AfricaLics recognizes that country and sub-regional research and capacity-building needs as well as economic and social development priorities may differ from those at a continental level. As such, we encourage the development of national and sub-regional AfricaLics networks, called LICS. These are mostly virtual networks that are coordinated by an individual or group of individuals at one or more universities or research institutes based in the country or sub-region. When approved by the ASB, national and sub-regional LICS become ‘spokes’ of the network.
National and sub-regional LICs may conduct a range of activities depending on the needs, time, and commitment given by their members. Activities include but are not limited to seminars; workshops; mentorship support etc. They collaborate closely with the AfricaLics Scientific Board and the Secretariat to realise AfricaLics key events such as the biennial AfricaLics conferences and AfricaLics PhD academies.
National and sub-regional LICS are expected to fundraise for their own activities and assist in fundraising for AfricaLics e.g. when they take on responsibility for such events. AfricaLics does not currently have funding to support activities conducted by national or sub-regional LICS but will endeavor to help fundraise for joint activities across the continent and support national and sub-regional LICS in their fundraising efforts.
As of May 2024 the following national and sub-regional LICS have been recognized by the AfricaLics Scientific Board as formal spokes of the network:
- NigeriaLics: Spoke coordinator – Prof. Opeyemi Eyitayo Ayinde
- EthiopiaLics: Spoke Coordinator – Dr. Abdi Yuya
- FasoLics: Spoke coordinator – Dr. Natéwindé Sawadogo
In the North African sub-region, MAGHTECH serves as a de facto AfricaLics sub-regional network. The spoke Coordinator/s are Prof. Abdelkader Djeflat and Dr. Samah Souleh.
In addition to the national and sub-regional LICS, institutional members may also be recognised as spokes. This is currently the case with the SARChI-Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation (TRCTI ) at University of Johannesburg which is approved by the ASB as a spoke because it hosts the students enrolled in AfricaLics Visiting Fellowship Programme and helps organise the AfricaLics PhD academies from 2023 to 2025.
Other institutional members of AfricaLics may apply to become spokes in the future if they undertake to host specific AfricaLics activities over a longer period (3-5 years) and provided they are approved by the ASB to do this.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
Other national and sub-regional LICS may be formed in the future. These will be required to make a formal application using the prescribed “expression of interest form”. If you are interested in setting up a national or sub-regional AfricaLics LICS, please download the expression of interest form here. The application will be screened by the AfricaLics Secretariat before submission to the ASB.