From Regional Dialogue to Global Impact: The 2025 GRC Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Meeting and SGCI Academic Symposium kicks off in Zimbabwe

The 2025 Global Research Council (GRC) Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Meeting and Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Academic Symposium officially opened on 10 November 2025 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, under the theme From Regional Dialogue to Global Impact.

Co-hosted by the Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ) and the NRF, the event brings together African and international research-funding leaders, policymakers, and researchers to advance the strategic objectives of the GRC and to launch a new cohort of SGCI-funded bilateral research projects across the region.

This year’s GRC discussions focus on two key themes: Reimagining Inclusive Open Science for Equity, Justice and Sustainability and Research for Sustainable Communities. Developed by the co-hosts of the 2026 GRC Annual Meeting—the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI)—these themes provide a foundation for reflection on how African funders can ensure that science serves people and the planet equitably.

Delivering the keynote address on 11 November, Professor Obert Jiri, Professor of Agricultural Sciences and Permanent Secretary in Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, said, “The ultimate measure of research lies in its impact on the ground, in the resilience and wellbeing of communities. We call for co-created research that strengthens Africa’s knowledge systems and fosters partnerships where researchers, policymakers, and communities collaborate from the outset.”

Using examples such as drought research conducted with small-holder farmers, Professor Jiri highlighted the value of community-engaged approaches that lead to locally relevant and sustainable solutions. “I urge funders and research leaders to leverage their influence to incentivise community-engaged research, prioritise proposals with strong community linkages, and support collaboration across borders.”

Added Prof Jiri, “Curiosity-driven research plays a vital role in strengthening Africa’s scientific ecosystem and science must lead with evidence that guides policymakers. Open science is most powerful when it deliberately connects science, policy, and society, to build local capacities and ensure that research funding delivers tangible impact.”

The GRC Regional Meeting provides a platform for heads of national and regional research funding organisations to exchange policy insights, deepen cooperation, and share best practices. In parallel, the SGCI Academic Symposium facilitates researcher-level engagement that translates these policy discussions into tangible collaborations. By aligning both processes, the gathering strengthens the link between funding policy and research practice, and fosters the cross-fertilisation of ideas and partnerships across the continent.

Through moderated dialogues, leadership roundtables, and synthesis sessions, participants are shaping Africa’s regional contribution to the GRC’s global agenda and influencing the collective direction toward the 2027 GRC Annual Meeting, which will be co-hosted by the NRF and the German Research Foundation (DFG).

As discussions unfold, the meeting underscores a shared commitment to the advancement of African science, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that regional perspectives continue to shape the global research landscape.

The NRF delegation is led by Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, Chief Executive Officer of the NRF and GRC Governing Board member representing Sub-Saharan Africa.