africa, at a conference marking the 30th anniversary of the university’s Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST). The centre partnered with the Future Africa platform at the University of Pretoria (UP), in establishing the forum.

Context

ASTIL aims to unite key science, technology and innovation (STI) institutions across Africa, creating what CREST Director Professor Johann Mouton described as a “meta network”. He provided the foundational context for the forum’s launch with a presentation about a 15-month CREST study on STI funding flows to and in Africa.

“Existing databases capturing STI funding have significant biases,” Mouton noted, explaining that CREST decided to build a more accurate, accessible and transparent open-source database. The database, to be accessed via a custom-built interactive dashboard, will track funding flows to and among African countries and institutions, ensuring greater accountability and informed policymaking.

Mouton’s colleague, Dr Heide Hackmann, described ASTIL as a “network of networks”, responding to an urgent need to enhance Africa’s collective visibility and influence in global science discussions. Hackmann, the Chair in Science Futures at CREST, was formerly with the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa, where the idea for ASTIL originated. She explained how the forum came about.

Background

“Over the past few years, I have been astonished by the influx of international organisations seeking presence in Africa, often looking for a convenient one-stop shop. At the same time, there has been an increasing unease among African scientists and policymakers about the nature of such engagements, including funding flows, politics and power dynamics,” she said.

Recognising a gap in communication between existing African networks, Hackmann added: “We realised leaders from various STI networks were discussing similar issues but within their respective silos. That’s when we decided to try something new.”

Extensive consultations led to a concrete proposal presented last November, culminating in an agreement among the six founding networks at Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) in December 2024.



The African STI Leaders' Forum founders. From left, are Judy Omumbo of the Science for Africa Foundation, Wanda Markotter of Future Africa, Heide Hackmann of CREST, Olusola Oyewole of the African Association of Universities, Peggy Oti-Boateng of the African Academy of Sciences, Johann Mouton of CREST, Francis Petersen of the University of Pretoria, John Gyapong of the African Research Universities Alliance, Thandi Mgwebi of South Africa's National Research Foundation, Irvy Gledhill of the Network of African Science Academies, and Farai Kapfudzaruwa of the University of Cape Town, Image: Desmond Thompson

Founders’ voices

African Academy of Sciences (AAS): A 40-year-old organisation that promotes scientific excellence and advances scientific research and innovation across the continent.

AAS Executive Director Dr Peggy Oti-Boateng emphasised the transformative potential of collective African action: “It is time for Africa to work together to unlock its scientific potential for global benefit. Convening as we have today allows us to engage diverse actors in reframing, rewriting, and reimagining the Africa we aspire to. This is our Africa – led by Africa, for Africa.”

Network of African Science Academies (NASAC): An independent consortium of national science academies from 32 countries on the continent, providing evidence-based advice and policy recommendations for sustainable development.

Professor Irvy Gledhill, NASAC’s vice president for international relations and scientific Affairs, highlighted the synergistic potential of the forum: “This new forum will support our activities, and equally, our activities will contribute positively to the forum’s objectives.”

Association of African Universities (AAU): The continent’s apex organisation for higher education institutions, representing over 400 universities to support collaboration, academic excellence and institutional capacity-building.

AAU Secretary General Professor Olusola Oyewole stressed coordinated continental action: “We are establishing a globally recognised platform in STI that fosters a collaborative ecosystem throughout Africa.”

Oyewole highlighted urgent issues needing attention, including that “it is easier for African scientists to collaborate internationally than within our own continent – we must change this.”

African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA): A collaborative network of 23 leading research universities across the continent, aimed at enhancing research quality, capacity and output to deal with development challenges.

ARUA Secretary-General Professor John Gyapong emphasised policy development: “Strengthening the policy backbone for STI development has been notably lacking on our continent. Addressing this gap is essential, and it is one of the primary reasons we are excited to be part of this forum.”

Science for Africa Foundation (SFA): A non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting, strengthening and promoting science and innovation across the continent.

Dr Judy Omumbo, the head of programmes: science solutions for emerging global priorities, called for a fundamental mindset shift: “Currently, clinical trials and raw data originate in Africa, yet benefits accrue elsewhere. We must ensure the entire scientific production process – from inception to implementation – occurs within Africa.”

Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI): A 10-year-old body comprising 17 public science funding agencies across Sub-Saharan Africa. Participating countries include Botswana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The initiative is a multi-partner collaboration, supported by agencies in Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa serves as a key partner representing African interests within SGCI.

NRF Group Executive: Business Advancement Dr Thandi Mgwebi described ASTIL’s vision as “Africa-led, Africa-composed, and Africa-driven. It will help develop leaders capable of representing African interests effectively in global dialogues.”

Geopolitical challenges

Professor Francis Petersen, the newly installed vice-chancellor and principal of UP, highlighted the strategic role of the forum, given Africa’s geopolitical challenges: “Despite increasing nationalism and protectionism, global interconnectedness persists, ensuring that Africa’s voice is inevitably part of the global science dialogue. The real question is how we amplify this voice and ensure greater equity in global scientific discussions.”

Plans and priorities

Petersen stressed that partnerships must be efficient and effective, warning: “Without efficiency and effectiveness, partnerships will not produce the desired outcomes.”

The forum’s launch marks the beginning of a structured, three-year initial phase.

“We must develop long-term plans concerning governance, management structures and operational modalities. The forum remains informal, but relationships of trust are growing among representatives. Ultimately, rules, regulations, and the responsibilities of members and partners will need clarification,” Hackmann said.

Strategic plans and priorities include:

• Facilitating strategic information exchange and raising awareness of existing projects and databases.

• Catalysing innovative policy and strategy development, including linking to existing continental initiatives, such as the STI Strategy for Africa (STISA).

• Addressing knowledge and data gaps, and mobilising political engagement and advocacy.

• Representing the African STI ecosystem in regional and global initiatives.

• Tackling inadequate research funding, weak policy implementation, limited collaboration, poor academia-industry-policy engagement, and insufficient STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and talent development; and

• Fostering the next generation of STI leaders in Africa.

Oyewole said organising an inaugural African STI leadership summit will be a priority in the forum’s first year.

Hackmann said CREST and Future Africa have committed to leading resource mobilisation for ASTIL. “Furthermore, we plan to engage influential science systems leaders as advisers.”

As the forum moves from vision to action, its founders stress that measurable progress in key STI domains will define its success.

Opportunities

Oyewole concluded optimistically: “Africa offers numerous opportunities; indeed, Africa represents the future. The continent’s rapidly growing population of young people is a significant advantage.

“Additionally, many African institutions are evolving, and the continent’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem is developing faster than in other parts of the world.”

“ASTIL aims to unlock Africa’s immense potential, transforming the continent’s STI landscape towards sustainable and inclusive development.”