Human, Institutional and Financial Resources, and Partnerships

Abstract

Many African educational and R&D institutions work under difficult circumstances—with poor human, financial and infrastructural resources. This chapter emphasizes the importance of strong research and innovation institutions that are supported with sustainable funding. It also addresses the need for a concerted human resource development that utilizes available capacity (capacity utilization) while building more capacity on the continent. Some indices like the global education ranking, patents and R&D outputs show that most institutions in many African countries rank below their peers in other developing parts of the world. The importance of partnerships and collaborations, especially North-South and South-South, is discussed and placed in context with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Potential blended financing models, including grants, venture capital and impact or social investment vehicles, are proposed to stimulate local innovation.