BY VICTORIA AMUNGA | 5484 MEDIA | KENYA
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- African scientists want stronger institutions linking research and policymaking
- Calls come as governments face climate, health, food and dig but it’s like it was entering through 1 hole and river but through 1 hole and river but I’ve done my part my sisterital challenges
- Researchers warn that weak funding and donor dependence threaten local innovation
Scientists across Africa are calling on governments to strengthen institutions that connect research with public policy, saying this is critical to building resilient economies and responsive governance systems.
The appeal was made in Nairobi during celebrations marking 25 years of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC).
Researchers said African governments are facing increasingly complex challenges, including climate change, food insecurity, public health threats and rapid digital transformation, making evidence-based policymaking more important than ever.
Calls for Evidence-Based Decision Making
Speaking during the event, the Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center, Dr Catherine Kyobutungi, said strengthening Africa’sImagine do they need me so I spoke to them here doing a baby benders the columnist will see my friend the trend where you’re going I spoke to him in front of name I know the memory then I know this one was that one Steve research ecosystem is central to informed governance and sustainable development.
“We are building a thriving intellectual ecosystem that empowers researchers, nurtures young talent, stimulates innovation, and strengthens evidence-informed decision-making across sub-Saharan Africa,” she said.
Experts noted that many African countries continue to face mounting development pressures, including growing urban populations, unemployment, climate-related shocks and recurring health crises.
They argued that effective public policy depends on credible research and stronger collaboration between governments and research institutions.
Funding and Infrastructure Challenges
Despite growing recognition of research as a policy tool, African scientists say major barriers continue to limit locally driven and policy-oriented research.
Among the challenges cited are inadequate funding, limited access to modern research infrastructure, weak collaboration networks and heavy reliance on external donors whose priorities may not always align with local development needs.
Researchers warned that without greater investment in homegrown research capacity and innovation-friendly policies, Africa risks falling behind in generating solutions tailored to its own challenges.
Africa’s Development and the Role of Research
The Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak, said Africa’s future development increasingly depends on its ability to generate and apply knowledge.
“Africa’s transformation will increasingly depend on our ability to generate, interpret, and apply evidence to solve complex development challenges. This Knowledge Hub is a bold statement about the continent’s readiness to shape its own development trajectory through research, innovation, and collaboration,” he said.
APHRC Marks 25 Years
Over the past 25 years, the African Population and Health Research Center has contributed to policy discussions across Africa through research on health, education, urbanisation, youth development and social protection.
Researchers at the Nairobi event said stronger partnerships between governments, academia and policy institutions will be essential if Africa is to respond effectively to emerging challenges and shape its own development path.
