RCS Project
Optimising Research Capacity on Innovation and Development in Africa through The African Network on Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems (AfricaLics)
In July 2025, Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) approved a new grant that will enable AfricaLics to optimize and scale up its efforts to strengthen research capacity in the field of African Innovation and Development studies.
The project is entitled “Optimising Research Capacity on Innovation and Development in Africa through The African Network on Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems (Africalics)” – but is popularly known as the AfricaLics RCS project. It will run from July 2025 to December 2029 with oversight from the AfricaLics Scientific Board. The project will be hosted by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in Kenya, which is now a ‘spoke’ of the AfricaLics network and which hosted the AfricaLics Secretariat from 2012 to 2025.
Under this new project, 25 African PhD students will be enrolled in the AfricaLics Visiting Fellowship Programme (VFP). The VFP offers a year-long learning experience that includes virtual training activities, mentoring by Innovation and Development scholars, and a three-month study visit at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa. While at UJ, students will be hosted by the Trilateral Chair, which serves as a Spoke of AfricaLics. For more information, please see: https://africalics.org/vfp/
In addition, approximately 100 PhD students will have the opportunity to participate in AfricaLics PhD Academies, an intensive two-week learning event hosted by African universities active in Innovation and Development studies research. The AfricaLics PhD academies will be face-to-face events hosted by different African institutions. For more information visit: https://africalics.org/phd-academies/
The project will also support AfricaLics alumni to remain active and connected within the I&D research community. This includes travel support to selected AfricaLics Academy and VFP alumni with approved papers for presentation at Globelics and AfricaLics conferences, as well as opportunities to engage in collaborative initiatives under the AfricaLics Research Coordination Areas (RCAs). For more information about AfricaLics Conferences, please see: https://africalics.org/research-conferences/
For more information about the AfricaLics Research Coordination Areas, please see: https://africalics.org/thematic-areas-rcas/
Building on experience gained and lessons learned from 2012 to 2025, the Swedish support, complemented by in-kind contributions from African universities and research institutions, will make a significant contribution to advancing innovation and development research capacity across the continent and capitalize on the investments already made in this area by all partners.
