A delegation of 10 Vice-Chancellors (VCs), Deans and their representatives from across Africa visited the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) Duduville campus. The VCs were of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) African Host Universities (AHUs).
PASET-Rsif has a network of 15 AHUs that offer PhD programs in five priority thematic areas namely, ICT including big data and artificial intelligence, food security and agri-business, minerals, mining and materials engineering, energy including renewables and climate change.
This visit which was on the sidelines of the PASET Governance Meetings and High-Level Policy Dialogue, aimed at strengthening the ongoing collaboration and showcasing icipe’s cutting-edge research that underpins the Rsif model.
Dr Takemore Chagomoka (L), the head of Scaling Innovation and Business Acceleration unit at icipe talks to some of the members of the delegation when he received them at the centre. Photo/Brian Mwashi
Human capital development remains critical in Africa to provide relevant and important skills, especially the youth who form the biggest percentage of Africa’s social group. The visit by the VCs from various African countries and universities to icipe underscores the Centre’s contribution to Africa’s human capital development.
The visit offered the VCs a front row seat to icipe’s best practices in research and innovation in three key laboratories: the Bee Health, the Chemical Ecology, and the Biopesticides. They were impressed by the state-of-the-art equipment and world-class research and noted that icipe provides valuable lessons on how an African research institution can set global benchmarks.
Dr Nkoba Kiatoko, research scientist, Environmental Health Theme icipe talking to the delegation at the Africa Bee Health Reference Laboratoty. Photo/ Brian Mwashi
At the Bee Health Laboratory, they observed how honey can be diversified into a range of products. This underscored the potential for creating additional income streams for farmers through value addition.
The delegation also observed how icipe translates its high-quality research into registered and commercialized products and intellectual property, illustrating how science can generate both social impact and revenue.
The visit highlighted icipe’s structured approaches for ensuring that technologies and innovations reach farmers and wider society, bridging the gap between research and practical application. They gained insight into icipe’s protocols for receiving and analyzing samples, with an emphasis on material transfer compliance — a key safeguard for scientific integrity.
Levi Ombura, research assistant taking the delegation through the process of Biopesticide research and commercialization
They also learned about icipe’s procedures for managing laboratory waste—wet, dry, and biohazardous—including the outsourcing of this function to qualified and vetted service providers. This demonstrated a robust and sustainable model for environmental safety.
Dr Robert Copeland, the acting head of the icipe Biosystematics Unit talks to the delegation at the lab. Photo/Brian Mwashi
The Vice Chancellors appreciated icipe’s intentional embedding of postgraduate students—both Master’s and PhDs—into research projects by Principal Investigators. This was highlighted as a best practice in capacity building, ensuring that young scientists gain hands-on research experience while contributing to impactful projects.
Overall, the visit gave the VCs more than a tour of the state-of-the-art labs, it offered them a blueprint of how African institutions can combine research excellence, innovation, and sustainability to deliver real-world impact.
How can Africa harness the power of its youthful population to drive research, science, and innovation for a food-secure future?
This question took centre stage during the Africa Food Systems (AFS) Summit held in Senegal two weeks ago, where a special roundtable researchers’ forum explored the theme: “Education of Young Scientists: Attracting Youth to Research, Science, and Innovation.”
Recognizing Africa’s vibrant youth as the continent’s greatest asset, the forum zeroed in on practical strategies to engage young people in research, science, technology, and innovation (RSTI) — the very engines needed to transform Africa’s food systems and secure its future.
The forum explored concrete and actionable strategies to effectively draw young talent into the agri-food sector’s RSTI landscape.
A stand out panel discussions was on creating enabling environments, with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) Director General Dr Abdou Tenkouano joining other distinguished panelists including; Mr Maram Kaire, Director, Senegalese Spatial Agency, Dr Jean Luc Chotte, Director of Research, Institute of Research for Development (IRD) and Dr Ginya Truitt Nakata, Global Director – Agriculture and Food Systems Policy, The Nature Conservancy.
A screen grab shows icipe Director General Dr Abdou Tenkouano speaking during a special roundtable researchers’ forum during the Africa Food Systems (AFS) Summit held in Senegal
Dr Tenkouano emphasized on the need to focus on the human dimension of attracting young people to science ‘breeding the minds to feed Africa’ and urged others to adopt the icipe model, a research centre that is deeply engaged in education and firmly rooted in development focus on the human dimension of attracting young people to science.
“icipe is a research centre that is fully immersed into education and has a foot in development. We have laboratories that have some of the latest equipment thanks to support from our donors. Next thing is to attract who is going to do the work – young Africans pursuing MSc or PhD,” Dr Tenkouano stated.
Dr Tenkouano highlighted that while icipe does not award degrees, it hosts students from various universities who undertake their research work at the centre, achieving an impressive 96% completion rate, with degrees conferred by their home institutions. He mentioned that at any given time there are about 150- 180 students at icipe.
“Then we also train them on how to raise funds so that when they graduate they are able to fly on their own – a model led by the African Ministers of Education – started by Senegal, Rwanda and Ethiopia – Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET). It has a programme called Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif),” he explained.
Dr Abdou Tenkouano (in light green robe) engaging with the team at the icipe booth after speaking at a special roundtable researchers’ forum with other distinguished panelists during the Africa Food Systems (AFS) summit in Senegal.
Dr Tenkouana cited the example of PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) which is managed by icipe. He explained that PASET Rsif is a model led by African Ministers of Education, initiated by Senegal, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. Through Rsif, the initiative pools resources from partners such as the World Bank, Korea, and the EU, who together contribute about 53% of the funding, with the rest coming from 9 African governments – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senega and other development partners.
Rsif provides high-quality doctoral training and research opportunities at competitively selected African universities, fostering partnerships with international institutions to enhance research and innovation capacities.
On his part, Mr Kaire spoke on policy and governance and the need for coherent science, technology and innovation policies well aligned with the development priorities in health and food security. He also stated that the regulatory framework also needs to be favourable to protect IP and encourage experimenting.
He mentioned that Agence spatiale – put in place the infrastructure, Space Valley (like Silicon Valley). “It also includes – They also need laboratories already starting from high school level, maker space etc. Astronomy and astrophysics are areas of urgence.
Dr Jean Luc Chotte, Director of Research, Institute of Research for Development (IRD) shared examples of 50 post-doctoral scholarships in collaboration with research institutions.
Dr Ginya Truitt Nakata, Global Director – Agriculture and Food Systems Policy, The Nature Conservancy gave four points for enabling environment as policy alignment, funding with purpose, infrastructure, and access – as well as laboratories and finally collaboration where youth should be treated as today’s innovators not tomorrows.
Dr Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Panel Member, Malabo Montpellier & Managing Director, Africa, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT who moderated the panel noted importance of the pipeline, strategic long-term investment, creation of opportunities and supporting local capacity through international partnerships.
On Wednesday this week, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) welcomed a high-level delegation led by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education Hon Julius Migos Ogamba to its Duduville Campus in Nairobi.
This visit was not just a ceremonial stopover, but a powerful statement of Kenya’s commitment to harness science, research, and innovation as engines of development and societal transformation. The highlight of the visit was the scientific progress at icipe, and the next generation of scientists being nurtured through of Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET)- Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) initiative.
For more than five decades, icipe has stood as a beacon of scientific excellence in Africa, addressing the most pressing challenges in Africa and globally like climate risk, biodiversity loss, poverty and hunger and unemployment through insect-based science solutions. As the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of PASET Rsif icipe has supported African Union’s as well as Kenya’s vision to build a knowledge-based economy by investing in human capital development, scientific research and innovation.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education Hon Julius Migos Ogamba signing the visitors book when he visited icipe. He is flanked by icipe‘s Director General Dr Abdou Tenkouano (Right), The Director, Human Resources & Protocol, Mrs Veronica Waiyaki (Centre back) and Dr Julius Ecuru, The RCU Manager (Left)
CS Ogamba lauded icipe’s longstanding impact noting that, “We appreciate the high impact research that takes place at icipe and the output it produces. As Kenya we are proud in hosting icipe as international organisation for the last 55 years since it was founded by one of our pioneer prof Thomas Odhiambo.”
He added that icipe’s impact has been felt far and wide, touching lives and shaping policies across Africa.
CS Ogamba reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening its mutually beneficial relationship with icipe the only international centre in the tropics that is dedicated to insect science solutions and development.
He stated, “It is befitting that the excellent work that icipe is doing has been given recognition and in particular I wish to congratulate icipe for competitively being selected as the RCU for PASET-Rsif. I’m also grateful to icipe for excellently managing the PASET-Rsif Programme and also for your exemplary performance in research as you have aptly indicated.”
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education Hon Julius Migos Ogamba (gesturing) being taken through exhibition when he visited icipe‘s Duduville Campus on Wednesday
Highlighting the country’s leadership in the PASET, he recalled that “Kenya was among the first PASET countries to contribute the minimum of USD2 million to the PASET-Rsif in 2017 thereby setting an example of other countries to join PASET. Kenya also hosted the fourth PASET Forum in Nairobi in 2017 under the patronage of the then deputy president who is now the President of the Republic Kenya Dr William Samoei Ruto; and subsequently hosted the 6th PASET Forum in April 2024.
In response to high demand for scholarships, the Government of Kenya committed an additional USD 2 million in 2024 to further expand opportunities for PhD training. “Due to the high intake of the scholarship by Kenyans, the Government of Kenya committed an additional USD 2 million in 2024 to ensure continued support and improve the quality in higher education,” he stated.
The CS also emphasized that quality education and research is key to Kenya’s economic planning and development. “I acknowledge icipe’s tremendous contribution to our research capacity and scientific output in Kenya and within the region. Going forward is to ensure we link the outputs of research and human capital development to industry, policy and society. Policies should be informed by the 21st credible scientific evidence.”
“Industry and private sector should also appreciate the research outcomes and collaborations within universities and research institutions to ensure better skills and competitive workforce suitable for the 21st century demands. I am happy to note that the areas you support including energy and renewables, and other areas of artificial intelligence, the current /fourth industrial revolution we are in,” CS Ogamba pointed out adding that fostering academia industry partnerships benefit the society through relevant and demand driven skills and competencies.”
He concluded by reiterating the Government of Kenya’s commitment to support Rsif and icipe’s programmes.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education Hon Julius Migos Ogamba (Left) and icipe’s Director General Dr Abdou Tenkouano at the Duduville campus.
The Director General icipe, Dr Abdou Tenkouano on his part underscored the centre’s role in addressing Africa’s grand challenges. “We are at the forefront of addressing the most pressing challenges in Africa and globally like climate risk, biodiversity loss, poverty and hunger and unemployment through insect-based science solutions.”
He emphasized that icipe’s mission aligns with Kenya’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) agenda, “Our work complements the government of Kenya’s effort to position science, technology, and innovation at the heart of development agenda. Indeed, icipe embraces the Kenya’s aspiration to become a knowledge-based economy which depends greatly in investment of human capital, skills and scientific research as well as strategic partnership that links the output from these investments with industry and society.”
On the PASET-Rsif programme, Dr Tenkouano noted, “ A good example is PASET with its Rsif to which the government of Kenya is contributing $4million to training 41 PhD’s in the country and across Africa. icipe is privileged to be the regional coordination unit of PASET since 2018.”
Dr Tenkuoano highlighted that PASET Governing Council extended icipe’s mandate to manage Rsif for another 3 years beginning January 2026.
Acknowledging the government’s support, he said: “We are grateful for the trust that PASET and the government of Kenya have for icipe. We pledge our continued commitment to paset objectives of developing skills in advanced sciences, engineering, and technology for the social economic transformation of Africa.”
“Thank you and the Government of Kenya for your continued investment in PASET and icipe at large, which is one of the best example of pan-African science fund to which governments invest funds for doctoral training, research, and innovation in the continent. Following your leadership, several other African countries have contributed to Rsif including Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal.
He also called up on more African governments to invest more resources into PASET and to scientific research development generally especially in these times of fast eroding overseas development assistance adding that icipe’s mode of operation as one that is based on young talents from all over Africa and beyond pursuing the MSc or PhD degrees predominantly at Kenyan Universities.
Dr Tenkouano also highlighted icipe’s unique contribution to science diplomacy: “As they get emersed in our research environment with a 96 per cent completion rate, they also get emersed in the rich diversity of cultures of Kenya and as they return to their countries for those who are not based in Kenya, they not only carry the degrees but also perhaps most importantly the hospitality of Kenya in their hearts and so they become Bonafide ambassadors of Kenya. This is why icipe prides itself in being part of the science development diplomacy of Kenya.”
A goup photo taken when Kenya’s Education Minister Hon Julius Migos Ogamba (Centre front row) visited icipe on Wednesday
During the meeting, PASET-Rsif scholar Joshua Cyprian William and alumni Dr Ivy Okello also had the opportunity to offer him first-hand insights into how strategic investments in higher education are cultivating the next generation of African researchers and innovators.
The visit closed on a forward-looking note with both the Cabinet Secretary and icipe Director General underscoring that science, research, and innovation must remain at the heart of Africa’s transformation. Their shared message was clear: investments in human capital and research are not optional, but essential, if the continent is to compete and thrive in the 21st century.
The pulse of innovation is much alive in northern Mozambique at the University of Rovuma (UniRovuma) in Nampula Province as witnessed recently, by a team from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) who visited the institution as part of the Improvement for Skills Development in Mozambique (MozSkills) project monitoring and evaluation.
Through a 2021 agreement, the Government of Mozambique, with support from the World Bank, committed USD 6 million to the icipe-managed Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology – Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (PASET-Rsif). The investment is fuelling 40 PhD scholarships and 14 homegrown research and innovation projects.
A group photo with the University of Rovuma (UniRovuma) Rector and some members of staff when icipe team visited.
Research solving real world problems
One standout is UniRovuma’s leap into computational mathematics laboratory — training lecturers and students in modern tools like Python, mathematical modeling, and applied statistics. This room buzzing with the click of keyboards and the language of Python code is bridging the gap between traditional math education and the digital demands of today’s STEM fields, equipping graduates to solve real-world problems in industry and public service. This laboratory is now buzzing with the click of keyboards and the language of Python code.
Computational mathematics laboratory at UniRovuma
An interview with Dr Elisa da Conceição José Maria, the project lead at UniRovuma revealed that the innitiative arose from the need to strengthen practical and digital skills among lecturers and students, which were still limited and hindered the university’s ability to effectively contribute to research and development in STEM areas.
“The reliance on exclusively theoretical methods without computational tools left students insufficiently prepared to face technical challenges. Mozambique and the region urgently need data-driven approaches to tackle issues such as climate change, food security, and public health—making this project essential,” Dr Elisa stated.
She pointed out that originally, the UniRovuma emerged from the division of the former Universidade Pedagógica—a national university mainly focused on teacher training. After its division into five regional institutions, UniRovuma began serving the northern region of Mozambique and expanded its scope beyond education to include technical fields and STEM courses. However, this restructuring was not accompanied by the redistribution of laboratory resources or the creation of new infrastructure. The introduction of new programmes required lecturers to be trained in technical and computational content. The lack of adequate resources and the need to adapt to the new institutional model motivated the launch of this project.
PASET-Rsif/MozSkills support
The leap into computational mathematics at the UnRovuma has been made possible through PASET-Rsif/MozSkills support. With Rsif funding, the university established a fully equipped computational mathematics laboratory, complete with 18 computers, creating a dedicated space where students and lecturers can explore programming, mathematical modeling, and applied statistics in practice. It also has a smartboard, internet access, and teaching materials. Besides, it supported the training of 15 lecturers and more than 503 students in Python programming and mathematical modeling. It also facilitated the development of applied projects that connect mathematical theory to real-world challenges, the drafting of scientific articles, and funding for their publication. Based on the skills acquired by lecturers and students, a practical initiative was launched with a focus on activities, research, and outreach in computational mathematics, leveraging all the human and material resources created through the laboratory’s implementation.
Dr Elisa da Conceição José Maria (C) who is the project lead and some of her colleagues.
Sustainability of the project
What sets Rsif’s support apart, according to Dr Elisa and her team members, is its flexibility and clear alignment with the institution’s strategic goals. Beyond funding, the programme is designed with sustainability in mind — ensuring that the skills, infrastructure, and research capacity being built today will continue to serve Mozambique’s development long after the project ends. This is unlike short-term interventions since Rsif funding enables long-term capacity building, including the training of local experts, support for gender inclusion, promotion of innovation in the national education system, and provision of essential materials for research. Moreover, it encourages scientific production through support for article publication.
The project is tackling long-standing gaps in mathematics education at UniRovuma. Dr Elisa states that until recently, programming had little presence in the curriculum, and many researchers relied heavily on commercial software such as SPSS, which limited flexibility and innovation. By introducing open-source tools and strengthening skills in mathematical modeling, the programme is equipping students and faculty with the versatility and analytical depth needed for modern STEM research and problem-solving. “It also addresses the disconnect between mathematics curricula and practical applications, especially in data analysis, geospatial computing, and predictive modeling. Key focuses include training lecturers in STEM methodologies, promoting real-world problem-solving, and preparing students for the job market,” she elaborates.
Translating theory into practice
Key technological solutions being developed include the integration of Python into the undergraduate curriculum, development of local training modules in computational modeling, and applied research projects using techniques such as time series analysis (ARIMA/SARIMA) and geospatial risk mapping. “One highlight is the mathematical modeling of environmental phenomena. These approaches help translate mathematical theory into tools for solving practical problems,” Dr Elisa says.
Through a series of intensive training programmes, the initiative has strengthened the skills of both students and lecturers, equipping them with practical expertise in Python, data science, and mathematical modeling. Participants have also gained training in scientific article writing — a skill that not only supports academic success but also enhances their ability to share research findings with the wider scientific community. Dr Elisa highlighted that it has also promoted the leadership of female instructors and encouraged interdisciplinary research.
“Over 500 students have been trained, many of whom are now engaged in applied research and pursuing advanced studies. They are also using the skills they’ve learned to prepare their final year theses,” she revealed.
Collaboration and partnerships
Collaboration lies at the heart of the project, bringing together national, regional, and international partners to amplify its impact. The University of Porto,in Portugal for instance, trained the first cohort of lecturers in Python, providing a strong foundation for the computational mathematics programme. Locally, partnerships with institutions such as the Nampula Municipal Council and other universities in Nampula ensure the work remains closely tied to community needs and supports practical, real-world applications of the skills being developed. These collaborations increase the relevance of research, provide mentorship, and support the implementation of applied studies in real contexts. For some scientific papers, we also collaborate with researchers from local universities.
The project is closely aligned with Mozambique’s national development priorities of improving education quality, promoting scientific research, and developing digital skills and the new African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA) 2034 pillars by contributing to knowledge production, technological innovation, and solutions to socioeconomic challenges through STEM education and applied mathematics.
The advances in computational mathematics through this project have far-reaching benefits across multiple real-world sectors, including agriculture—where it supports forecasting of prices and seasonal patterns; health—by enabling analysis of factors affecting maternal and child well-being; environment—through geospatial modeling of erosion risks and climate data; and education, where it strengthens the STEM curriculum and prepares the next generation of educators with vital computational skills.
Beyond mathematics, this project provides evidence-based tools and data analysis to support decision-making in municipal planning, agricultural policy, public health interventions, and educational reform. By training local researchers, it ensures sustainability and fosters innovation tailored to community needs.
Significant milestones
Since its inception, the project has already marked significant milestones including:Training of 15 lecturers and over 503 students in Python and modeling, implementation of applied research projects, establishment of a computational mathematics laboratory and iInclusive training structure with attention to gender.
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand training opportunities to postgraduate students, publish research findings and develop a postgraduate curriculum in computational mathematics.
In five years, the project envisions becoming a leading national and regional hub for computational mathematics—recognized for its innovative STEM education, robust regional partnerships, and impactful contributions to public policies in agriculture, health, and environmental planning. Success will be measured not only by academic achievements and research publications but also by the tangible ways the programme empowers communities and drives sustainable development across Mozambique and beyond.
The University of Port Harcourt (UniPort) is making great strides in transforming its research and innovation into marketable solutions through its Strengthening Institutional Infrastructure for an Innovation Ecosystem” (UP-ECOSIN) project. The project empowers researchers, fosters industry partnerships, and transforms research into marketable solutions. The project is funded by Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET) Regional Scholarship Innovation Fund (Rsif) to address a critical gap in Nigerian universities: the lack of structures to translate research findings into marketable solutions.
The project is led by Onyewuchi Akaranta, a Professor of Industrial Chemistry, and Ibisime Etela, a Professor of Animal Science and the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. Their goal is to transform the university into a hub for entrepreneurial research and commercialization.
The UP-ECOSIN project trains faculty and graduate students in competitive grant writing, as well as transform research output into commercialized products through start-ups and spin-offs. The key beneficiaries are post graduates at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Oilfield Chemicals Research (ACE-CEFOR) who are carrying out applied research for the sustainable development of the oil and gas industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. They also promote university-industry cooperation and develop a sustainable innovation ecosystem framework, especially for the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.
Turning research into products and services
Speaking about what inspired the need for the UP-ECOSIN project at the university Prof Akaranta says, “There was a felt need to embark on the project because as researchers we realized that the university system does not have a clear structure or policy aimed at moving positive research results from the field and laboratories to the market or places where they can be commercialized. This gap has in the past made both the individual researchers and the university waste opportunities to benefit from projects with tangible results and potential for commercialization.”
Mobile Biogas Digester with improvised gas volume measuring device
He adds that this was part of an effort towards actualizing the overall vision of the UniPort, to become an entrepreneurial institution.
It was the first university in Nigeria to declare so in 2010 so they had to ensure that it is a research-intensive institution, which shall transform its products and services for addressing social problems.
Prof Etela emphasized that through the UP-ECOSIN project they train faculty and graduate students on competitive grants writing and has helped in positioning UniPort as a research and innovation hub in Africa and beyond.
“In deciding to carry out the project on strengthening institutional capacity building, we also realized that increasing awareness of researchers to commercialize results also means they have to conduct high quality transformative research.”
He went on to say that conducting such high-quality research requires funds, which are ordinarily not readily available through conventional funding from the government . Hence, the need to build the capacity of researchers to be able to actively solicit for grants to support their innovative research works.
Patents
According to Prof Akaranta, UP-ECOSIN project has, indeed, facilitated the transformation of research projects from laboratories into patents and ready for commercialization.
“Through the project, the importance of multidisciplinary approach to implementation became obvious with each team member bringing on board their perspectives to enrich the outcomes. For example, through the funding of the project we were able to engage the services of a lawyer who specializes in filing patents and this approach enabled us to speedily secure the national patents within three months. It usually takes longer to achieve the same,” Prof Akaranta stated.
15L Essential Oil Extractor
On the project were industrial chemists, engineers, agriculturists and other experts working together to move it from the theory to producing tangible products.
This gave rise to the five pilot plants: 0.5 cubic litres mobile biogas digester,15L essential oil extractor, 700 kg fish dryer with oil collector, organic manure pelletizer, and 54 cubic feet gas-fired kiln for ceramics.
“They were designed to be fired using biogas thus protecting the environment from greenhouse gas emissions and controlling deforestation since the plants do not depend on direct firewood as fuel. For example, the fifth pilot plant which is gas-fired kiln for ceramics will support sustainable education in ceramic studies at the Department of Fine Arts and Design in the Faculty of Humanities,” Prof Etela remarked.
Prof Etela indicated that in addition to the five pilot plants designed to be biogas-fired, there are five other green chemicals derived from agro-waste that are available for venture capitalists and other interested investors to promote commercialization.
Industry collaboration
Since the project emphasizes university-industry collaboration, four partnerships have been established so far. This has facilitated easy access to real-life societal/industry problems and resources, enabling staff and students at the university to conduct more relevant and impactful research.
Organic Manure Pelletiser with Rotating disc, electric motor and control panel
“The partnerships have created valuable networking opportunities for faculty members and students, fostering hands-on internship programmes and career planning and development for our students. Curricula reviews of academic programmes of students who benefited from the partnerships with the industry, through internships, have seen the integration of classroom learning with hands-on experience,” Prof Akaranta said.
Overcoming challenges
Despite challenges such as fluctuating exchange rates and vendor compliance issues, the team employed meticulous financial reporting and proactive follow-ups to ensure smooth implementation.
Transforming mindsets
“Before UP-ECOSIN, less than 1 per cent of UniPort staff and students understood the importance of commercializing research results. Training workshops have sparked curiosity among participants, paving the way for future innovation. The workshops have created awareness about commercialization of research outputs. Now more than50 of staff and students understand the importance of commercializing research products,” said Prof Etela.
Lessons for African universities
Both the professors pointed out that teamwork emerged as a cornerstone of success in implementing UP-ECOSIN. This offers a model for other African institutions seeking to strengthen their innovation ecosystems.
“UniPort technical staff were indispensable in translating theoretical concepts into tangible products,” Prof Akaranta stated.
The UP-ECOSIN’s impact extends beyond its initial funding period through grantsmanship workshops that have led to major wins like the Mastercard Foundation Grant for African universities and Erasmus Mundus funding for graduate programmes in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. Because of UP-ECOSIN, several research teams at UniPort have also secured grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 over the last three years.
With its focus on capacity building, commercialization, and industry collaboration, UniPort’s UP-ECOSIN project exemplifies how universities can drive sustainable development while fostering innovation across Africa.
A grant writing workshop kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday November 25th 2024, organised by the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) bringing together 20 scholars. This training taking place at Utalii Hotel, Nairobi is specifically designed for Rsif postdoctoral fellows and aims to equip them with crucial skills and strategies necessary for developing competitive research grant proposals.
The workshop conducted under the project For Strengthening Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Training in Applied Science, Engineering and Technology in Africa (DOCTAS) and supported by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York will focus on various aspects of grant writing, including identifying funding opportunities, crafting compelling narratives, and understanding the essential components of a successful proposal. Participants will also learn how to align their project goals with donor requirements, thereby enhancing their chances of securing funding for their research initiatives.
Participants following the training session attentively. Photo/Sakina Mapenzi
Speaking during the opening of the workshop, Dr Everlyn Nguku, The Head of Capacity Building and Institutional Development at icipe said, “This workshop has been carefully designed to be both practical and interactive. You will not only learn about the essential components of successful grant applications but will also engage in hands-on writing sessions, peer reviews, and receive personalized feedback. By the end of this week, each of you should have developed concrete skills in proposal writing, budget development, and understanding governance and ethical considerations in research funding, as well as have a proposal that should be submitted for funding.”
“As members of the Rsif community, your research potential and its impact on addressing regional challenges is significant. This workshop represents our commitment to supporting your growth as researchers and future research leaders.
I encourage you to fully engage with the program, share your experiences, and take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen your grant writing capabilities,” Dr Nguku stated.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen research capacity in Africa by empowering researchers with the tools they need to effectively compete for grants. By improving their grant writing skills, the fellows will be better positioned to contribute innovative solutions to local and global challenges through their research endeavours.
Dr Mwende Mbilo, an Rsif Alumna from Kenya who attended the workshop stated that this is not only a learning opportunity but a living experience which is impactful. “I am learning all the steps in grant writing process and what it means to develop a good proposal to help us in advancing our research,” she stated.
On his part Dr Saani Nassam Iddrisu an Rsif alumnus from Ghana said this is a great opportunity to learn about great proposal writing.
“I was excited about learning what to include in a grant proposal especially in identifying team members to work with,” he stated.
The workshop reflects a growing recognition of the importance of funding in advancing scientific research and innovation in Africa, ensuring that researchers are well-prepared to navigate the competitive landscape of grant applications.
During global talks on climate change mitigation and adaptation at the recently concluded COP28 in Dubai, Rsif scholars Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche and Rehema Mrutu were recognized for their research contribution to a sustainable future. Christelle (28 years) is a Cameroonian national pursuing a PhD in renewable energy at the Department of Physics, University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenya with research placement to the Korea Institute of Energy Research in Korea and Rehema (33 years) is a Tanzanian national pursuing a PhD in Natural Resource Management and Climate Change at the Centre of Dryland Agriculture at Bayero University Kano, Nigeria with research placement at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in USA. Rehema was selected as a winning candidate at the Climate, Food and Farming Global Research Alliance Development (CLIFF-GRADS) award at the COP28 in Dubai. CLIFF-GRADS is a joint initiative of the Mitigate+: Research for Low Emissions Food Systems of the CGIAR and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).
Rehema is developing a CRISPR engineered strain to cut down methane emissions in cows and improve meat and milk production. The award aims to advance one of her research objectives on developing cheap and efficient means to divert the key substrate “hydrogen” in methane production to acetic acid, which is a by-product that can be used by the cow to improve meat and milk production. Rehema believes these data are urgently needed for researchers to decide on which microorganisms in the rumen needs manipulation to both develop long term methane mitigations measures and ensure food security. The CLIFF-GRADS award comes with a grant of USD 14,000 for a 4-6 months research stay at The University of Connecticut, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology in USA.
Christelle on the other hand received a Best Paper Award for outstanding contribution to the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Renewable Energy (AFORE), held in Jeju, South Korea from 7-11 November 2023 with Theme: Pathways to Carbon Neutrality 2050. Her presentation was on Techno-Economic Comparative Analysis of Photovoltaic Panel/Wind Turbine/ Hydrogen Storage, Photovoltaic Panel/Wind Turbine/Battery Systems for Powering a Simulated House including Hydrogen Vehicle Load at Jeju Island (published in MDPI’s Energies journal here). Christelle is financed by the Government of Korea through a PASET-Rsif scholarship, and her research placement is at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) in South Korea.
Christelle’s PhD research work has also been published in the Journal Energy Conversion and Management (Impact factor of 10:4) here. One of the causes of frequent power outages in developing countries is the global mismatch between supply and demand, which can have devastating effects. The study highlights the techno-economic and environmental significance of using a supercapacitor (SC) as a backup in contrast to a diesel generator (DG), as well as the validation of its compatibility with storage batteries because of the provision of a robust energy management approach.
Christelle hopes that her research will provide insights into reducing frequent load shedding in Cameroon, which often leads to power surges that destroy equipment, cause fires, disrupt education services and the proper functioning of health care services.
“In Africa, our journey towards clean energy is not just a possibility; it’s an imperative. Our rich natural resources are the key to sustainable, accessible energy for all, shaping a greener, brighter future. I believe we can do it. “– Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche, Rsif scholar in Energy including renewables.
Christelle’s PhD supervisory team includes Prof. Bernard Aduda (UoN), Dr. Hanki Kim (KIER), Prof. Sebastian Waita (UoN) and Dr. Peter Moses Musau (South Eastern Kenya University).
Korea contributes to the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET), since 2018. Its contribution of USD 9 million is to train Sub-Saharan African PhD students and to provide grants for research and innovation projects in strategic high potential sectors. Through PASET-Rsif Korea builds strong institutions and future science leaders to drive a science and technology-led growth and development to the mutual benefit of Africa, Korea and the world. The strong partnership between the Government of Korea, universities and PASET-Rsif contributes to boost exchange between African and Korean universities, researchers and faculties in the science and technology area.
Rsif combines intra-Africa academic exchange and international partnerships for world-class doctoral training. Research placement at an advanced institution gives exposure to cutting-edge technologies and nurtures connections with global research networks. Moreover, Rsif promotes Africa regional integration, strengthening centers of excellence and innovation ecosystems. The design of Rsif as a Pan-African partnership and a jointly pooled science fund gives better economies of scale and is professionally managed by the Rsif Regional Coordination Unit at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe).
Photos: (1) Rsif scholar Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche (on the right) received a Best Paper Award at the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Renewable Energy (AFORE) in Jeju, South Korea; (2) Rsif scholar Rehema Mrutu (in the lab) received a CLIFF-GRADS award during COP28 in Dubai.
4 de Dezembro de 2023: O Centro Internacional de Fisiologia e Ecologia de Insectos (icipe) (www.icipe.org), juntamente com o Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior da República de Moçambique, organizaram um Fórum para discutir o progresso da implementação de projectos de investigação e inovação de 6 a 9 de dezembro de 2023 em Vilankulo, Moçambique. Os projectos são financiados pelo projecto de Melhoria do Desenvolvimento de Competências em Moçambique (MozSkills), apoiado pelo Banco Mundial, através do qual Moçambique está a contribuir com 6 milhões de dólares para o Fundo Regional de Bolsas de Estudo e Inovação (Rsif) da Parceria para Competências em Ciências Aplicadas, Engenharia e Tecnologia (PASET) (www.paset-rsif.org). Esta contribuição destina-se à formação de estudantes de doutoramento moçambicanos e a projectos de investigação e inovação liderados por universidades e instituições de investigação moçambicanas. O icipe é a Unidade de Coordenação Regional do Rsif. O Fórum centrar-se-á nas medidas que estão a ser tomadas para desenvolver capacidades em Moçambique para traduzir os resultados da investigação em utilizações prácticas para a diversificação económica.
Moçambique, com uma população de 33 milhões de pessoas (2023) e um crescimento do PIB de 4,8% (2023), de acordo com o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento, é uma das economias com crescimento mais rápido na África Subsariana. As indústrias extractivas e a agricultura são as que mais contribuem para o PIB de Moçambique. Com os seus abundantes recursos naturais, incluindo terras aráveis, água, energia e recursos minerais, Moçambique tem potencial para diversificar a sua economia. Mas transformar este potencial em realidade requer, entre outros, uma massa crítica de mão-de-obra cientificamente qualificada no mercado de trabalho. O aumento do investimento no ensino superior produz as competências e conhecimentos necessários para a diversificação económica. Até à data, 0,3% do PIB de Moçambique é gasto em investigação e desenvolvimento, o que é ainda inferior ao 1% do PIB recomendado pela União Africana; e existem apenas 43 investigadores (equivalente a tempo inteiro) por milhão de habitantes.
Para melhorar a sua base de competências científicas, excelência em investigação e inovação, Moçambique, através do Projecto MozSkills, juntou-se a outros oito países africanos do Rsif/PASET em 2021. Os oito países que também contribuem para o Rsif/PASET são o Benim, Burkina Faso, Costa do Marfim, Gana, Quénia, Nigéria, Ruanda e Senegal. O Rsif oferece a Moçambique a oportunidade de formar doutorados de alta qualidade através do intercâmbio académico intra-africano e de parcerias internacionais para formação de doutorados de classe mundial. Proporciona também uma rede académica e de investigação mais alargada através de estágios de investigação numa instituição avançada para exposição a tecnologias de ponta e ligação a redes de investigação globais, bem como integração regional em África através de centros de excelência e ecossistemas de inovação.
O Fórum reúne equipas de projecto moçambicanas, investigadores, parceiros colaboradores, líderes de instituições de implementação (reitores/directores), oradores principais, funcionários do governo, o Banco Mundial e o icipe, para partilhar experiências e discutir estratégias para melhorar a capacidade de traduzir os resultados da investigação em utilizações prácticas.
Com este compromisso, Moçambique está no caminho certo para construir instituições fortes e para formar futuros líderes científicos que tornarão possível a concretização da sua visão de crescimento e desenvolvimento orientados para a ciência e tecnologia.
4 December 2023: The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) (www.icipe.org), together with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Mozambique, have organized a Forum to discuss implementation progress of research and innovation projects on 6-9 December 2023 in Vilankulo, Mozambique. The projects are funded by the World Bank supported Improvement of Skills Development in Mozambique (MozSkills) project through which Mozambique is contributing US$ 6 million to the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) (www.paset-rsif.org). This contribution is towards training Mozambican PhD students and for research and innovation projects led by Mozambican universities and research institutions. icipe is the Regional Coordination Unit of the Rsif. The Forum will focus on measures being taken to build capacity within Mozambique for translating research outputs into practical uses for economic diversification.
Mozambique, with a population of 33 million people (2023) and GDP growth of 4.8% (2023) according to the African Development Bank, is one of the fastest growing economies in Sub Saharan Africa. Extractives and agriculture contribute the highest to the GDP of Mozambique. With its abundant natural resources, including arable land, water, energy and mineral resources, Mozambique has potential to diversify its economy. But turning this potential into reality requires, among others, a critical mass of scientifically skilled workforce in the labour market. Increasing investment in higher education produces the necessary skills and knowledge for economic diversification. So far, 0.3% of Mozambique’s GDP is spent on research and development, which is still lower than the 1% of GDP recommended by the African Union; and there are only 43 researchers (full time equivalent) per million inhabitants.
To improve its scientific skills base, research excellence and innovation, Mozambique, through the MozSkills Project, joined eight other African countries of the Rsif/PASET in 2021. The eight countries also contributing to the Rsif/PASET are Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Senegal. Rsif offers Mozambique the opportunity to train high quality PhDs through intra-Africa academic exchange and international partnerships for world-class doctoral training. It also provides a wider academic and research network through research placements at an advanced institution for exposure to cutting-edge technologies and connecting with global research networks, as well as regional integration within Africa through centers of excellence and innovation ecosystems.
The Forum brings together Mozambican project teams researchers, collaborating partners, leaders of implementing institutions (rectors / directors), keynote speakers, government officials, the World Bank and icipe, to share experiences and discuss strategies for improving capacity for translating research outputs into practical uses.
With such a commitment, Mozambique is on the right track of building strong institutions and nurturing future science leaders who will make it possible to realise its vision of a science and technology-led growth and development.
Jean Baptiste HABINSHUTI from Rwanda is a PASET-RSIF Scholar in Material Science and Engineering at African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Nigeria. Being a recipient of RSIF PhD scholarship opportunity meant a lot to him. First, it was an avenue to upgrade his academic qualification, but it also gave him a chance to realize his high school dream to earn the title of professor after having been nicknamed “Professseur” by students from his community for organizing science tutoring sessions during high school holidays. Little did they know that it was a catalyst for him to build himself and achieve his personal goals and development.
Picture of Baptiste taken in the lab during sample preparation for analysis
He was awarded PASET-RSIF scholarship to pursue a PhD degree in Material Science and Engineering in the thematic area of Mining, Mineral and Materials Engineering at AUST (Nigeria). At AUST, the PhD program comprises two components: course work and research. To-date, Jean has completed his course work and is now on a sandwich program at Worcester Polytechnique Institute (USA) for part of his research. His research has four projects, of which he has completed two of them, while one is ongoing. He has one manuscript for publication under-review and he is working on the second one.
Why study material Science and engineering?
Jean believes that his study will add significant value to African mineral resources. The research focuses on processing and extraction of tantalite ores using simple, affordable, and environmentally friendly techniques. He is exploring how these techniques can be applied in mining and processing of African tantalite ores and add value to the mineral resources from Africa instead of exporting them in their raw form. By working closely with academic institutions, relevant investors and governments, and other stakeholders within sub-Saharan Africa; this specialized knowledge will be integrated in the region and transferred to the future generation.
When the Covid-19 pandemic spread to Africa, Jean, like many other scholars away from home had worries about his family and they were also worried about him. Getting updates about the Covid-19 status in his country was part of his daily activities. Regular calls to his family and relatives to raise their awareness and help them understand the importance of implementing and following the government preventive policies, was a need. USA was one of the most affected countries in both confirmed cases and mortality, something that caused more worries to Jean, his colleagues and his family. Consequently, staying indoors was the only way to avoid being exposed to the virus. Psychological instability resulting from repetitive activities and being away from the family members begun to affect him and other colleagues.
COVID-19 and the future
All his social life was affected by COVID 19 and as far as his research work was concerned, he had done some of the preliminary experiments before the pandemic paralyzed the activities in the University. When the University was closed in March 2020, access to facilities such as the Laboratories and Libraries became impossible and some activities shifted to remote access. The regular meetings with supervisors for discussion and presentation of research progress also slowed down significantly.
Covid-19 affected Jean’s research work plan because there was no laboratory work during the pandemic. The University has since resumed laboratory access with some restrictions. He admits that he has quite a lot of work to do, as recommended by his advisors, and he is currently trying to maximize on literature review, such that when things normalise, most of his time will be focused on laboratory work. However, there is a clear delay in his work plan, but he is committed to squeeze himself and work hard as he can see the possibilities of meeting the planned timeline to achieve his goals and objectives on time. The only big challenge is about his sample stuck in France due to radioactive material detected in. He, with the help of his host University tried to work on the shipment of other samples from Africa, but the samples were missed completely. FedEX has requested that he file claim to the shipping agency.
Jean is very grateful to RSIF and all collaborators of the program for giving him such an opportunity to shape his future, that of his family and his Country. He urges the management of RSIF to be aware of the impact and delays caused by the pandemic and work collaboratively. The University must do their best to allow access to facilities and tools that enable students to achieve their academic targets on time. RSIF should communicate with student advisors and encourage them to respond as fast as possible when students write to them seeking guidance and or recommendations.
