Hans Hagen (Senior International Grants Manager, Royal Society)

1. Hans Hagen (Senior International Grants Manager, Royal Society) Jackie Olang (Acting Coordinator, NASAC)

2. Networking science academies in Africa

3. Value of real partnerships • Extensive consultation, intensive focussed discussion when devising and designing projects; and • Shared challenges - shared opportunities.

4. What needs to be done Improve institutional profile • Enhance capacity within thru’ fully functional secretariats. • Establish good governance and best practices. • Link to government & society - evidenced-based advice. • Foster strategic partnerships – regionally/internationally. Recognize science and scientists • Training for young scientists – knowledge production; • Visiting scholars - mentorship; and • Prizes and awards.

5. Strengthening science academies in Africa • Increase membership by electing eminent scientists, younger scientists, and female scientists. • Long-term sustained support to infrastructure and personnel training personnel (function and relevance). • Recognize and encourage pursuit of excellence in scientific research and knowledge production. • Participation of members in public debate, science policy, science education and public understanding of science; and • Capacities to conduct studies and expert assessments to advise government on critical scientific issues e.g. the MDGs (statements with RS).

6. Working in partnership in sub-Saharan Africa: • The Royal Society’s capacity building portfolio is entirely demand-driven, and founded on extensive consultation with African partners • This capacity building activity is carried out at two levels: • Top-down support at institutional level for selected national academies • Bottom-up funding research

7. Royal Society Pfizer African Academies Programme: • Individual academies will develop their own three year project plan according to their specific needs • The project elements can be selected from a menu containing elements such as: • Academy communication • Science Policy Statements • Staff training • Project applications have to be agreed by Royal Society and NASAC • Assessment of progress after 18 months, and extension for the second part of the project

8. The Leverhulme - Royal Society Africa Awards: • A grant of £3.3 million over five years • Launched on 31 October 2008 • Three year awards providing up to £150,000 for • mobility • research costs • equipment including maintenance (max. £10k/year) • Priority areas (entirely demand-driven): • Agriculture (including animal health) • Water and sanitation • Basic human health research (including medicinal chemistry) • Biodiversity (including medicinal plants & green chemistry) • Energy (including renewables)

9. A holistic approach • Co-ordination of the two strands of capacity building in order to maximise the benefits of the individual programmes • Facilitation of better involvement of the national academies in Ghana & Tanzania, the Royal Society, NASAC, and the scientists funded through the Africa Awards (AA) Royal Society/ NASAC AA-funded Scientists National Academies

10. Many thanks! Any questions? Hans Hagen JACKIE Olang