Description

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) strengthens the capacity of science granting councils in 15 sub-Saharan African countries to support research and evidence-based policies for economic and social development, with funding from DFID, IDRC, NRF, and SIDA. At its 2019 Annual Forum on “Open Science in Research and Innovation for Development,” delegates highlighted that open science is not new in Africa, as practices like open access publishing and collaborative efforts among councils already exist. They emphasized the transition to a knowledge-driven society enabled by the digital revolution, which also brings challenges like information overload. Delegates stressed the importance of engaging society to make information accessible, addressing complex development challenges, and fostering collaboration to promote openness and innovation.