Building Regional Leadership in Global Research Council Working Groups

Sub-Saharan Africa took an important step toward strengthening its voice in global research governance during the Global Research Council (GRC) Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Meeting and the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Academic Symposium, held from 10 to 14 November 2025 in Bulawayo. Co-hosted by the Research Council of Zimbabwe and the National Research Foundation of South Africa, the meeting brought together research funders, policymakers, and academic leaders under the theme “From Regional Dialogue to Global Impact.” A key highlight was the interactive workshop on strengthening regional engagement in GRC Working Groups, convened on 11 November 2025 at the Holiday Inn in Bulawayo.

Participation from Sub-Saharan Africa in GRC Working Groups has historically been limited, resulting in underrepresentation of the region’s needs and priorities in global research dialogues. This workshop was designed to shift that trajectory. It clarified the purpose, structure, and expectations of Working Groups and provided practical guidance on how research councils across the region can contribute more effectively and sustainably.

Opening the session, Nosisa Dube, Director for Evaluations and Impact Assessment at the National Research Foundation and Co-Chair of the GRC Responsible Research Assessment Working Group, underscored the broader significance of the workshop. She emphasised that this session was not only an introduction to Working Groups but also an opportunity to ensure that Sub-Saharan Africa’s voice is more influential in shaping global research norms and practices. Her message highlighted the urgency of increasing the region’s engagement in global governance spaces.

Participants were introduced to the role of GRC Working Groups in advancing collaboration across the international research funding community. Representatives from the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Responsible Research Assessment, and Multilateral Engagement Working Groups shared updates on their ongoing activities, achievements, and opportunities for participation. The workshop used four framing questions to guide interactive dialogue, focusing on how Working Groups can strengthen institutional efforts, what is required to sustain participation, how to build synergies with SGCI priorities, and the types of support that would enable officials to contribute meaningfully.

The workshop concluded with a collective commitment to move from discussion to concrete action. Participants agreed on the importance of reappointing dedicated officials, broadening Sub-Saharan Africa’s representation within Working Groups, and building institutional support to enable long-term engagement. As Dube noted in her closing reflections, insights drawn from the workshop will inform a regional roadmap aimed at deeper and more consistent participation from Sub-Saharan Africa in the GRC.

The session marked a significant milestone in advancing Sub-Saharan Africa’s role in global research governance. It reinforced the region’s readiness to shape global conversations on responsible research assessment, equity, diversity and inclusion, and multilateral cooperation, ensuring that its perspectives increasingly influence global research practices and standards.