The IDRC President visits COSTECH
The IDRC President visits COSTECH
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), President Madame Julie Delahanty, has today on the 22nd September 2023, visited the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH). The aim of the visit was for her to get acquainted with what COSTECH does to complement the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI), which is partly funded by the IDRC.
Delivering the welcome remarks, the Acting Director General, who is also the Director of Research Coordination and Promotion, Dr. Bugwesa Katale noted that COSTECH) is one of 17 Science Granting Councils (SGCs), that are being supported by IDRC in various themes. He also noted that COSTECH joined the SGCI, which is a network of funders, councils and collaborative technical agencies since 2015.
“Since then, COSTECH has been enjoying benefits of this initiative in terms of institutional capacity building in research management; use of data and evidence in policy and decision making; funding research and innovation projects; supporting strategic communications, uptake of knowledge outputs and networking; strengthening gender equality and inclusivity as well as strengthening capacity for public-private partnership,”he revealed.
Dr. Bugwesa Katale (far left) addresses the IDRC delegation (left)
Ms. Neema Tindamanyire (1st left), delivers a presentation on how COSTECH is faring with the SGCs plan of action during the IDRC President’s visit to COSTECH.
“Through this initiative, COSTECH has managed to attract more than US $ 3,218,971 billion, the fund that has been utilised to support research and innovation projects at SUA, NM-AIST, UDOM, TEMDO, UDSM, UDSM, MUHAS, OUT, PCCB. These higher learning and research and development institutions are undertaking collaborative research and innovation projects which are aimed at transforming the lives if Tanzanians.” She noted.
She also highlighted on how COSTECH has leveraged the SGCI to engage in other initiatives such as the Oliver Tambo Africa Research Chairs initiative, the GRC Gender Working Group (alongside MESRI of Senegal and NSTC of Zambia) and participated in various engagements, including the hosting of a seminars and workshops on sexual harassment and bullying during the GRC annual meetings.
“The initiative has taught us some good lessons. We have been able to create an avenue for the councils and researchers to interact and work together; acquired opportunities for COSTECH staff to interact with other council’s counterpart researchers, policy and decision makers in STI arena. The initiative has also complemented the government efforts in supporting STI platforms, as well as reaching out to other councils has been so easy,” she revealed.
During the session, the IDRC President and her delegation had an opportunity to exchanged experiences and ask various questions which sought to understand how COSTECH is engaging the private sector in funding and commercializing research and innovation outputs; initiative to support early-career researchers and how the organisation is using research results to influence policy at government level.
The IDRC President assured COSTECH of good working relationship and promised to continue supporting the organisation through the existing mechanisms.
The IDRC President Julie Delahanty (1st left), has a word with the COSTECH Management team (right)
“IDRC is grateful to have COSTECH on board. We really appreciate what you are doing in terms of research and innovation grants management. We assure you of good working relationship and collaborations. There is much we can do together. All that is needed is a follow up.” She concluded.
A group picture featuring COSTECH Management team and the IDRC delegation
The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) is a multi-donor initiative funded by IDRC, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, South Africa’s National Research Foundation, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the German Research Foundation. Since its inception in 2015, the SGCI has been strengthening the capacities of science granting councils in sub-Saharan African countries to support research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to economic and social development. Specifically, the initiative has been strengthening the capacities of councils in research management; use of data and evidence in policy and decision-making; funding research and innovation projects; strategic communications and knowledge translation; and gender equality and inclusivity.
