Research capacity building in Africa

EDCTP Forum 2006

Research capacity building in Africa:

-The Sida/SAREC experience

Berit Olsson

EDCTP Forum 2006

Swedish InternationalDevelopment co-operation Agency

SARECDepartment for Research Cooperation

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Swedish Government bill 2003:“Shared Responsibilities”- states

All areas of Swedish politics shallcontribute to a fair and sustainable globaldevelopment

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“Shared Responsibilities”- states


Swedish development co-operation shallcontribute to an environment supportive of poor people’s own efforts to improve their quality of life

EDCTP Forum 2006

“Shared Responsibilities”- states


Swedish development co-operation shallcontribute to an environment supportive of poor people’s own efforts to improve their quality of life

Guided byperspectives of the poor and a rights perspective

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SAREC´s mandate

• Assisting developingcountries in:

• their development of research capacity

• the production of new relevant knowledge

• as well as• promoting Swedish

research co-operation

1975

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Research in Developing Countries 500mSEKAfrica 320 mSEKAsia 90 mSEKLatin America 90 mSEK

International Research 300 mSEKSwedish Dev. Research 100 mSEK

Research Co-operation 2005

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Sida/SAREC support to Regional and International Research

Programmes• Democracy and conflict

studies• Environmental economy

• Drylands• Coastal zone management• Genetic resources

• Reproductive Health• Tropical diseases• HIV/AIDS• Epidemiology• Environmental health

• Biotechnology,• Environmental technology• Energy

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Health related networks & Initiatives

• EDCTP – European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership

• EMVI, European Malaria Initiative• MIM, Multilateral Initiative on Malaria• WHO/TDR- Tropical diseases• INDEPTH- Demographic surveillance sites• IRET (research on environmental health)• WHO/HRP- Reproductive health• WHO – other research initiatives• HIV/AIDS special Programme

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Health related networks & Initiatives (2)

• Policy Research– Global Forum for Health research– COHRED– Alliance for Health Policy & Systems research

• NetTropica (Central America network for Tropical Disease Research)

• ICDDRB – Infectious disease institute Bangladesh

• IVI – International Vaccine Initiative

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Weak research environments-frustrated researchers

• An individual who receives external research funding is all too often frustrated by problems that prevent smooth implementation. What alternatives do they have?– Give up or leave!– Find short-cuts such as getting collaborators to

purchase reagents/journals etc.– Tackle the problems to improve them

• It is necessary to address the environment and the systems which are bottleneck in a holistic way

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Bilateral Research Co-operation

Africa• Burkina Faso• (Eritrea)• Ethiopia• Mozambique• Rwanda• Tanzania• Uganda

Asia• Laos• Sri Lanka• Vietnam

Latin America• Bolivia• Honduras• Nicaragua

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Bilateral Research Co-operation

FEATURES:• Long term (e.g Tanzania & Mozambique

>25 years continuous support)• Comprehensive

– Focus on research universities– Research supporting investments– National research system

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Bilateral Research Co-operation -a learning experience

• 1975-1985 Research councils - grants• 1980- Research training• 1985- Research environments• 1990- Universities/Institutions• 1995- National research training• 2000- Knowledge systems

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Phase 1: National Research Councils

• SAREC, initially, started by supporting national research councils, which were assumed best placed to identify priority areas for research and allocate resources to these.

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Phase 2:Training of Individual Researchers

• Following an evaluation in 1985, it was clear that few of the countries involved had sufficient capacity for the research council function.

• The training of individual researcherscame in focus.

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Phase 2: Research training

• A project based sandwich model (no individual scholarships) – Supervisors came to the institution– PhD candidate went out for shorter courses, lab-

work etc.

• The training was accompanied by support for libraries, laboratory equipment etc

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Phase 3:Groups & creative environments

• Support for groups and a creative environments, implying more support for infrastructure - still based on projects, but more comprehensive,

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Phase 4: The build up of a research university

• From the 90s, negotiated packages of support to key institutions for research development. Including:

– elements in line with university strategic plans. – research training linked to staff development– support for research management, laboratories,

library and ICT connectivity, etc.

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Phase 5 a)Local research training

• The capacity to award PhD degrees appears to be pivotal in capacity development for research.– The involvement of groups of senior and

junior staff members forms the basis for an academic environment, which may interact with the international research community – as well as regional networks

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Phase 5 b)Research system at large

• It is timely to negotiate support in relation to national commitments for research development.

• Sida tries to support a national and regional “architecture” for research

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Research capacity• Qualified researchers

- research groups - laboratories, libraries, ICT

• Institutions- universities, research training - research institutes

• System- policy, organization, resources - Research Councils

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University level “smörgåsbord”

• There is no set format for university/national research support– Dependent on needs

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How do we decide what to support within a university?

• The University selects from the smörgåsbord of possibilities– In line with the university’s strategic plan

• The specific research project areas are defined by the researchers and refined in collaboration with their (Swedish) collaborators but reviewed on science & relevance (including relevance to MDGs)– Depending on the level of research experience of the

researcher there may be different roles of collaborator

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SIDA/SAREC SMÖRGÅSBORD

RESEARCH Management Support

RESEARCH Support

RESEARCH PROJECT Support

Project 1 /Faculty 1




Project Y

Project X

Several faculties with research projects

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RESEARCH Support


Library

Faculty Funds

University

Funds

Registration

fees

Stipends

Research collaboratn.

Overheads

Central

Lab.





Project Y

Project X

Choice of different supportive actions to facilitate the research projects

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RESEARCH Support


Library

Faculty Funds

University

Funds

Registration

fees

Stipends


Overheads

Central

Lab.





Project Y

Project X

Faculty needs may differ

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RESEARCH MANAGEMENT SUPPORT TO CREATE THE CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR RESEARCH


RESEARCH Support

PROJECT Support

REFORM

Library

Faculty Funds

University

Funds

Registration

fees

Stipends


Overheads

Central

Lab.

Project 1

Project 2

Project 3

Project 4

STRATEGY

Project Y

Project X

CO-ORDINATION

UNIV.RES POLICY

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An example of University Support at Makerere University (MU)

• March 1999: The problems identified by MU for why there is weak research opportunities in MU– Weak research culture– Lack of scientific literature– Lack of Information Communication Technology,ICT– Weak/cumbersome administration– Lack of research funds for those with PhDs to continue

to do research– MU policy that need for PhD to be lecturer was not

coupled with increased PhD training possibilities

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Response to ICT and access

• 2000: Provided funding to MU to device a comprehensive ICT Master Plan– Asked other donors (NORAD, USAID, African

Development Bank) to hold support until master plans

• 2004:– Optical fiber laid throughout campus. Local area Net works

installed. Computers purchased– A comprehensive network including Intranet– Library Information System (electronic based cataloguing

etc). Access to data basis including 7000 journal titles– Academic registrar & Financial management now automated

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Response to lack of research funds for PhD holders & PhD aspirants

• Support of Faculty based programmes aimed at “Supporting the supervisor to supervise”– Collaboration between senior Swedish/other senior

researchers on project of mutual interest with mutual PhD student registered at MU but with opportunity to spend time in Sweden/and elsewhere

– Provision of funds for project on a needs basis

• Competitive University wide research funds• Competitive Faculty based research funds

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Other Responses• Setting up of Demographic Surveillance Site

(DSS) at Iganga/Mayuge– Provides opportunity for interdisciplinary research– Provide continuous data that may be relevant for policy

• PhD research courses (e.g Genes & genomes co-funded by Karolinska Institutet where Swedish students do course at MU)

• Support to research administration in MU as well as in Sweden

• Joint PhD degree agreement signed in 2003 between Faculty of Medicine and KarolinskaInstitutet (historical achievement)(Not SAREC’sultimate goal)

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Other Responses

• Additional funding for Principal investigators supported by other agencies encouraged, thus giving advantage to scientifically strong groups

• Including 4-6% defined administrative costsrecognising that funding generates need for increased resources

• Creating opportunity for dialogue with the leadership, university & Min. of Finance

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Some Dialogue issues

• Salaries and financial incentives– MU being asked to come up with its own comprehensive

policy for encouraging research which they say they want to do in their research strategy

– Once a comprehensive policy available Sida will “buy” into it.• Funding agency collaboration

– Joint review and auditing with NORAD– Co-funding between Sida, NORAD & Carnegie Corporation– Stakeholders meetings– Joint reporting(?)

• Procurement

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A concerted approach• No group/organisation can do the work alone: We

need to– Find opportunities to work with other countries and

funding agencies– See it as a whole and for credit to be given where it is

warranted for both core support and project specific support

Foundation

Individualresearchers

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Research TrainingNo individual scholarships

• Modalities

• Collaborative projects• Sandwich model• Local Masters • Local PhD

• Role of Swe. partner

• Researcher• Major supervisor• Initial support• Co-supervisor

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What do different country research collaboration programmes look like?

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Sida/SAREC Support to Honduras (2005-2008)

National Autonomous Univ of Honduras

(UNAH)

University Reform Activities

(Higher Educationand Research)

InstitutionalSupport

Research and Research

Training

International Workshop on HE

Advisory team to follow reformLiaison with IAU

Consultancies to assist reform plans

Administration Library

ICT

Health Science(Fac of Microbiology)

Faculty of Engineering

Social Science

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Examples of research support set up in different countries

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Sida/SAREC support to Sri LankaMin. Finance

PolicyEnvironment

Implementation

UnivColombo

UnivPeradeniya

UnivKelaniya

Univ. SriJaywwardenepura

UnivJaffna Univ. Ruhuna

National Science Foundation

NSF

Institute of Biodiversity

MainLibrary

StaffDevelopment

Centre

Colombo School

computint

ICT infrastructure

ElectricalEngineering

Sociology

Culture Geography

Community & Family

MedicineBiodiversity Fisheries

Biology

Research Grant

Scheme

Culture Geography

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Sida/SAREC Support to Tanzania (July 2004- June 2008)

Reform &Management

Library

Faculty grantschemes

Gender

Directorate of Postgraduate Studies

ICT

ResearchFacilitation

Social Science

Technology

Medicine

Natural Science

Research ProgrammesFaculty Support

University of Dar es Saalam andMuhimbil University College of Health Science

Directorate of Research & Publications

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Sida/SAREC Support to Rwanda

StrategicPlanning

FinancialAdministration

Library Support

Research Commission

CapacityStrengthening

Peace and ConflictManagement

Education

Environment

MSc.in ICT

Research andResearch Training

ICTInfrastructure

National University of Rwanda (NUR)

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Research Capacity Building History , Nicaragua

1982 19871990

1994 199720002000

2004

First projecton medical plants

First projecton medical plants

First M.Sc.

Health Researchprojects

First M.Sc.

Health Researchprojects

6 Licent.

First HDSS

Lab. for Occup. Health res.

Institutional Support programme

6 Licent.

First HDSS

Lab. for Occup. Health res.

Institutional Support programme

2 PhD

2 Licent.

Developm. of technical capacity

Critical moments in coop.

2 PhD

2 Licent.

Developm. of technical capacity

Critical moments in coop.

3 PhD

Highest number of publicat.

4 local training programme3 Research Centres

3 PhD

Highest number of publicat.

4 local training programme3 Research Centres

Lab. for Infectious Diseases Research

English training

Lab. for Infectious Diseases Research

English training

2 PhD

Articulation of projects

Funding diversificat.

Institute. Research Policy and Strategy

HDSS/ CIDS

OH Clinic

2 PhD

Articulation of projects

Funding diversificat.

Institute. Research Policy and Strategy

HDSS/ CIDS

OH Clinic

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Sida/Sarec Support to NicaraguaSchemarubrik

Administrativedevelopment

Infectious DiseasesProgramme

Public HealthProgramme

UNAN León

Environmental Programme

EnvironmentalCourse

Research Direction – open fund

UNAN Managua

Administrativedevelopment

Chemicalengineering

Electrical & computerengineering

Environmentalengineering

ResearchCouncil

UNI

Administrative development

PhDprogramme

Research Council

UNA

ICT

CNU

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SAREC is a research funding organ within a development

agency, Sida- This distinguishes SAREC from many

other agencies

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Research capacity building in Africa