NRF Strengthens African Research Cooperation with Zimbabwe and Tanzania

The NRF has deepened its strategic partnerships with fellow African science funding agencies, following productive bilateral engagements with the Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ) and the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) during the 2025 GRC Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Meeting and SGCI Academic Symposium in Bulawayo.

Unlocking new research opportunities with Zimbabwe

In discussions with RCZ, both organisations reaffirmed the strong spirit of collaboration that has developed over years of close interaction. While the relationship has been largely informal to date, the NRF and RCZ agreed that a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would unlock new opportunities for structured cooperation. Areas identified for collaboration include staff and research exchanges, capacity strengthening, particularly through learning from the NRF’s systems such as rating and peer review, and partnerships on research infrastructure, research chairs and research funding mobilisation.

Both sides also recognised the importance of strengthening linkages between Zimbabwean researchers based in South Africa and those working in Zimbabwe. To advance these priorities, the NRF will undertake a technical visit to RCZ, focusing on knowledge exchange (including diaspora initiatives), shared research infrastructure, institutional capacity building, and exploring a potential Africa Research Fund concept. The strong support from the Office of the President of Zimbabwe for RCZ was noted as a significant enabler for future joint work.

Enhancing South-South cooperation with Tanzania

The bilateral meeting with COSTECH reaffirmed the commitment of both organisations to advance the MoU signed in 2025. A technical visit to Tanzania is planned to operationalise the agreement. Discussions highlighted opportunities for joint funding programmes, enhanced South–South cooperation, and better alignment of ongoing bilateral and multilateral initiatives. As part of strengthening public communication and visibility, the partners also agreed to develop a fact sheet outlining the progress and strategic value of the NRF–COSTECH partnership.

Through these engagements, the NRF continues to strengthen Africa’s research ecosystem by building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships that promote scientific exchange, enhance capacity, and mobilise resources for high-quality, impactful research across the continent.