With funding from the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (Sida), the AfricaLics Secretariat, hosted by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) has implemented the research capacity building project targeting African researchers working in the area of innovation and development.
Since 2011, the network has solidified its activities across three areas:
- Capacity building through holding of residential or online PhD two weeklong training academies; a one-year visiting fellowship programme with a five-month stay at Aalborg University in Denmark (2012 – 2021; and from 2023, the stay at University of Johannesburg) and dedicated mentorship to enhance paper writing for conferences and journal submissions.
- Research strengthening via seed funding to multi-partner consortiums to fill identified research gaps; regular research conferences and support to build research training at post-graduate level including PhD supervisor training and model postgraduate curriculum development.
- Network building through formalisation of the network as a non-incorporated voluntary association with a dedicated Secretariat, Scientific Board (ASB), interim constitution and membership database; development of a network website and social media accounts to keep members engaged and a series of webinars, policy engagement events and other opportunities.
The network has consolidated its capacity building efforts in various regions of Africa through the establishment of national and regional chapters (called national and regional LICS), which conduct their own activities, in collaboration with the AfricaLics network and Secretariat. Joint activities include biennial AfricaLics international research conferences; on-site PhD academies and hosting of the PhD VFP and other teaching and research training events. At this stage (2023), three national LICS have been formed: NigeriaLics, EthiopiaLics and FasoLics. Moreover, the MAGHTECH network acts as a de facto spoke of the network.