THE
GLOBAL EYE
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION NEWSLETTER
EDITION TWO | 2016
Gender and Equality
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Department:
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REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
22
19
A
E
E
E
26
28
11
E
5
23
10
E
8
4
14
E
27
8. CZECH REPUBLIC
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
1
9. EGYPT
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
F
F
1. ALGERIA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
3. ARGENTINA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
B
6. BRAZIL
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
7. CHINA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
3
2
11. GERMANY
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
12. INDIA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
4. AUSTRIA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
5. BELGIUM
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
10. FRANCE
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement.
6
2. ANGOLA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
E
13. INDONESIA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
14. ITALY
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
15. JAPAN
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
16. MALAYSIA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
18
F
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GLOBAL INITIATIVES
A.
• Newton Fund Collaboration
B.
• BRICS – Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa
C.
• TWAS – All developing countries
- Egypt, Kenya, United Kingdom
20
D.
• ERAfrica – Africa and Europe
E.
F.
• SKA - Australia, Botswana, Canada, China, Germany,
Ghana, India, Italy, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius,
Namibia, New Zealand, Mozambique, Sweden,
The Netherlands, United Kingdom
• Science Granting Councils Initiative - Burkina Faso,
Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
and Zimbabwe
B
B
E
21
7
9
24
12
A
B
E
29. ZAMBIA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
F
A
F
29
F
F
17
F
E
13
25
E
F
B
16
F
27. TUNISIA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
28. UNITED KINGDOM
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
F
F
15
21. SOUTH KOREA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
E
E
22. SWEDEN
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
23. SWITZERLAND
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
E
17. MOZAMBIQUE
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
18. NAMIBIA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
24. TAIWAN
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
19. NORWAY
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
25. TANZANIA
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
20. RUSSIAN FEDERATION
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
• Inter-Agency Bilateral Agreement
26. THE NETHERLANDS
• Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreement
E
CONTENTS
09
Applying the gender lens
in science funding
The critical role that science, technology and
innovation (STI) plays in the national and regional
developmental agenda is well documented. Not
only has this sector been underfunded in most
African states, but the inclusion of women at
various levels has been limited.
Correcting this imbalance should be a collective
effort by all stakeholders engaged in all spheres
of policymaking and implementation in the STI
sector. Science granting councils (SGCs) have an
important role to play in this regard.
11
CAPRISA
The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research
in South Africa (CAPRISA) is one of the more
recently established DST-NRF centres of
excellence with a focus on HIV prevention research.
South Africa is at the epicentre of the HIV pandemic
and its research efforts are making significant
contributions in the global response to the disease.
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
25
The Science Granting
Councils Initiative
The National Research Foundation in partnership with the United Kingdom’s Department
for International Development (DFID) and Canada’s International Development Research
Centre (IDRC) launched the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) on 11 September
2015 in Nairobi, Kenya. The SGCI, a 5-year initiative valued at USD 15 million, seeks to
strengthen the abilities of science granting councils to support research and evidencebased policies that will contribute to economic and social development
Message from the Executive Director Appointments at IRC
Meet the IRC Staff
NRF Facilities & the SKA sites in South Africa 02
04
05
06
GENDER FOCUS
Representation of women in research Applying the gender lens in science funding CAPRISA
ASSAf-TWAS-ROSSA Annual Young Scientists’ Conference 07
09
11
13
FOCUS ON AFRICA
NRF Value Propositions NRF Engagements in Africa: Capacity Development DST and NRF Bilateral Agreements in Africa Researchers Workshops 14
15
16
18
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATION
NRF/TWAS Postgraduate Fellowship Programme ESASTAP 2020 NRF/ERC Research Collaboration BRICS Partnership ERAfrica II The Science Granting Councils Initiative 21
22
22
23
24
25
IN DISCUSSION WITH…
Rocky Skeef and Priscilla Mensah
27
HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
Southern African Systems Analysis Centre IRC in Pictures
Researcher links: Funding Opportunities
New Chair for the IORAG
Global Research Council Africa Regional Meeting
The South African ICSU Secretariat
Country-to-Country Agreements Inter-Agency Agreements Beneficiaries of IRC Funding The DST/NRF Internship Programme 30
32
34
35
36
37
39
40
41
42
©NRF, 2016
This newsletter series was
first launched in 2015 as
a means of enabling the
IRC interns to further their
international relations
and diplomacy skills and
competencies. This 2016
edition of the publication
was collated and finalised
by Kholofelo Mampeule
and Mlungisi Zondi.
To view the 2015 edition,
please visit http://www.nrf.
ac.za/document/global-eyeedition-1-irc-newsletter
THE
GLOBAL EYE
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION NEWSLETTER
EDITION ONE | 2015
Research and Development
CONTACT US
International Relations and Cooperation
PO Box 2600 | Pretoria | 0001
National Research Foundation | CSIR South Gate
Meiring Naude Road | Brummeria | Pretoria East | 0184
T: +27 12 481 4187
science
& technology
Department:
Science and Technology
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
UE
IN THIS ISS
tion
Fund Collabora
ton
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Edition Two - 2016
01
Message from the Executive Director
A message
from the Executive Director
Executive Director: International Relations and Cooperation / National Research Foundation
- DR ALDO STROEBEL -
Foreword
Internationalisation is an increasingly important endeavour for
all key actors in science and technology (S&T). Globally, there is
evidence of significant shifts in relationships between science,
policy and society as reflected in a range of current policy
and strategy documents, and an increased expectation of the
value and contribution of internationalisation to the research,
development and innovation enterprise. At regional and
continental levels, further key injunctions on the international
function within the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South
Africa are placed, within the policy framework determined by
the Department of Science and Technology (DST). These, too,
reflect objectives of human resources and skills development to
foster equitable and sustainable growth with a clear emphasis
on the role of S&T.
The emergence of new countries like the BRICS partners and
others, with similar aspirations towards global competitiveness
and the contribution of S&T to socio-economic development,
offer an unprecedented opportunity for South Africa, and the
NRF, to strategically engage for mutual benefit, innovative
resource mobilisation, and a strategic expansion of collaborative
frameworks aligned to national priorities.
The NRF acknowledges this local, regional and global imperative
and has set internationalisation as one of its cross-cutting
focal points, as outlined in the new NRF Strategy 2020. With
the aspiration to be a global competitor in the knowledge
society and a preferred destination for science and technology
investment, South Africa currently contends with a number
of strategic challenges, including (but by no means limited to)
establishing and promoting high level strategic international
collaborative networks and cultivating sufficient human capital.
Given the above status quo and South Africa’s global status
as an emerging economy where the disparities between an
impoverished majority and wealthy minority loom large, science
and technology are key factors – along with education and health
– in seeking affordable, sustainable and long term solutions to
improving the quality of life of all South African citizens.
02
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
The International Relations and Cooperation (IRC) Directorate of
the NRF contributes strategically to the promotion of research
excellence through inter alia the internationalisation of the
research platform, and higher education; and in particular to the
concerted focus on its engagements in the rest of Africa. Through
the synergies of its core initiatives and innovative projects, there
is an invaluable contribution through IRC’s programmes to human
capital development (HCD) of the national system of innovation,
especially relating to redress and equality.
The NRF’s robust and internationally recognised research
management systems position it as a leading funding agency on
the African continent. This strategic advantage is accelerating
engagements between countries on the continent in collaboration
with international partners, and includes renewed and innovative
frameworks of engagement through bi- and especially multilateral
research programmes, as well as multi-country science granting
initiatives. A committed focus on inclusivity of geographical
spread of participating South African institutions, and diversity
and equity of both researchers and participating students, in a
collective drive to research excellence, are areas of strategic
output for South Africa.
Research continues to show that there are fewer female graduates
in S&T, fewer women in S&T careers, and even fewer in S&T
leadership. The NRF is responding to the challenge of gender
inequality in S&T through a variety of initiatives, contextualised
by a global and regional approach, and renewal of focus on this
critical challenge to inclusive and collective development in S&T.
At a global level, the Global Research Council (GRC) is
spearheading discussions on the role of science granting councils
(SGCs) in increasing the participation of women in science
and leadership, and in advocating for gender considerations
in the scientific endeavour. To this end, a set of principles for
implementation by SGCs will be agreed upon in 2016 during the
global meeting of the GRC, and will have positive implications for
the NRF’s contributions to gender equality in S&T in South Africa.
Message from the Executive Director
The International Relations and Cooperation Team
Regionally, the NRF has engaged and followed with keen interest
the various discussions that the African Union’s 2015 theme of
the “Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards
Africa’s Agenda 2063” sparked. It continues to engage with its
regional partners, and through its Africa Cooperation Unit and the
Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI),
to devise appropriate interventions for creating awareness
and implementation. Nationally, the NRF continues to support
increased participation of women in its funding instruments and
has witnessed positive changes. Its renewed focus on gender
mainstreaming its policies, conditions of grants, and action plans
will contribute to addressing the covert challenges hindering
women’s progression in S&T.
This second edition of The Global Eye, focusing on gender and
equality, continues the series of publications of IRC. Appreciation
is extended to all the article contributors, and to IRC’s outstanding
interns, Ms Kholofelo Mampeule and Mr Mlungisi Zondi for
collating this magazine.
DID YOU KNOW
IRC, on behalf of the NRF, co-hosted the African Higher Education Summit in Dakar, Senegal
during 10-12 March 2015 with CODESRIA, The World Bank, the Carnegie Corporation of New York
and other partners. The seminal event was officiated by HE Mr Kofi Annan, former SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations. A Summit Declaration was formulated and adopted to drive the
development of higher education in Africa, supported by the African Union Commission.
Edition Two - 2016
03
Appointments at IRC
Appointments at IRC
New staff members
Ms Dorothy Ngila
Mr Malose Ledwaba
Ms Dorothy Ngila has joined IRC as Project Specialist of the
Multilateral and Strategic Initiatives (MSI) Unit. Her major time
responsibility is to coordinate the Science Granting Councils
Initiative (SGCI) in sub-Saharan Africa, a multi-stakeholder and
multi-agency programme seeking to enhance the capacities of
16 Science Granting Councils in Africa (Page 25). She additionally
provides strategic support for the development and enhancement
of internationalisation as driven by the IRC Directorate and its
multilateral engagements, working in close collaboration with the
Overseas-, and Africa Cooperation units. Prior to joining the NRF,
she worked as Senior Liaison Officer, Acting Liaison Manager and
Liaison Officer at the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).
Mr Malose Ledwaba is a Liaison Officer within the IRC’s Overseas
Cooperation Unit. Malose previously served as a graduate trainee
at the Department of Higher Education and Training’s International
Relations and Global Partnerships Directorate.
He obtained his BA and BA Honors degrees in Politics and
International Relations from the University of Johannesburg
in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Malose is an avid reader with
a keen interest in the field of politics, international relations
and economics.
Ms Ngila possesses a Masters degree in Geography and
Environmental Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal
(UKZN), South Africa and a Bachelor of Arts (Public Administration
and Environmental Sciences) from the University of Botswana. She
is currently studying towards a PhD in Science and Technology
Studies at Stellenbosch University.
DID YOU KNOW
In July 2015, IRC hosted 20 Masters and PhD students from New York University (NYU), under tutelage of
Prof Teboho Moja. An annual NYU exploratory engagement, students’ interest ranges from transformation to
social issues within educational leadership, community development, advocacy work, and youth development.
04
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
Meet the IRC Staff
Meet the IRC Staff
Excecutive Director
International Relations & Cooperation
ALDO STROEBEL
Executive Assistant
Finance Officer
KATHY POTGIETER
TSHEGOFATSO KOMANE
Director:
Africa Cooperation
Director:
Overseas Cooperation
Director:
Multilateral & Strategic Initiatives
MICHAEL NXUMALO
PRUDENCE MAKHURA
SEPO HACHIGONTA
Professional Officer
Professional Officer
Project Specialist
PULENG TSHITLHO
TEUNS PHAHLAMOHLAKA
DOROTHY NGILA
Professional Officer
Professional Officer
Professional Officer
BUSISWA MOLEFE
NOMBUSO MADONDA
LYNN NGWENYA
Liaison Officer
Liaison Officer
Professional Officer
JELKA MONYELA
MALOSE LEDWABA
MOTSAKWE RAKGOALE
Intern
Administrative Assistant
Liaison Officer
KHOLOFELO MAMPEULE
TSHEGOFATSO THOKA
PROMISE SHABANGU
Intern
MLUNGISI ZONDI
Edition Two - 2016
05
NRF Facilities & SKA in South Africa
NRF Facilities
& SKA
1
South Africa
5
3
Carnarvon
Sutherland
2
4
7
6
4
The South African
Environmental Observation
Network (SAEON)
3
1
South African Institute for
Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)
7
4
The iThemba Laboratory for
Accelerator-Based Sciences
06
6
The National Zoological
Gardens of South Africa (NZG)
The Hartebeesthoek Radio
Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO)
2
5
The South African Astronomical
Observatory (SAAO)
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
The South African Square
Kilometre Array Project
(SKA SA)
Representation of Women in Research
Representation
of Women
in Research
By Dr Beverley Damonse,
Group Executive: Science Engagement and Corporate Relations
(Acting NRF CEO 2015)
in policy development; and through its activities in science
As recently as the 1960’s, women were not admitted into the
outreach and communications; sees the achievement of
physics and astronomy programmes at CalTech, MIT or Harvard
gender parity within the science sector as a critical factor in its
and the French Academy of Sciences only started granting
mandate of contributing to the improvement of the quality of life
degrees to women in 1979. Closer to home, it is correct to say
of all South Africans.
that, despite 22 years of a constitutional democracy which
protects the rights of all of
The NRF oversees the
its citizens regardless of
management and operation of
race, creed, religion and,
To exclude women from science and
a number of programmes and
particularly gender, South
technology or to limit their research
initiatives designed to enable
Africa still faces imbalances
development in any number of ways
it to pursue its mandate. While
in the numbers of females
(consciously or unconsciously),
there are no programmes
within specific job sectors;
is to deprive our country of 52% of its
that are aimed specifically
disparities in pay for females
potential for innovation.
at female researchers only,
in the same positions as their
bursary
and
scholarship
male counterparts; and in the
funding programmes include
number of female researchers
both a racial and gender target that is designed to correct the
at all levels of science. To exclude women from science and
imbalances that currently exist.
technology or to limit their research development in any number
of ways (consciously or unconsciously), is to deprive our country
Progress in terms of the organisation’s commitment to gender
of 52% of its potential for innovation.
parity includes the fact that:
UNESCO data suggests that only 30% of the world’s researchers
are women and only 20% of countries have achieved gender
parity where 45% to 55% of researchers are women. In South
Africa, that number currently sits at 42%. While women account
for 45% of university enrolments in science and engineering, on
average 16% actually work in those fields. Even more concerning
is the distinct lack of women in leadership roles in areas of
science, technology and innovation. The Government’s National
Development Plan 2030 identifies the production of highly
skilled professionals as critical towards deriving sustainable
benefits from science and technology.
The National Research Foundation, as an agency whose role it is
to act as a catalyst for knowledge generation and social change
through the support of postgraduate students, researchers and
cutting edge research infrastructure; through its advisory role
•In the last five years the number of female NRF-rated
researchers has increased by 52%
• The percentage of female postgraduate students supported
by the NRF stands at 53%.
• The NRF, in 2014 alone, has contributed more than R340
million to the research projects of female scientists.
• Since 2002 more than 18 000 women have obtained their
postgraduate qualifications through the support of the DST/
NRF funding.
These advances in effecting transformation of the demographic
composition of the research cohort with respect to gender
have been achieved through various NRF funding instruments
designed to support researchers along the entire NRF human
capital excellence pipeline.
Edition Two - 2016
07
Representation of Women in Research
To illustrate this fact, in 2014/15 early career researchers were
able to access research development support via:
• Postdoctoral fellowships (355 female postdoctoral fellowships
were taken up with a value of just over R73 million);
• Research Career Award Fellowships which allow young
professionals to be absorbed into higher education, national
facilities and science councils;
• Sabbatical Grants awarded to full-time university staff who are
competing to complete end-stage doctoral studies (females
accessed over R6 million through this instrument); and the
• Thuthuka
Programme
which
promotes
research
development, supports the attaining of NRF ratings by early
career researchers, in particular black and female researchers
and fosters a culture of research excellence. In 2014/15 just
over 300 females accessed Thuthuka support in getting PhDs,
postdoctoral placements and working towards an NRF rating.
This expanded programme provides for 9 years of funding for
the development of the research career trajectory.
the participation of black females as the level of postgraduate
studies move upward. NRF-supported doctoral level black
males and white females show much higher levels of
participation than that of black females. This is also evidenced
by the limited number of black females in the professoriate and
senior leadership positions within higher education.
It is thus imperative that we continue to focus on increasing
race and gender representation in all spheres of our funding
portfolios. We believe that the gender targets integrated into
each of our programmes will ensure that we actively progress
towards achieving parity. Under the NRF Postdoctoral Fellowships
Programme the gender targets for each of its four fellowships
vary from 50% to 60% representation of women and 80% Black.
During 2015, the NRF Executive engaged in talks on the
development of more encompassing (beyond targets) gendersensitive policies for female researchers in funding instruments
targeting emerging researchers.
Recommended enabling policy changes looked at various
aspects that may impact on the career trajectory of emerging
We believe that the gender targets integrated into each of our programmes will
ensure that we actively progress towards achieving parity.
The newly launched Institutional Engagement and Partnerships
Directorate (IEPD) focusses on developing niche research
flagship areas in partnership with universities and private
partners and has a strong capacity building and transformation
agenda capacity. The first of these flagship programmes (Critical
thought in African Humanities) was launched at the University of
the Western Cape in September 2015.
As impressive as these, and other statistics, are, however,
there is still much that needs to be done if we are to address
the country’s gender challenges. For example, just over 30%
of the total number of NRF rated researchers are female. This
number would be even lower if we were to only consider those
women in the areas of natural sciences and engineering. At
the same time, of the total number of active Research Chairs
under the NRF’s South African Research Chairs Initiative (as at
August 2015), only 22.5% are headed by women. Two out of
10 Centres of Excellence (COE) are headed by women. When
looking at student data, we see a decreasing percentage in
researchers specifically. Proposals such as making maternity
leave part of the NRF’s Conditions of Grant for Research Career
Advancement Fellowships and Postdoctoral Fellowships;
and allowing women grant holders under the NRF Thuthuka
Programme to work on 5/8 fixed-term appointments in order
to accommodate family commitments have been proposed as
part of the organisation’s gender-sensitive policy. These form
part of renewed efforts to achieve gender mainstreaming in our
strategies and actions plans for expanding and strengthening
the active researcher cohort.
The launch of the DST/NRF Chairs for Women in September
2015 has given tangible form to the DST/NRF intent of supporting
wide ranging efforts to correct the gender inequity balances
and catalyse long-term change within the research sector, in
partnership with higher education institutions. It is an intervention
made possible by political will, management support and a
mind-set that sees women as equal partners in the creation of a
globally competitive knowledge economy.
DID YOU KNOW
IRC in collaboration with the SA Embassy in Japan, facilitated and supported the participation
of young scientists in the 2015 STS forum, held during 5-7 October in Kyoto, Japan. The STS
forum, founded in 2004, is an annual global meeting of more than 1 000 world leaders.
08
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
Applying the gender lens in science funding
Applying the gender lens
in science funding
By Dorothy Ngila
“We must carry forward the work of the women who came before us and
ensure our daughters have no limits on their dreams, no obstacle to their
achievements and no remaining ceilings to shatter.”
Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America
The critical role that science, technology and innovation (STI)
plays in the national and regional developmental agenda is
well documented. Not only has this sector been underfunded
in most African states, but the inclusion of women at various
levels has been limited. For instance, despite Africa having set
a target in 2007 to allocate 1% of GDP to science in the Lagos
Plan of Action, only South Africa and Tunisia are on track to meet
this target. Research on gender in STI has consistently shown
that there is a growing gap in the number of women and girls
participating throughout the STI pipeline. Globally, there is a
low number of female students taking up science subjects at
university, especially in exact sciences; there is a low number of
female graduates in STI related degrees; there are few women
scientists attaining STI postgraduate degrees; they are too few
in a academia; and when leadership is considered, the numbers
are shocking. For example, only two of South Africa’s universities
are led by women.
Correcting this imbalance should be a collective effort by all
stakeholders engaged in all spheres of policymaking and
implementation in the STI sector. Science granting councils
(SGCs) have an important role to play in this regard.
So what does it mean to apply the gender lens?
In Africa there is renewed effort to recognise and promote STI
and its contributions to the continent’s economy. However, it
has to be acknowledged that gender considerations in the
way that STI policies are formulated and implemented are a
significant hindrance to STI’s effective contributions to Africa’s
developmental trajectory.
Applying a gender lens means that the contributions, abilities,
needs, concerns, and aims of both women and men are applied
in the policymaking and implementation of STI policies. It
means that there has to be a concerted focus on increasing
the number of women and girls that are actively participating
in the entire STI stem (women IN science). And perhaps even
more importantly, because of the limited attention this area has
received, it means ensuring that decision-making in STI takes
into consideration the needs and ambitions of both women and
men (science FOR women).
For example, it means that when innovations in the agricultural
sector are conceptualised, for Africa, the fact that most
subsistence farmers are women, has to be considered in the
entire innovation lifecycle. It means that the resultant innovations
should be user friendly for both men and women.
In the research arena, it means that research on cardiovascular
disease has to consider gender as a variable so that the resulting
innovations in new medicines, and new care techniques are as
effective for women as they are for men.
Science granting councils can play a
leadership role in turning the tide
Key to the advancement of a gender inclusive STI system is
the development or effective management of national SGCs
or funding agencies whose core mandate is the disbursement
of funds to support a nation’s STI agenda, be it supporting the
increased production of graduate students in STI or directly funding
laboratories, instruments and mega-science projects. Applying
a gender lens requires a concerted effort, both internally and
externally, if SGCs are to play a leadership role in turning the tide.
Edition Two - 2016
09
Applying the gender lens in science funding
For SGCs, gender considerations should be integrated
throughout their operations’ lifecycle. There are some practical
actions SGCs can align to existing policies and workflow
management to ensure the desired outcome and impact:
1. Require gender representation at all conferences, workshops,
meetings and gatherings they support. This should take
into consideration the greater participation numbers, but
even more importantly, diversity in speaker selection (and
in academic conferences, those that are invited to present
plenary talks), as well as conference committee representation
2. Require the collection, analysis and reporting of gender
disaggregated data. As part of SGC client reporting processes,
SGCs should require gender reporting of all activities they
fund, which should be integrated in organisational reporting
structures
3. Require research projects to include gender as a research
variable. There are many instances where not including gender
in original research has led to a gender insensitive product on
the market. An example of this is in the manufacturing of car
seatbelts, which have traditionally not considered the needs
of pregnant women and children, resulting in unintended
consequences, even fatalities. SGCs can play a significant
role in shaping how research is prioritised and conducted to
ensure that resulting products and services serve the entire
population equitably
4. Ask gender questions about the structure of funding
mechanisms. Science granting councils adopt various
modalities for funding STI, and should starting asking
questions such as:
a. What is hindering to women scientists in our funding
contracts? And what is the impact of these hurdles in our
efforts to nurture the next generation of eminent scientists?
b. Do we provide the right conditions to support families in
science, for example, parental leave for postgraduate
students?
c. Do we provide for the possibility of families to apply to a
special fund that allows them to take their children to local and
international scientific meetings?
5.Re-evaluate the internal processes of making funding
decisions. Critical questions that SGCs can ask include:
who forms part of the reviews and evaluations committees?
Are they representative of the diversity within the country’s
research community?
SGCs in Africa and globally are beginning to have these
conversations, and are sharing best practices, for instance
through the Global Research Council (GRC), a virtual body that
brings together all SGCs globally. In May 2016, the GRC will
issue two statements on interdisciplinarity and gender at a
global meeting to be held in India. South Africa and Namibia
co-hosted the GRC Africa regional meeting on 16-17 November
2015 in Namibia to deliberate on Africa’s input to these two
global statements.
Funding agencies have a key role to play to provide leadership
on the inclusion of gender in STI. By implementing practical
actions, like the ones outlined here, into already existing policies,
SGCs can take a significant first step in turning the tide, which will
in turn contribute significantly to increasing the participation of
girls and women in STI.
DID YOU
KNOW
In November 2015, the NRF concluded a
scientific agreement with three prominent
research and research support institutions
in France – L’Institut Recherché Pour le
Development (IRD), Le Centre National
de la Recherché Scientifique (CNRS) and
Le Centre de Cooperation Internationale
en Recherché Agronomique Pour le
Development (CIRAD). This is the first time
that these institutions collaborate under
a single agreement. This agreement will
lead to the expansion and renewal of some
of the laboratories network partnerships
known as “Laboratories without walls”.
d. At local conferences, do we provide adjacent rooms and
child minders to encourage full participation of young mums
and dads in the deliberations of the meetings?
Applying a gender lens means that there has to be a concerted focus
on increasing the number of women and girls that are actively
participating in the entire STI stem (women IN science).
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
CAPRISA
CAPRISA
A DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for HIV Infection Research
Preventing HIV infection in Young Women
By Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim
The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) is one of the more recently
established DST-NRF centres of excellence with a focus on HIV prevention research. South Africa is at the
epicentre of the HIV pandemic and its research efforts are making significant contributions in the global
response to the disease.
CAPRISA, an independent non-profit AIDS research
organisation, was established in 2002 through a
successful submission in response to a competitive
funding opportunity from the US-based National Institutes
of Health (NIH) viz the Comprehensive International
Program of Research on AIDS (CIPRA). The creation of
CAPRISA, a consortium of five key institutions, namely
the universities of KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Town, Western
Cape, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases
and Columbia University in New York was possible
because of existing and long-standing synergistic
collaborations. While the CIPRA grant mechanism came
to an end around 2006, it laid a strong foundation that
enabled CAPRISA to diversify its funding base and
continue to build and expand its science agenda.
The primary goal of CAPRISA is to undertake globally
relevant and locally responsive research that it
does through investments in the following thematic
contributions: advancing understanding HIV Clade C
Pathogenesis; HIV Prevention and Epidemiology, and
treatment of Tuberculosis and HIV co-infections.
A key focus of CAPRISA’s research from inception and
currently, is preventing HIV infection in young women, a
remaining challenge in our efforts to achieve epidemic
control. In Africa the statistics of HIV incidence serves
as a grim reminder of the severity of the epidemic.
Estimates show that women account for more than half
the total number of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan
Africa (UNAIDS 2014) and about 70% of all women living
with HIV globally are in sub-Saharan Africa. While South
Africa is home to 1% of the global population it carries
a disproportionate 18% of the global burden of the HIV
epidemic, twice the figure in Nigeria (9%) and thrice
that of India (6%), both of which are in the top three
contributing a third of all HIV infections globally.
Women constitute 51 percent of the population in South
Africa and approximately one-fifth of South African women
in their reproductive ages are HIV positive (Statistics South
Africa 2014). Each day about a 1 000 new HIV infections
continue to occur in young women and adolescent girls
in South Africa. There is a clear disconnect between the
available HIV prevention technologies, notably abstinence,
behaviour change, use of male and female condoms,
HIV testing, medical male circumcision and where new
infections are taking place.
In the late 1980’s Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim,
infectious diseases epidemiologist and associate
scientific director at CAPRISA, undertook the first
population based studies to investigate the evolving
HIV epidemic in South Africa. Her key finding, that young
women acquire HIV infection five to seven years earlier
than their male peers, was the catalyst for her research
to find women-initiated HIV prevention technologies.
In 2010 the landmark CAPRISA 004 study demonstrated
that tenofovir gel prevents both HIV and Herpes Simplex
Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) infection and changed the HIV
prevention landscape. The study received international
acclaim and was ranked among the top 10 scientific
breakthroughs in 2010 by the authoritative journal
Science. The research at CAPRISA for women-initiated
technologies continues and new ARV drugs and longer
lasting formulations are being evaluated.
The research on the pathogenesis of Clade C HIV
infection is critical for the development of vaccines
Edition Two - 2016
11
CAPRISA
and new therapeutics. Notable in the pathogenesis
research was the identification of highly potent broadly
neutralising antibodies from two participants in KwaZuluNatal that is now the basis of passive immunity studies
that could inform vaccine development.
On the treatment front, the CAPRISA 003 study
demonstrated that antiretroviral therapy initiation during
TB treatment improves survival by 56 percent. The 2009
WHO international guidelines draw upon these findings
in the new approach to TB-HIV treatment.
In summary, in less than a decade, CAPRISA has made
substantial scientific contributions in each of the three
areas of focus that has had policy implications nationally
and globally. It is widely recognised as a leading HIV
research organisation on the African continent as
well as globally. CAPRISA is a UNAIDS Collaborating
Centre for HIV Research and Policy and hosts a MRC
HIV-TB Pathogenesis and Treatment Research Unit. Its
strength lies in its wealth of diverse expertise in basic
and molecular epidemiology, virology, immunology,
infectious disease medicine, bioinformatics, statistics,
ethics and health policy.
of accomplished independent scientists in the region to
respond to today’s and tomorrow’s health challenges.
An additional strength of CAPRISA is its commitment to
gender equality. Indeed, approximately 80 percent of
CAPRISA employees are female, with women occupying
key portfolios in top and middle management levels and
in all aspects of research conduct. Female staff include
lead investigators, clinicians, basic scientists, counsellors,
statisticians and pharmacists. CAPRISA Is deeply honoured
to have Nobel Laureate, Professor Françoise BarréSinoussi as a member of its scientific advisory board, both
as an important role model on what women in science can
achieve and for sharing her wisdom to guide CAPRISA’s
research agenda.
While many challenges remain that inhibit women from
reaching their full potential physically and socially,
CAPRISA contributes in a small yet significant way
to advance this agenda through its research and
supporting the women undertaking the research.
Africa needs more independent scientists and more
women scientists, as well as science that transforms
the continent and makes a reality the dreams that those
before us have dared imagine.
CAPRISA is actively involved in several global and national
advisory groups such as the US President’s Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and specifically on PEPFAR’s
DREAMS project, a partnership to reduce HIV infections
among adolescent girls and young women in ten subSaharan African countries.
The goal of DREAMS is to help girls
develop into Determined, Resilient,
Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored,
and Safe women.
It has, and continues to contribute to capacity
building efforts to strengthen the science base
in southern Africa, initially primarily through
the Columbia University-Southern African
Fogarty AIDS international training and research
programme that has trained over 600 scientists
in this region at masters or doctoral levels through
local and international training opportunities. Equally
the organisation provides a fertile environment for the
training of medical students at the Nelson R Mandela
School of Medicine. The goal of the training programme
is to support the continuous growth and development
Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
ASSAf-TWAS-ROSSA
ASSAf-TWAS-ROSSA
Annual Young Scientists’ Conference
By Kholani Mbhiza
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) hosted the
2015 Young Scientists’ Conference from during September
2015. ASSAf partnered with The World Academy of Sciences
Regional Office for sub-Saharan Africa (TWAS-ROSSA), the South
African Department of Science and Technology (DST), the South
African National Research Foundation (NRF), the Organisation
for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) South
Africa National Chapter and the South African Young Academy
of Sciences (SAYAS). Delegates to the conference represented
universities, science councils, research institutions and African
science academies on the continent. Thirty-six oral and 24 poster
presentations were delivered by young scientists.
opportunities of the DST and called upon conference participants
to ensure that their work remained relevant to addressing the
numerous challenges of poverty and disease facing the country
and the continent. The Minister of Women in the Presidency, Ms
Susan Shabangu, addressed the delegates about the need for
introspection on the policies and programmes that were being
put in place to determine whether they were translating into
appropriate interventions for socio-economic transformation.
Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng, Vice-Principal of Research and
Innovation at the University of South Africa, delivered a keynote
address on “Leadership: the Invisibility of African Women and
the Masculinity of Power”.
The theme for the conference was
“Inspiring Change post-2015: The Role of Science,
Technology and Innovation in empowering Women in Africa”
Sub-themes that were discussed were:
• Promotion of Gender Equality in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
• Feminisation of Poverty.
• Women and Health.
• Women and Leadership.
The conference aimed to analyse the role of science,
technology and innovation (STI) in empowering women in Africa;
scientifically evaluate key challenges facing women in Africa and
their implications; and to identify future research needs along
with possible solutions that can be mainstreamed into science,
society and policymaking. The conference provided a platform
for young scientists to share information on their research
fields, whilst having an opportunity for networking among young
scientists and to engage with key stakeholders in the national
system of innovation.
The NRF, ASSAf (SAYAS & OWSD), TWAS, The Conversation,
DST-Horizon 2020, and GenderInSITE exhibited their work
throughout the conference. On the last day of the conference,
these organisations and the South African Agency for Science
and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) had an opportunity to
interact with participants during a capacity enhancement session.
The conference was attended by 135 participants, including
young scientists from: Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, China, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South
Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, UK (Royal Society of Chemistry),
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In a keynote address South Africa’s Minister of Science and
Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, urged young women scientists
to make use of the numerous international research and training
Prof Robin Crewe, Prof Roseanne Diab, Prof Daya Reddy, Minister
Naledi Pandor, Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng and Dr Aldo Stroebel
during the Annual Young Scientists’ conference.
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13
NRF Value Propositions
NRF VALUE
PROPOSITIONS
ENABLER
The organisation enables the pursuit of cutting-edge
research and human capacity development through
the provision of support through customised granting
instruments and providing access to customised
infrastructure platforms.
INITIATOR
The organisation initiates the strategies and policies
for the development of knowledge capital through
the provision of system intelligence in support of
national and sectoral decision-making.
FACILITATOR
The NRF facilities:
• Vibrant global collaboration networks and
strategic partnerships;
• The dynamic engagement between
science and society.
In terms of the NRF mandate, the organisation performs:
PERFORMER
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
• Research performer through the national
research facilities;
• A granting agency in support of knowledge and
human capacity development;
• A strategy and policy developer and implementer
for the system
NRF Engagements in African: Capacity Development
NRF ENGAGEMENTS
IN AFRICA:
Capacity Development
By Michael Nxumalo
The NRF’s robust and an internationally recognised funding
system has positioned it as one of the leading funding agencies in
Africa. Using this strategic advantage to accelerate engagements
between African nations in collaboration with international
partners, the NRF has been growing its influence and partnership
programmes on the continent.
In partnership with a growing number of African countries, the
NRF has supported research through funding and human capital
development. The partnerships are aimed at promoting the global
knowledge economy in contributing to socio-economic and
sustainable growth on the continent, in close collaboration with the
Department of Science and Technology.
In line with NRF’s Africa agenda, the IRC directorate leads the
promotion and support of continental and regional scientific
collaboration. Active joint calls with nine African countries have
resulted in at least 192 joint projects valued at approximately R44m
being supported. A committed focus on inclusivity of geographical
spread of participating continental institutions and drive to research
excellence are areas of strategic output for the NRF.
The joint research grants allow benefiting research teams to utilise
funds for research consumables; running for participating students;
workshops and seminars; and mobility of researchers between
respective cooperating countries. In addition to the joint research
grants, the Knowledge, Interchange and Collaboration (KIC) funding
instrument is South Africa’s largest mobility programme which
supports South Africa-based researchers to increase and expand
their international networks. Specific engagements with Africa have
been supported since 2013, with a concomitant increase in quality
applications under the Africa bilateral framework as a consequence.
Annually, more than 500 applications are supported, of which 40%
are focussed on Africa.
The engagement with Africa is also cognisant of the increasing
number of partnerships across IRC and the NRF, including the
African VLBI (Very Long Based Interferometry) Network (AVN),
the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), the Newton
Fund Programme, Systems Analysis Development initiatives,
ICSU and other Africa multilateral initiatives such as TWAS
and ERAfrica (a multilateral collaboration between African and
European countries based on equal partnership towards joint
funding in S&T).
To increase capacity for delivery on the continent, additional
funding from DST, the African Union (AU) and the European Union
(EU) support African students in a pre-doctoral programme for
Astrophysics and Space Science through the National Astrophysics
and Space Science Programme (NASSP).
Capacity Development Initiatives
NRF - Student Scholarships for Africa
The NRF has significantly invested in a number of African
students enrolled at higher education institutions in South Africa.
African students supported by the NRF for the period 2009 to
2013, are indicated in Figure 1:
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2009
Honours
2010
2011
Masters
2012
Doctoral
2013
Post Doc
Figure 1: NRF’s investment in students from other African countries
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15
DST and NRF Bilateral Agreements in Africa
DST AND NRF BILATERAL
AGREEMENTS IN AFRICA
TUNISIA
MOROCCO
ALGERIA
LIBYA
EGYPT
WESTERN
SHARAH
MAURITANIA
MALI
NIGER
SENEGAL
THE
GAMBIA
GUINEA
-BISSAU
GUINEA
SIERRA
LEONE
LIBERIA
CHAD
BURKINA
FASO
SUDAN
BENIN
NIGERIA
COTE
D’IVOIRE GHANA
ETHIOPIA
CENTRAL
AFRICAN REPUBLIC
TOGO
CAMEROON
SOMALIA
UGANDA
GABON
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC
OF THE CONGO
CONGO
SKA collaborations
RWANDA
KENYA
BURUNDI
TANZANIA
Joint Programmes
S & T Bilateral Agreements
MALAWI
ANGOLA
ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
NAMIBIA
MOZAMBIQUE
BOTSWANA
LESOTHO
SOUTH AFRICA
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
SWAZILAND
MADAGASCAR
NRF Engagements in African: Capacity Development
As per illustration, during 2013 the NRF supported 135 and 577
postdoctoral fellows and PhD students respectively from 28
African countries, representing 18% of all postdoctoral and PhD
students funded by the NRF. A significant portion of support
is allocated at the PhD and postdoctoral levels aligned to the
human capital development strategy. As indicated in Figure 2,
the greater portion of the investment during 2013 supported
students from Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
160
140
facing both continents. The AAUN aims to sustain research and
education collaboration and leadership across priority areas, as
well as to marshal Australian and African expertise to address
challenges across continents.
Similarly, highly strategic initiatives on the continent driven by
the African Doctoral Academy (ADA) at Stellenbosch University,
and the Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (ESDA)
initiative by the University of Tokyo, University of Cape Town and
five African Universities, are indicative of a growing research
focused framework that the NRF supports.
120
Science Granting Councils in Sub-Saharan Africa
A 5-year innovative programme aims to strengthen the ability of
African science granting councils to manage research, design and
monitor research programmes based on the use of robust STI
indicators, support the transfer of knowledge to the private sector,
and establish partnerships with other science system actors.
100
80
No. of PhD students supported
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Figure 2: 2013 PhD Investment - Top 10 African Countries
1. Swaziland 2. Tanzania 3. Botswana 4. Uganda
5. Ethiopia 6. Sudan 7. DRC 8. Lesotho 9. Kenya
10. Nigeria 11. Zimbabwe
Partnerships
Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate
Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL)
The main objectives of SASSCAL are to establish a network of
science service centres in the Southern African region, thereby
strengthening the regional scientific capacity and existing
initiatives; support adaptation by the participating countries to
cope with climate change and land use change and the resulting
impact on ecosystem functions and services; and to generate
and provide scientifically sound, relevant and timely information
for policy and development planning processes that will promote
the improved livelihoods of the broader society. Participating
countries in the network include Angola, Botswana, South Africa,
Zambia and Germany.
University Engagements
Examples include the Australia Africa Universities Network
(AAUN) (co-chaired by Prof Cheryl de la Rey) which brings together
eight African universities (two from South Africa) and eleven
Australian universities, connecting researchers and academics
through institutional partnerships in order to address challenges
The acknowledgement that the answers to Africa’s “major
challenges” require collective, multidisciplinary intelligence and
shared resources is adding impetus to the increasing scope
and number of collaborative efforts in the realm of research
and capacity development on the African continent. There are
multiple benefits to be gained from improved and larger scale
collaboration and coordination across countries, sectors and
disciplines – including resource sharing, optimal use of multiple
opportunities and synergistic impact which can only be achieved
by the sum of each role player’s individual efforts.
It is thus the vision of the NRF to engage with appropriate
role players to identify how the organisation can add value,
coordinate activities and synergistically align with initiatives in
order to achieve its core mandate, but especially to add value to
the engagements on the continent.
As a collective approach to innovative and strategic interventions,
the NRF is further strengthening its suite of engagements to
be responsive, proactive and contemporary in its approach to
internationalisation, focusing on Africa.
DID YOU KNOW
On 23-24 February 2016 the NRF
organised, in partnership with the Sultan
Qaboos University (SQU), a researchers’
workshop focusing on Agri-biotechnology
and Water Research in Muscat, Oman.
Oman is one of South Africa’s prospective
research partners in the fields of
Agri-biotechnology and water.
Edition Two - 2016
17
Joint Researchers’ Workshops with African Partners
Joint Researchers’
Workshops
with African Partners
By Puleng Tshitlho
The Africa Cooperation (AC) unit of the NRF hosted Joint
Researchers’ Workshops with selected African partners. The
workshops included Tanzania, with the Tanzanian Commission
for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Algeria in partnership
with the Directorate-General for Scientific Research and
Technology Development (DGRSDT) and Egypt with the Science
Technology Development Fund (STDF). It was the first time that
the joint workshops were held with these particular countries.
South Africa signed agreements of collaboration in science
and technology with the governments of Tanzania (April
2011), with Algeria (1998) and with Egypt (1997). With a view
to implement the signed agreements, a programme of
co-operation between South Africa and each particular
country was developed that sought to facilitate scientific
and technological collaboration between the two countries
by supporting researchers from universities, universities of
technology, science councils and public research or institutes
on an equal and mutually beneficial basis.
The specific objectives of the workshop were:
• Assessing the progress attained on projects funded in the
joint calls.
• Sharing successes and challenges experienced by
researchers during project implementation.
• Sharing relevant experiences and lessons learnt in managing
the Joint Research Programme.
• Enhancing collaboration between the NRF and the
partner agencies.
The Durban University of Technology played host to the SATanzania workshop and iThemba LABS to the SA-Algeria
workshop. The aim of partnering with the local institutions was to
generate collaborative research interest between South African
researchers and institutions on the one hand and research
institutions in Tanzania and Algeria on the other.
Participants included researchers who had received funding in
the first two South Arica-Egypt joint calls, the first South AfricaTanzania call and the first South Africa-Algeria call, as well as
nominated researchers and postgraduate students from DUT
and iThemba LABS; representatives from the NRF; COSTECH,
DGRSTD and STDF; and from the Ministries for Science and
Technology in the particular countries. Representatives
from agencies responsible for intellectual property and
commercialisation were also present.
Presentations by researchers were in the fields of Agriculture,
Biotechnology, Health, ICT, Palaeontology, Nanotechnology,
Material Science (manufacturing), Space Science, Laser
technology, IKS, Energy and Water Resource Management.
• Facilitating networking among researchers for
further collaboration.
DID YOU KNOW
On 16-20 February the NRF hosted the Iranian research community on Oceanography and Marine Sciences in
Cape Town for a combined researchers’ workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to identify Oceanographic
areas of expertise between the two countries and prioritize sub-themes for a call for joint research proposals to
be launched by the NRF and the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT).
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
Joint Researchers’ Workshops with African Partners
One of the beneficiaries of the joint collaboration with Algeria
A Housing Problem and a Housing Solution
Professor Mitchell Gohnert and Ivanka Bulovic
University of the Witwatersrand
The housing problem in South Africa has plagued our society
for many years, and is classed as a national imperative. At the
beginning of South Africa’s democracy, the dearth of housing
was estimated at one million units. Although the government
has met its promise to build homes for the poor, this dearth has
grown to over two million homes, with an estimated quarter of
a million new households entering the market every year. The
demand has spiralled out of control, but an equally pressing issue
is the quality of the homes. An endeavour to make the homes
more affordable has only translated into substandard structures.
However, the key issue is affordability for the recipients, who
are largely unemployed or underemployed, and the taxpayer
who must ‘foot the bill’. Alternative housing designs and new
construction materials are therefore necessary, since existing
building forms are unsatisfactory, in terms of quality and price.
The research group incorporates shell structures into every
design, which are ideally suited, since the shape provides both
superior strength and economy of materials. A simple example
of the value of shells is the common chicken egg. The thickness
of the shell is less than a millimetre and the material is made
of calcium carbonate (i.e., the same substance as chalk), which
is a weak structural material. Yet, this ingenious design has
guaranteed the survival of the species for millions of years. The
secret of the success of the egg lies in the geometrical shape,
which more than compensates for the weakness of the shell
material. These ideals are incorporated into the concepts of
low-cost housing – economical materials are incorporated into
geometrical shapes that provide strength and robustness.
The latest project is to design and build a prototype of a lowcost house that incorporates a double-vault shell roof structure.
The concept is to utilise the roof space as a second floor, thus
doubling the liveable space – the 6.5 x 6.5 m plan area provides
84 m2 with a second floor, which is a significant increase over
that provided by RDP housing (Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 1: Architectural layout of the low-cost home
Figure 2: Elevation and
plan view of the exterior
The design of the roof structure was the technical glitch to be
overcome, which consumed most of the project time.
The
objective was to design a pure compression structure. Pure
compression structures are the most economical, because the
shell is free of bending and shear forces (which amplify the
stresses between 12 and 24 times). However, the shape of the
shell is dependent on the loading, which introduces complexities
in the design due to variations in wind pressures and thermal
movement. This necessitated the development of new theory,
algorithms and numerical solutions, to enable the creation of
an optimal structural shape. The result was the development
of a multi-catenary shaped shell, which is capable of resisting a
variety of load types and patterns.
The research also incorporates “green” technology in the
construction materials. The first floor is constructed entirely from
recycled building waste. Building rubble was crushed, graded
and compressed into masonry blocks. The bricks were also
formed with undulations to enable rapid construction of the walls
without mortar (the ground floor walls fit together like a Lego
set – commonly referred to as dry-stack construction). The roof,
however, is constructed of earth bricks. Earth is everywhere,
and earth bricks may be manufactured at the construction site,
which enables the manufacture of DIY bricks and eliminates
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Joint Researchers’ Workshops with African Partners
transportation costs. Similar to the recycled bricks, the earth is
pulverised, graded and compressed into blocks, using cement
as stabiliser. The university joined forces with the University of
Blida (Algeria) and local companies Hydraform and Skipwaste, in
the development and usage of the waste and earth bricks.
The construction presented other challenges, primarily with the
forming of the double-vaulted roof. The construction technique
involved the use of sliding formwork (see Figure 3). A segment of
the arch was constructed, after which the formwork was dropped
and slid forward to construct the next segment. This procedure
was repeated until the construction of the double-vaults could
be completed.
The finished product is shown in Figure 4. Although the
construction was completed almost two years ago, the
prototype home remains in perfect condition, without any signs
of deterioration or cracking. In the end, the project achieved
its objectives, i.e. to design a prototype low-cost home that is
structurally highly efficient, yet built with eco-friendly building
materials that can be sourced at the building site.
Figure 3: Construction of the double vault roof
The authors would like to acknowledge the
contributions of the NRF (which made the
project possible), and material donations from
Hydraform, Skipwaste, MacSteel, AfriSam, Lintel
Suppliers, Robor, Wispeco, McCoys Glass, ABC
Services and Spancon.
Figure 4: The finished prototype home
DID YOU KNOW
The DST held its first Science Forum South Africa in Pretoria, on 8 - 9 December 2015. Inspired by
events such as ESOF, AAAS and the Japan Agora, the forum’s key objectives are to create a platform
for a vibrant debate on the role of STI and society in South Africa, to strengthen South Africa’s strategic
international STI partnerships and to create a platform for senior government leaders, academics,
scientists, industry, civil society, and students to interact.
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
NRF/TWAS Postgraduate Fellowship Programme
NRF/TWAS
Postgraduate Fellowship
Programme
By Prudence Makhura
The NRF and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) signed a five-year agreement on
human capital development, supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
TWAS and the NRF share common interests in developing a cadre of the next generation of
researchers in Africa, in particular young women and black researchers.
Through TWAS, the main focus will be on fostering collaboration
between developing countries. For the NRF the partnership
is meant to strengthen supervisory capacity for postgraduate
students in South Africa. When aligned and combined, these two
goals address a national objective of South Africa to build human
capacity that positions the country for global competitiveness
to emerge as an economic power. Therefore, the proposed
outcome of the partnership is to foster scientific and technological
cooperation by facilitating brain circulation between countries.
Up to 240 bursaries for postgraduate students will be supported
to study and conduct research in South Africa as follows:
For the first phase of funding, the NRF received a very good
response to the call for applications that opened in August and
closed in October 2015, with 246 applications received.
• PhD Fellowships: 20 students per annum from developing
countries outside Africa and endorsed by TWAS members in
their country of origin will be funded to pursue three years fulltime PhD studies in South Africa.
•Postdoctoral Fellowships: Ten fellows per annum from
developing countries outside Africa and endorsed by TWAS
members in their country of origin will be funded to pursue fulltime research activities in the fields of natural sciences in South
Africa for the duration of a minimum of six months to a maximum
of three years.
•African Renaissance PhD Fellowships: 50 students per
annum who are permanent residents in a developing African
country and endorsed by TWAS members in their country of
origin will be funded to pursue full-time postgraduate fellowships
leading to PhD studies in different fields of study in South Africa
for the duration of up to three years.
Prof Romain Murenzi, the Executive Director of TWAS and
Dr Beverley Damonse, then NRF Acting Chief Executive
Officer at the signing of the NRF / TWAS agreement
Edition Two - 2016
21
ESASTAP 2020 & NRF/ERC Research Collaboration
ESASTAP 2020
By Prudence Makhura
The NRF, through the IRC Directorate, formed part of the
consortium that was recently successful in its application for
the Horizon 2020 INT-INCO 2015 call. The objective of the
partnership is to enhance and focus research and innovation
cooperation with the European Union’s key international
partners. The partners in this consortium include: South Africa
(DST, NRF, ASSAf and TIA), Greece, Italy, Germany, France,
Norway and Austria.
The programme will run for three years (2016 to 2018) and the
NRF will be responsible for Work Package 2 of the programme,
i.e. (1) providing structured, efficient and effective support to the
STI dialogue and bilateral STI cooperation based on analytic
evidence, and (2) to facilitate and support the implementation
of joint activities in the flagship areas as specified in the JSTCC
roadmap for cooperation between South Africa and the EU.
Partners at the ESASTAP 2020 kick-off Meeting held on
24 February 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa
NRF/ERC RESEARCH
COLLABORATION
By Prudence Makhura
South Africa, through the Department of Science and
Technology (DST), has concluded an agreement with the
European Commission (EU). The NRF and the European
Research Council (ERC) were appointed as implementing
agencies for this partnership. The partnership is part of a
larger implementing arrangement developed by the ERC
themed: “Opening ERC teams to the world”. It involves five
other countries, namely (the United States of America, Korea,
Argentina, Japan and China.
The aim of the partnership is to provide South African early
to mid-career researchers opportunities to pursue research
collaboration with European colleagues already supported
through EU-funded ERC grants.
The collaboration is intended to enable South African
researchers supported by NRF Research Career Advancement
Fellowships, Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, and Thuthuka
post-PhD funding tracks to undertake research visits to ERCsupported teams. Through this partnership, South African
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
Prof Jean-Pierre Bourguignon: President of the ERC
announcing the NRF/ERC partnership during a seminar that
was hosted by the DST.
researchers will be eligible to remain in Europe for a period of
between six months to one year attached to an ERC Principal
Investigator, predominantly on their cost. It is therefore expected
that collaborations will occur in similar areas of scientific pursuit
and on topics of mutual interest. More than 350 expressions of
interest have been received from ERC PIs, the highest ever in
the programme. This first call launched in March 2016.
BRICS Partnership
BRICS PARTNERSHIP
By Prudence Makhura
Delegates at the 1st Meeting of the BRICS Group of S&T Funding Parties on the BRICS Science and Innovation Initiative in
Moscow on 6 and 7 July 2015.
On 6 and 7 July 2015 officials from the BRICS Science and
Technology ministries organised the first meeting of the BRICS
Group of S&T funding parties on the BRICS Science and
Innovation Initiative. The main objective of the meeting was
to discuss and interrogate the BRICS research and innovation
initiatives, the establishment of which is reflected in the Brasilia
Declaration. The initiative includes the following mechanisms
and levels of cooperation:
• Cooperation in the framework of major research
infrastructure
• Coordination of existing large-scale national programmes
of the BRICS countries
• Implementation of the BRICS framework programme for
funding multilateral joint projects for research, technology
commercialisation and innovation
• Establishment of a joint research and innovation
networking platform.
In July 2015 a document outlining the Implementation Plan
2015-2018 for “The Initiative of the BRICS Group of Research
Funding Organisations on multilateral interdisciplinary research
funding” was drafted by the BRICS group of funding parties. In
line with this implementation plan, a working group on BRICS
STI funding was established, with the NRF as a member, with the
DST. On 28 October 2015 the Moscow Declaration was signed
at the III BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation ministerial
meeting held in Moscow. The Moscow Declaration defines the
guidelines for R&D cooperation among BRICS countries.
The main objectives set out in this declaration is that
the working group would launch a multilateral joint call
for proposals upon signing of an agreement among the
interested parties from BRICS countries. The NRF is one of
the signatories to this agreement and will be responsible for
the implementation of the multilateral joint call for proposals
in South Africa. As a result, the NRF participated at the 1st
Working Group meeting for BRICS STI funding parties held in
China in January 2016. It is expected that the 1st BRICS STI
multilateral joint call will be launched during 2016.
Edition Two - 2016
23
ERAFRICA II
ERAFRICA II
By Prudence Makhura
The ERAfrica I partnership was launched in 2011 bringing
together several African and European countries to develop
and implement a joint funding programme for research and
innovation partnerships. ERAfrica I was legally based on the 7th
framework programme of the European Commission. No less
than 18 national African and European funders of research and
innovation committed funding to this partnership.
In 2013 ERAfrica I published a call for proposals in the areas of
renewable energy, interfacing challenges and new ideas to fund
collaborative research and innovation projects between Africa
and Europe.
As a result of the ERAfrica I call, 17 projects that involve
cooperation between African and European researchers
and innovators are currently being funded in a number of
scientific areas such as renewable energy, climate change
and infectious diseases, all related to the major societal
challenges facing the two continents. These projects are
funded for a total budget of €11 million.
supporting research and innovation partnerships between the
two regions and (2) launch an ERAfrica Phase II call on Resilience.
The ERA-NET Co-fund proposal was submitted to the European
Commission on 17 February 2016 with the NRF leading Work
Packages 1, 2 and 3.
Should the Co-fund proposal be approved by the Commission,
it will allow partners to launch a joint call to the value of €18 - 20
million and support multilateral joint projects.
The ERAfrica consortium includes a total of 23 partners (13 African
and ten European countries) as follows:
South Africa (DST and NRF), Uganda, Ghana, Egypt, Tunisia,
Kenya, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire,
Madagascar, Namibia and Senegal. European partners include
France, Germany, Finland, Turkey, Netherlands, Portugal,
Norway, Belgium, Spain and Italy.
The strong joint funding commitment by both African and
European funders and the partnership’s principles of coownership of and co-responsibility for the collaboration,
shared by Africa and Europe, set ERAfrica apart from
other initiatives. The parties involved with this process
were eager to continue building on its success, hence the
conceptualisation of ERAfrica II.
At the funders’ meeting that took place on 13 May 2015 in
South Africa, both the NRF and the DLR (in Germany) were
selected by all participating countries as the Joint Secretariat
for ERAfrica Phase II.
After numerous meetings between partners of the two regions,
it was agreed that all partners would (1) apply, as an ERAfrica
consortium, for the ERA-NET Co-fund (SFS-41-2016) on food
and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture focusing on
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
DID YOU KNOW
The second in the NRF-Swedish
Embassy Nobel Lecture Series was
hosted in October 2015. Launched
in 2014, the aim of the event is to
acknowledge research excellence
in South Africa and Sweden and to
celebrate the long-standing friendship
between the two countries. Bilateral
relations have been revitalised through
the bilateral call for joint projects
launched in 2015.
The Science Granting Councils Initiative
The Science Granting
Councils Initiative:
Strengthening capacities in African granting
By Dorothy Ngila
The National Research Foundation in partnership with the United
Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and
Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
launched the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) on 11
September 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya. The SGCI, a 5-year initiative
valued at USD 15 million, seeks to strengthen the abilities of
science granting councils to support research and evidencebased policies that will contribute to economic and social
development, and will engage Science Granting Councils (SGCs)
in Eastern, Southern, Central and West Africa. Currently, 13 SGCs
representing Burkina Faso, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda,
Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal,
Zambia and Zimbabwe are participants in the SGCI.
Providing a Context for the Initiative
Developments throughout sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the
last ten years or so suggest a changing landscape, where
science, technology and innovation (STI) are emerging as key
drivers in social and economic development. These changes
include enhanced research funding commitments from national
governments, increases in the rate of scientific production and
innovation activities, the emergence of new organisations that
fund science, technology and innovation, and increasing cases
of collaboration on cross-regional research. While progress
has remained slow, there is a discernible upward trend in the
budgetary allocations to R&D with countries such as Kenya
having already made commitments to reach 2% of GDP by 2015
(STI Act, 2013).
Despite these positive trends, STI landscapes across developing
regions still suffer from a number of challenges, including low
capacities in research and research management. SGCs and
related organisations, such as science academies, boards,
commissions, and foundations, are central to funding and
catalysing research and innovation across Africa. A 2013 scoping
study supported by IDRC in 17 SSA countries underscored the
increasingly important role of these intermediary actors in national
science systems. However, that study also identified a set of
interrelated challenges facing them, including limited capacity,
inadequate funding, overlapping roles and poor coordination
with other agencies, lack of appropriate legislation, and poor
implementation of science and research funding policies.
What will the SGCI achieve?
The SGCI aims to strengthen the ability of SGCs to: (1) manage
research; (2) design and monitor research programmes based
on the use of robust STI indicators; (3) support knowledge
exchange with the private sector, and; (4) establish partnerships
with other science system actors. These objectives will be
achieved through a number of modalities including customised
Delegates at the launch of the initiative in Nairobi
Edition Two - 2016
25
The Science Granting Councils Initiative
regional exchange and training, regional forums, online training,
individualised on-site coaching, and collaborative research. The
initiative’s principal outputs will include (1) more effective research
management practices among councils, (2) strengthened
ability of councils to design and monitor research programmes
based on the use of robust science, technology and innovation
indicators, (3) increased knowledge exchange with the private
sector, and 4) increasingly coordinated and networked councils.
More effective councils will strengthen national science systems,
and ultimately leading to nationally led research that contributes
to development in participating countries.
How will these objectives be implemented?
Working together with the implementing partners, the NRF will
lead in implementing objective (1) whilst the IDRC will lead in
executing objectives (2) to (4). In supporting the strengthening
of SGCs’ research management abilities, there will be a focus on
supporting staff of SGCs to further develop research management
in a number of key areas, such as: grant-making systems and
procedures; principles of scientific merit review; STI policy
analysis and research priority setting; design and management
of science and technology cooperation agreements; effective
communication of research results; mapping of science and
innovation funding; aligning publicly funded research with the
needs of the private sector; and implementation of new modes
of scientific practices, such as open access and open science.
Building on the ongoing work under the AU/NEPAD observatory
on STI indicators (AOSTI), the SGCI will strengthen the ability
of participating councils to design and monitor research
programmes based on the development, collection, analysis
and use of STI indicators. The capacity to use foresight and
scenario-building techniques to identify and prioritise future
STI needs will also be strengthened. SGCs are in a unique
position to contribute to public policy through the collection,
analysis and use of indicators in a number of important
domains. For example, many councils train young researchers,
promote collaboration between academic and non-academic
organisations, and encourage the commercialisation and/ or
application of publicly-funded research. Understanding the
effects of these efforts and changes over time can provide
important insights into a country’s socio-economic progress, its
current and future STI and human resource needs, and feed
into industrial and economic growth strategies.
The SGCI will support stronger ties between the private
sector and SGCs. It will support projects designed to promote
the linkages between public sector research organisations
(universities and national research institutes) and the private
sector. Participating councils will be involved in identifying the
priority research areas relevant to the needs of the private sector.
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
These partnership projects will ensure that the priorities of public
sector research organisations are better aligned with the needs
of the private sector, thereby enabling knowledge exchange and
use of research findings. Lessons and good practices from these
projects will be synthesised and shared with all councils. These
activities will enable the councils to develop policies and action
plans that promote innovation by strengthening the linkages with
the private sector.
At the core of the SGCI is a desire to encourage deeper synergies
and partnerships amongst and between African councils,
and with other SGCs beyond the continent. The initiative is
designed in a manner that will create opportunities for sharing
of information and lessons among councils in the broader SSA
region on a regular basis. Interaction and collaboration will
also be enabled with other science systems actors, such as
universities and industry. In this regard, bi-annual forums will
be held to bring together councils and other stakeholders;
a virtual hub will be developed to ensure visibility of Initiative
and as an online repository of SGCI products; and collaborative
agreements between and among SGCs to support collaborative
research will be encouraged.
Contact details
Dorothy Ngila Project Specialist
National Research Foundation, South Africa
Telephone: +27 12 481 4143
Email: [email protected]
Loise Asewe Ochanda
Programme Management Officer
International Development Research Centre | Centre de
recherches pour le développement international
Regional Office for sub-Saharan Africa | Bureau Régional de
l’Afrique Subsaharienne
Telephone: +254 20 271 3160 Ext 3409
Email: [email protected]
Alternative email address: [email protected]
In discussion with…
By Mlungisi Zondi
In discussion with…
Dr Rocky Skeef
Executive Director : Reviews and Evaluations
AN OVERVIEW OF REVIEWS AND EVALUATION
Dr Skeef is trained as a biochemist and his postgraduate research
focused on the effect of trace elements in the control of cancer
cells proliferation through regulation of prostaglandins and cyclic
adenosine monophosphate production.
The Reviews and Evaluations (RE) directorate enhances the
contribution of the NRF as a strategic partner in knowledge
production, human capital development and infrastructure
provision.
He started his working career as a physiology lecturer at
Medunsa, and then moved on to join AECI’s biotechnology
research group as a research scientist and was later appointed
as the manager for corporate social investment at AECI.
The directorate ensures the operation of a world–class
reviews and evaluation system that conforms to the principles
of confidentiality, access to information, transparency, ethical
considerations and commitment to excellence.
Most of the 17 years of his management and leadership
experience have been with the NRF, during which time he has
overseen and been instrumental in the development of: the
Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme
(THRIP); business and industry partnerships; international
relations; corporate communication; marketing; new business
development; applied research, innovation and collaboration;
and his current responsibility reviews and evaluations.
RE ensures that the NRF is able to carry out
its mandate through:
Q
What is the role of RE within the NRF and how does
it ensure transparency and fairness throughout
proposal evaluations process?
“RE runs the reviews of RISA (Research and Innovation Support
and Advancement) funding applications using peers. This
ensures that the relevant experts interrogate the applications,
which lend credibility to the process. This way of reviewing
is a fairly standard international best practice used by NRF
equivalents in other parts of the world. To ensure fairness
and transparency, the criteria and scoring to be applied in the
reviews are published, together with the call for applications.”
Q
On what basis may certain projects be deemed
unsuccessful despite very positive reviews.
Projects may typically not be funded despite being deemed to
be fundable by the reviewers, for the following reasons:
• Insufficient funding, thus preventing funding of
all fundable proposals.
• Made the hurdle but may have many other applications
which scored higher.
• Not selected in the short-listing that is informed by
the strategic objectives, focus and targets of the
funding instrument.
• Rating of researchers according to the NRF Rating System.
• Review and evaluation of programmes operated by the NRF
itself, as well as those commissioned by external agencies.
• Evaluation of research proposals submitted for various
funding instruments.
Q
Q
Who reviews proposals for funding?
“Remote reviewers and review panels.”
On what basis does the NRF select members for
the different panels?
“Members of review panels are selected on the basis of: their
expertise for the specific reviews; their experience in reviewing;
their availability; minimum conflict; and demographics balance.”
Q
•
•
•
•
In your experience as an ED at RE, what do you
think is the reason for some applications being
unsuccessful?
Inadequate knowledge and record of performance in
the area concerned.
Inadequate knowledge, understanding or experience
of the NRF instruments or application processes.
Poorly prepared proposals.
Inadequate support or commitment from the
applicant’s institution.
Edition Two - 2016
27
In discussion with…
Q
What happens during panel meetings and who
chairs panel meetings?
“Chairpersons are appointed by the NRF as part of constituting
the panels. The chairman facilitates debate on the applications
and remote-reviewer reports, to try to get the panel to arrive
at a consensus decision on whether the application should be
funded, or not. In the case of a single-stage review process,
there are no remote review reports and the panel only considers
the actual applications. In the case of the two-stage process
the panel primarily considers remote reviewer reports for the
purpose of arriving at a recommendation.”
Q
What happens after proposal review has
been completed?
“A recommendation is made vis a vis support or not for the
proposal. RE submits this outcome to the Sponsor Domain for
a decision.”
Q
Who nominates applications and proposals to
be reviewed?
“There are two stages of screening of applications submitted.
The first stage is by the institution and the second is by GMSA
(explain acronym). All applications that pass these screening
processes are taken to panel for review.”
Q
•
•
•
What I do if my application is not successful;
can I appeal, and if yes, what is the process for
appealing and how long does it take?
Yes, applicants can appeal.
There is a call for submission of appeals and
applicants submit these online, in accordance with the
criteria for appealing.
This differs from instrument to instrument, but generally
ranges between two and six months from date of closure
for appeals.
RATING OF RESEARCHERS
Q
How does the NRF rating system work?
“It is primarily based on one’s intensity and level of knowledge
production, and impact of this knowledge, as judged by your
peers. The outcome of the evaluation of this (by experts in the
field), through remote evaluation and panel process, generates
an NRF rating for the individual, which ranges from C3 (“entry
level”) to A1 (pinnacle).”
Q
Who can apply for rating?
“Any South African scientist or foreign scientist who is spending
a certain minimum time in South Africa.”
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
Q
How frequently does RE advertise a call for
rating proposals?
“Once a year.”
Q
What procedure and criteria are used in
evaluating proposals for rating and to what
extent, if any, is it different from the procedure
used in reviewing applications for funding?
It is a comprehensive process that is well documented. It would
take too much to outline it in here, but the following are some
key points in this regard:
• Experts are identified and approached globally to evaluate
applications for rating.
• If prepared to evaluate, they are requested to complete
confidentiality and disclosure of conflict forms.
• The experts are given access to the applications and they
evaluate these based on the criteria provided. The outcome
is an evaluation report which is submitted to RE.
• RE secures at least six remote evaluation reports
per application.
• Specialist committees are constituted to consider the
applications and remote review reports.
• RE schedules panel meetings at which primarily the remote
evaluation reports are considered.
• The principles and processes are broadly similar for
evaluating and rating of individuals and reviewing of
applications for funding.
Q
Who reviews proposals for rating and how are
these individuals selected?
“Proposals for rating are evaluated by reviewers selected by
the Specialist Committees. The committee selects these from
nominees provided by the applicant, as well as those sourced
by the Specialist Committees.”
Q
How many categories does the NRF rating
system have and how does RE decides which
researcher falls under a certain category?
• There are 11 categories.
• It is the Specialist Committees and the Executive Evaluation
Committee that define the rating.
In discussion with…
Strategic Engagements
& Partnerships
for Transformation of the
Research Workforce
Dr Priscilla Mensah
Director : Institutional Ingagement and Partnership Development
Dr Priscilla Mensah joined the NRF in 2015 and is a director in the Institutional Engagement and Partnership
Development Directorate. She holds MSc and PhD degrees in Chemistry from the University of Cape Town. Prior to
this she served as deputy director of the Postgraduate School at the University of the Free State and was a recipient
of the 2013 HELM (Higher Education Leadership and Management) LEAD Fellowship. She relishes the role that her
current position provides to make significant contributions to transforming South Africa’s research workforce.
In recent years several positive outcomes have resulted from
an evaluation of NRF’s business processes. These include the
need to provide customised services that meet the requirements
of its varied stakeholders at rural and urban-based universities,
historically Black institutions and universities of technology. It is
acknowledged that pockets of research excellence exist at all
universities in South Africa, but in terms of overall productivity,
there are those that are doing really well (typically historically
advantaged institutions) and those that lag behind as a result of
barriers to research. Competitive funding instruments offered
by the NRF do not always sufficiently address barriers such as
low participation by women and limited successful applications
from historically disadvantaged institutions. A client-centric
approach was needed that would involve customising NRF
funding instruments to better respond to targeted needs of
universities. This resulted in the creation of a new directorate
called Institutional Engagement and Partnership Development
(IEPD) in 2013. The directorate engages with institutions to
determine what their perceived challenges to research are and
then works closely with them to develop appropriate support
strategies to mitigate those.
By way of example, the directorate will drive initiatives aimed
at addressing the under representation of women in senior
research positions by implementing international best practice
in relation to gender equity. These include working closely with
internal and external stakeholders to inter alia:
• Increase applications from women researchers by encouraging
and training them to apply for more funding.
• Improve gender balance among the gatekeepers of research
funding, which include panel members and reviewers,
and organise gender training for all involved in the funding
process. By ensuring women get equal access to the inner
mechanisms of research funding could also have a major
impact on improving their application rates.
•Demand a gender dimension as criterion for funding by
ensuring gendered research if applicable, or by demanding
gender action plans as part of the implementation strategy
for projects.
• Collaborate with the International Relations and Cooperation
directorate at the NRF to increase networking opportunities for
women by providing mobility support.
• Establish strategic partnerships in support of gender equality
with entities such the Organisation for Women in Science for
the Developing World (OWSD), the International Women’s
Forum of South Africa (IWFSA) and the Academy of Science of
South Africa (ASSAf).
Another strategic intervention to be used by the directorate to
promote research productivity is the flagship initiative. A flagship
is a multidisciplinary scientific research or innovation programme
in a niche area of the university that is jointly funded with the NRF
for up to 15 years. Relevant inter-institutional collaborations and
partnerships that will add value and are relevant to achieving
the desired scale and impact are permissible and encouraged.
For example, the inaugural flagship, Critical Thought in African
Humanities, was established at the University of the Western
Cape’s Centre for Humanities Research. Its overarching
research area centres around how the humanities and social
Edition Two - 2016
29
SASAC
sciences contribute to resuscitating, defining and making
a concept of the post-apartheid experience of movement,
violence and technological change in reshaping understanding
of the human in the late 20th century. The research agenda
includes collaboration with the SARChI holder in Social Change
at the University of Fort Hare and other global humanities
partners such as the Consortium for Humanities Centres and
Institutes. Deliverables include training of masters, doctoral
and postdoctoral researchers, scholarly outputs, public lecture
series, as well as hosting international conferences. What makes
the flagship initiative unique is that it is not competitive but
rather serves as an intervention aimed at accelerating research
and innovation capacity development, especially at historically
disadvantaged institutions through joint investments in a niche
area selected by the university.
These brief examples demonstrate how IEPD intends to use
focused strategic engagements and partnerships to transform
the research workforce.
Southern African
Systems Analysis Centre
(SASAC)
By Dr Sepo Hachigonta
The Southern African Systems Analysis Centre (SASAC) is
a multi-year initiative coordinated by the University of the
Western Cape, in partnership with the universities of Limpopo,
Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch. The initiative is aimed at
strengthening systems analysis capacity in South Africa. This
model takes cognisance of additional and multi-level systems
analysis capacity interventions, and a comprehensive approach
2016 SASAC student, supervisors and programme coordinators
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
to policy related activities in South and Southern Africa. 20 PhD
students based at a South African university have been selected
to participate in the SASAC initiative. The students will complete
their studies with a supervisor from South Africa experienced in
systems analysis, possibly in collaboration with a co-supervisor
associated with International Institute for Applied Systems
Analysis (IIASA).
SASAC
SASAC provides an opportunity for young, emerging doctoral
candidates to advance their research under the supervision of
senior IIASA and South African researchers/scientists, and at
the same time to contribute to the development of a globally
competitive science system. Systems analysis will be used
as a driver to identify strategies that gain multiple benefits
across sectors and regions, as well as avoid policies that lead
to negative side-effects in remotely connected activities. The
SASAC approach will focus on the following areas:
1.
Three-year Systems Analysis Bursary Programme:
The intervention will ensure that an adequate number of
students in the South African higher education system are fully
incorporated into the programme. Students will be required
to have a supervisor from South Africa who is recognised as
an expert in systems analysis methodology, and ideally a cosupervisor associated with IIASA or an IIASA alumnus.
4. Early Postgraduate Education Programme: Four to five South
African institutions where there is currently systems analysis
capacity will be identified to incorporate a systems analysis
component or module into selected Honours-level programmes.
In addition, scientific seminars will be offered covering themes
in both the social and natural sciences, often with policy
dimensions, to broaden the participants’ perspectives and
strengthen their analytical and modelling skills. Keynote lectures
are delivered by national and international leaders in their
respective research fields, partly drawn from IIASA’s widespread
network of alumni and collaborators, as well as from the NRF’s
extensive international networks of excellence. The programme
will be enhanced with specific field trips, cultural excursions, and
may involve networking with national research programmes..
Collaboration with IIASA and DST
2. Two-month Systems Analysis Capacity Development
Programme: PhD students will take part in a two-month
capacity development programme to be held during
May and June at the host institution(s). The PhD research
should be supported by systems analysis-related research
methodology, and focused to address the DST Grand
Challenges. Supervisors (from South Africa and IIASA) will be
expected to spend up to ten days at the beginning of this
period on-site with the students, and together participate in an
intensive, high level systems analysis capacity development
intervention.
3. High
level
Capacity
Strengthening
Programme:
A three-week capacity strengthening programme will be
held at the host institution(s). This programme will target
supervisors, early career academics and postdoctoral fellows
from South Africa, Southern Africa and other National Member
Organizations (NMO) countries. A target of 30 participants
per annum is anticipated. The programme will include highlevel lectures and capacity development workshops related
to systems analysis capacity.
IIASA is an independent international non-governmental
research organisation, headquartered in Laxenburg,
Austria, that provides science-based insights into complex
global, regional and national problems. IIASA conducts
policy-oriented scientific research in three global problem
areas, namely 1) energy and climate change; 2) food and
water; and 3) poverty and equity. Its three cross-cutting
research areas are 1) drivers of global transformations; 2)
advanced systems analysis; and 3) policy and governance.
Dr Gansen Pillay, Deputy CEO (RISA: Research and
Innovation Support and Advancement) at the NRF, is the
IIASA Council Member for South Africa. The IIASA Council
consists of one representative of each of IIASA’s NMO and
is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of
the Institute as well as governing IIASA.
science
& technology
Department:
Science and Technology
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Edition Two - 2016
31
IRC in Pictures
IRC IN PICTURES
Delegates at the S
Midterm Review Work
ng
eek-lo
ents for a w
octoral stud
d
5
2
ed
st
015
ho
in January 2
demy (ADA)
Doctoral Aca research-policy-practice
The African
seminar on
NRF STINT Workshop
The NRF signed a science and technology
MoU with the Swedish Foundation for International
Cooperation in Research and Higher Education
(STINT) at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence
in Pretoria in April
Researchers and Experts at the First SA-Egypt Joint
Researchers’ Workshop in November 2015
Puleng Tshitlho of IRC with researchers
The opening of the SA-Algeria
researchers workshop
32
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
IRC in Pictures
IRC in cooperation
with DST hosted the
Iranian
research community
In Cape Town for a
combined
researchers’ confe
rence and worksho
p on
Oceanography and
Marine Sciences in
February 2016
South Africa Joint Research Projects (SSAJRP)
kshop held in Basel, Switzerland in October 2015
Delegation at the Third Joint Researchers’ Workshop between SA and Mozambique
Researchers on a tour of iThemba LABS
during the SA-Algeria First Joint
Researchers’ Workshop in October 2015
Delegates at the 2nd SA-Tanzania Joint Researchers’
Workshop in July 2015
The IRC hosted the twelve members of the Norwegian
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Education and
Research at the NRF
The NCRST visit the NRF for a Joint Technical
Committee meeting in February
Edition Two - 2016
33
Researcher links: Funding Opportunities
Researcher links:
Funding Opportunities
By Dr Sepo Hachigonta
In a globalised world, researcher links are imperative for the
competitiveness of any country. While international collaboration
has always been an intrinsic part of the research and innovation
(R&I) endeavour, the forces of competitiveness and globalisation
are accelerating the scope, pace and importance of crossborder R&I, strengthened by directed partnerships both within
and outside South Africa. Stakeholders around the world are
working to internationalise their R&I efforts, driven by the need to
establish a competitive reputation, to access global knowledge
and expertise, and to mobilise new resources.
Within the NRF funding context, internationalisation of research
is an intrinsic part of the current funding instruments, built
into research grants awarded through programmes such as
Competitive Funding for Rated Researchers, the South African
Research Chairs Initiatives (SARChI), and the Centres of
Excellence (CoE) programme. Furthermore, the NRF through the
IRC supports researcher links through support workshops, travel
grants for research visits, as well as funding of projects in order
to enhance and strengthen links for future collaboration, build
research capacity in developing economies and enhance the
researchers’ career opportunities. The programme is designed
to provide financial support for researchers (early-career
researchers and established researchers) in South Africa.
The main objectives of the researcher links
instruments are to:
• Promote South Africa as a science destination;
• Increase the competitiveness of the South African National
System of Innovation (NSI);
• Internationalise South Africa’s research platform;
• Enhance networking within the global science system;
• Foster collaboration in order to improve the quality of
research outputs by researchers.
The investment in support for travel and participation in scientific
events are focused on four categories:
Travel grants for individual researchers: The applicants in
this category are South Africa-based researchers (young or
established researchers) travelling either locally or internationally.
The funding requested will be to support local and international
travel related to research activities such as presentations of
keynote lectures or papers and/or posters at conferences,
seminars, symposia, workshops, etc.
Foreign research fellowships: The applicants in this category are
South Africa-based researchers requesting funding to host research
leaders from abroad for a short period (up to three weeks) in South
Africa in order to enrich local expertise in their field.
Engagement with Africa: The applicants in this category are
South Africa-based researchers intending to visit universities
or research organisations in African countries in order to
build capacity and to promote future collaboration, and/or to
strengthen existing collaborations.
Support for local scientific events: The funding platform makes
provision for strategic, large events of an international nature,
hosted in South Africa, or on behalf of South Africa abroad.
Selected funding instruments under researcher links are
summarised in the figure below.
• Showcase South Africa’s scientific endeavours and
infrastructure, and to build capacity within the NSI;
Newton Fund
Grants
Knowledge
Interchange &
Collaboration Grants
Aimed at next generation,
emerging and established researchers
Conference
Fund
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The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
Joint Institute for
Nuclear Research Grants
ICSU Grants
(Closed call)
EquipmentRelated Travel
Grants
IORAG
NEW CHAIR FOR THE
SOUTH AFRICA INDIAN OCEAN RIM
ACADEMIC GROUP (IORAG)
By Motsakwe Rakgoale
Prof Nar
-M
nia
Bo
hle
r
er
u ll
Prof Narnia BohlerMuller has recently been
appointed Chairperson
of the South African
chapter of Indian Ocean Rim
Academic Group (IORAG). Prof
Bohler-Muller is the Executive
Director of the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) research unit in
the Human Sciences Research Council and an adjunct professor
at the University of Fort Hare. Her research interests include
international and constitutional law, human rights, democracy
and social justice. Previously she was professor of law at Vista
University and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) was formally
launched in March 1997 at a ministerial meeting in Mauritius.
The association’s broad objective is to promote the sustained
growth and balanced development of the region and of the
member states, and to create common ground for regional
economic co-operation.
Within IORA, IORAG was established in recognition of
the importance, role and identity of academia in regional
organisations. The main objectives of IORAG were set out both
to give it direction and also to ensure a dynamic link between
policy and projects emanating from the future work programme
of the Working Group on Trade and Industry, IORAG and IOR
Business Forum. The IORAG is seen as part of a unique structure
created to provide an opportunity to build bridges and increase
networking between the three tiers of government, private
sector and academia in the region.
South Africa is an active member and co-founder of IORA. The
country has served as the vice-chair to Indonesia (with Australia
as the outgoing chair) since October 2015 through to October
2017 when we take over as chair until 2019 with the United Arab
Emirates occupying the vice-chairmanship. The IORA South
Africa academic chapter is intended to serve as an advisory
body towards realising the priorities of South Africa as vicechair and later as chair. The South African academic chapter
will also assist the South African government in consolidating
multilateral engagements that relate to topics covered under
IORA and associated areas, post the IORA chairship.
The South African chapter was established in accordance with
the objectives of the IORAG, with its objectives extracted from
the IORAG priorities as follows:
• To service the needs of government and business;
• To promote intellectual dialogue between partners;
• To serve as a vehicle for development and dissemination
of the Indian Ocean Rim concept;
•
To interact with the IORA South Africa in the consideration,
formulation and implementation of policy and work
programmes that contribute to the work of the association
and its academic arm;
• To draw up academic networks with local and
international partners;
• To promote outreach programmes to increase the visibility
of IORA South Africa and the association through public
lectures, especially at institutions of higher learning.
Edition Two - 2016
35
GRC - Arfica Regional Meeting
Global Research Council
Africa Regional Meeting
By Promise Shabangu
The NRF in partnership with the Namibian Commission on
Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) co-hosted the
Africa regional meeting of the Global Research Council (GRC) in
Swakopmund, Namibia on 16 to 17 November 2015.
to encourage scholarly debate on the identified themes as well
as serve as a platform to strengthen partnerships between
researchers within the continent. Deliberations on the two
themes discussed will serve as input to the statements to be
tabled at the global summit.
The aim of the regional meeting was to facilitate and coordinate deliberations
and input on the two main themes “Equality and Status of Women in Research”
and “Interdisciplinarity” identified by the GRC Governing Board.
As a build up to the GRC’s global summit to be hosted by the
United Kingdom (RCUK) and India (SERB) in May 2016, five
regional meetings took place in parallel around the globe during
November-December 2015. The Africa regional meeting brought
together senior representatives of Science Granting Councils
from Africa, USA, UK and Germany as well as key stakeholders
from national science systems, private sector and academia.
The event was officially opened by Namibia’s Deputy Minister
of Higher Education, Training and Innovation Dr Becky NdjozeOjo who encouraged science granting councils in Africa to
adopt innovating approaches in order to enhance the research
capacities of the continent.
The meeting included representation from a number of African
science granting councils and other important stakeholders
from Government and the private sector. As a value add to the
programme an academic symposium ran parallel to the meeting
Delegates at the GRC Africa Regional Meeting in Namibia
36
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
During the meeting, Dr Beverly Damonse,
(acting CEO of the NRF) highlighted
the need for granting councils in Africa
to collectively work together to achieve tangible impact and
address some of the challenges faced by women and girls within
STI systems. Dr Damonse also emphasized the importance of
Interdisciplinary research in addressing the social and economic
challenges we face today.
Dr Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (Director, African Women in
Agricultural Research and Development), noted that gender
responsive research agendas are about ensuring that our
research programs are producing innovations that address the
needs of both men and women. Producing innovations that have
the potential to reach a majority of the population.
The GRC meeting was proceeded by a meeting of the Science
Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) which aims to strengthen the
capacities of science granting councils in Sub-Saharan Africa in
order to support research and evidence-based policies that will
contribute to economic and social development.
The South African ICSU Secretariat
THE SOUTH AFRICAN
ICSU SECRETARIAT
By Lynn Ngwenya
The Secretariat of the South African International Council for
Science (ICSU-SA) serves the South African scientific community
and most of the ICSU scientific unions and affiliates to which
South Africa adheres. The National Research Foundation (NRF)
and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) manage
South Africa’s engagement with ICSU, with a view also to
maximise South Africa’s participation in global events and solicit
opportunities that can benefit South Africa and Africa at large.
Some 30 South African national committees/unions are affiliated
to ICSU-SA.
The main objectives of ICSU-SA are to:
• Internationalise the research platform;
• Enhance networking within the science system;
• Foster collaboration to improve the quality of
researchers’ outputs;
The DST through the NRF annually contributes ICSU membership
fees and grants for ICSU-SA related activities to affiliated
committee members. Furthermore, the NRF provides support
and administrative services for the ICSU national board of South
Africa, and to the ICSU-SA national committees to advance South
Africa’s participation in international platforms. On average 20
ICSU-SA meetings are held annually with a total participation of
more than 200 scientists. Around 100 South Africans serve on
ICSU-related commissions and working groups.
Internationalisation has emerged as a key aspect for research
institutions and increasingly for government policies. Globally,
there is witness to significant shifts in relationships between
science, technology and society as reflected in a range of current
policies and strategies, like the prominent and strategic Future
Earth Initiative.
• Increase the number of SA scientists in the
international arena.
SOUTH AFRICANS SERVING ICSU
Prof Daya Reddy,
President-elect of ICSU
During the ICSU General Assembly
held in Auckland, New Zealand (30
Aug – 3 Sept 2014) Prof Daya Reddy
was voted the new President-elect of the
International Council for Science Secretariat
(ICSU). He will take up the Presidency in October 2017 at the next
ICSU General Assembly to be held in Taiwan.
Prof Reddy holds a civil engineering degree from the University
of Cape Town, and a PhD degree from Cambridge University.
He is currently president of the Academy of Science of South
Africa (ASSAf), and serves as co-chairperson of the InterAcademy
Council. He is an elected fellow of The World Academy of
Sciences (TWAS) and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
He is a recipient of the Order of Mapungubwe (Bronze), for
distinguished contributions to science, and of the Georg
Forster Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation in Germany.
Prof Reddy’s research interests lie at the intersection of
applied mathematics and engineering sciences, and he holds
the DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Computational Mechanics at the
University of Cape Town.
Edition Two - 2016
37
The South African ICSU Secretariat
Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Member
of the ICSU Executive Board
Prof Cheryl de la Rey, a member of
ASSAf and Vice-Chancellor and
Principal of the University of Pretoria
was elected to serve on the ICSU
executive board at ICSU’s 31st General
Assembly held in Auckland, New Zealand.
Prof de la Rey holds a professorship in the University of Pretoria’s
Department of Psychology, with previous positions as chief
Executive Officer of the Council on Higher Education, Deputy ViceChancellor at the University of Cape Town and Executive Director at
the NRF. She is a fellow of the Psychological Association of South
Africa and a fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa.
Prof de la Rey received her PhD from the University of Cape
Town, and also holds an MA and BA (Hons) (both Cum Laude) in
psychology from the University of Natal (Durban).
She has unquestionably advanced knowledge in local and
international social psychology through pioneering work on
intergroup relations and identity politics, with a focus on race and
gender in everyday social relations and the South African academic
and research project.
Prof de la Rey’s ICSU related activities began in 2000, when the NRF
funded her representation of South Africa as a young scientist at
the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS’s) (an ICSU
scientific union) sponsored International Congress of Psychology in
Stockholm, Sweden.
Since 2014 she has been one of two women who make up the eight
elected ordinary members of the executive board of ICSU.
Prof. Mike Wingfield,
IUFRO President
The International Union of Forest
Research Organizations (IUFRO)
appointed Prof. Mike Wingfield as
President in 2014.
IUFRO’s International Council elected Prof.
Wingfield during a meeting at the 24th IUFRO World Congress,
which took place in Utah, United States. The DST through the NRF
is supporting Prof. Wingfield tenure as IUFRO President until 2019.
Prof. Wingfield is a founding Director of the Forestry and Agricultural
Biotechnology Institute (FABI) of the University of Pretoria (South
Africa) and has been involved in IUFRO activities for more than
30 years. He has served as IUFRO Vice-President in the 20102014 Board Term. As a researcher, he is broadly interested in the
health of trees and has conducted research on tree pests and
pathogens. He is a fellow of various scientific societies including the
Royal Society of South Africa and the American Phytopathological
Society. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of
British Colombia, Canada, and North Carolina State University and
received the highest scientific award (Kwame Nkrumah Scientific
Award) from the African Union in 2013.
Prof Saths Cooper,
Chairperson of the South
African National ICSU Board
Prof Saths Cooper is the Chairperson
of the South African National ICSU
Board. The NRF is the national adhering
body to ICSU.
Prof Cooper is a graduate of the Universities of South Africa and
Witwatersrand, and Boston University (BU) where he obtained his
PhD in Clinical/Community Psychology as a Fulbright scholar in
1989. He has taught at the latter two universities and the University
of the Western Cape and has also been involved in public and
policy engagement.
DID YOU KNOW
The NRF hosted on behalf of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) a public lecture by Dr Jane
Lubchenco, University Distinguished Professor at Oregon State University, and the United States Science Envoy
for the Ocean, in July 2015.
38
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
Advertorial
Country-to-Country
Agreements
for Science & Technology cooperation by DST, implemented by the NRF
ASIA
Japan
Malaysia
People’s
Republic of
China
Republic of
India
Republic of
Indonesia
Republic of
Korea
AMERICAS
Argentine
Republic
OCEANIA
GULF
Federative
Republic of
Brazil
United
Mexican States
United States
of America
Islamic
Republic of Iran
Sultanate
of Oman
EUROPE
Commonwealth
of Australia
Czech
Republic
Federal
Republic of
Germany
French
Republic
Italian
Republic
Kingdom of
Spain
Kingdom of
Sweden
Republic of
Austria
Republic
of Poland
Republic
of Finland
Slovakia
Swiss
Confederation
The
Netherlands
United
Kingdom
Kingdom
of Belgium
Kingdom of
Norway
Romania
Russian
Federation
Arab Republic
of Egypt
AFRICA
Republic
of Angola
Taiwan
Republic
of Kenya
Republic of
Mozambique
Republic of
Namibia
Republic of
Uganda
Republic of
Zambia
Tunisian
Republic
Democratic
Republic of Algeria
United
Republic of
Tanzania
Edition Two - 2016
39
Advertorial
Inter-Agency Agreements
for Science & Technology cooperation
Science and Technology for Development Fund
Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS)
National Council for Scientific and Technological
Development (CNPq)
Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique(FNRS)
The National Fund for Scientific Research
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO) The
Research Foundation
The Abdus Salam International
Centre for Theoretical Physics
The National Science Foundation (NSF)
The National Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
French National Centre for Scientific Research
(CNRS) Centre national de la recherche
scientifique
The International Institute for Applied Systems
Analysis (IIASA)
National Science and Technology Council
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
The Netherlands Organization for Scientific
Research (NWO)
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
The German Research Foundation (DFG)
Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR)
Japan Society for the Promotion
of Science (JSPS)
São Paulo Research Foundation
(Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado
de São Paulo)
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
40
The Research Council of Norway (RCN)
National Commission on Research
Science and Technology
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
Royal Society (RS)
Beneficiaries of IRC Funding
Beneficiaries of IRC Funding
Universities
North West University
University of Cape Town
Tshwane University of Technology
University of
Kwazulu Natal
Sefako Makgatho University
Rhodes University
University of Limpopo
University of Free State
University of Mpumalanga
University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Western Cape
Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan University
Mangosuthu University
of Technology
Durban University
of Technology
Central University
of Technology
Cape Peninsula University
of Technology
Stellenbosch University
University of Fort Hare
University of Pretoria
University of Zululand
Sol Plaatje University
University of Johannesburg
University of South Africa
Vaal University of Technology
University of Venda
Walter Sisulu University
NRF Facilities and SKA
The iThemba Laboratory for
Accelerator-Based Sciences
The Hartebeesthoek Radio
Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO)
The South African Environmental
Observation Network (SAEON)
The National Zoologic al
Gardens of South Africa (NZG)
The South African Institute for
Aquatic Biodiversity
The South African Astronomical
Observatory (SAAO)
The South African Square Kilometre
Array Project (SKA SA)
Science Councils
Agricultural Research Council
Centre for Scientific
and Industrial Research
Human Science
Research Council
Council for Geoscience
Medical
Research Council
South African Space Agency
Edition Two - 2016
41
The DST-NRF Internship Programme
The DST-NRF Internship Programme
The DST-NRF Internship Programme provides an opportunity for unemployed science, engineering and technology (SET) graduates
and postgraduates to improve their skills and enhance their workplace competencies through exposure to a research environment. The
programme has had 10 intakes of interns since the start of the initiative in 2005. A total of 3549 interns have been enrolled since the
inception with 1210 interns (34% of the participants in the programme) joining the workforce within the NSI, while 753 (21%) interns exited the
programme to further their studies through studentships and full-time study. The internship opportunities are advertised periodically on the
NRF and DST website or through university career development offices.
As part of this programme, the IRC Directorate has annually hosted two interns with specific interest in furthering their international relations
and diplomacy skills and competencies. Ms Kholofelo Mampeule and Mr Mlungisi Zondi were the IRC’s 2015/2016 interns (see their short
bios below). Producing the IRC Newsletter was one of their joint projects for their internship programme. Putting this Newsletter together
provided them with an opportunity to get involved and participate in many of the Directorate’s bilateral and multilateral projects. The interns
were mentored by Ms Prudence Makhura, Mr Michael Nxumalo and Dr Sepo Hachigonta. Their hard work, ambition and passion in driving
the IRC mandate will be missed by all at IRC. It is with pride as we bid farewell to these two interns on 31 March 2016.
Ms Kholofelo Mampeule
Mr Mlungisi Zondi
Kholofelo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the
University of Limpopo from which she graduated in 2013.
Mlungisi Zondi joined the IRC’s Multilateral and Strategic
Initiatives Unit (MSI) in 2015 as part of the DST-NRF internship
programme. He contributed in various programmes within
IRC including grant research management, stakeholder
engagement and knowledge management. He started his
career in 2011 as a research assistant at the Centre for Criminal
Justice at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in conjunction
with KZN Wildlife. In 2012, he worked for the Department of
Basic Education as a teacher for a period of one year. Prior to
joining the NRF, he worked as a graduate trainee at the Durban
Film Office, a department within the Economic Development
and Investment Promotion Unit of the eThekwini Municipality.
She joined the Africa Cooperation (AC) Unit of the International
Relations and Cooperation (IRC) Directorate of the NRF and is
responsible for supporting the implementation of Science and
Technology bilateral and multilateral agreements in Africa.
Kholofelo plans to further her studies in International
Communication and Science Communication in the near future.
DID YOU KNOW
The 2016 Edinburgh Medal was jointly awarded to
Kevin Govender from the Cape Town-based Office
of Astronomy for Development of the International
Astronomical Union (IAU), and to the President of the IAU,
Silvia Torres Peimbert in March 2016. Mr Govender is the
first South African to receive this prestigious award for
science and technology achievements which contribute
to the understanding and well-being of humanity.
42
The Global Eye - International Relations and Cooperation Newsletter
He holds a BA (Philosophy, Politics and Law) and BA Honours
in International Relations and Politics from the University of
KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Mlungisi is currently studying
towards a Masters Degree in International Relations and
Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies.
Contact Details of
Professional Officers responsible for specific
projects within International Relations and Cooperation
Mobility and Special Projects
Motsakwe Rakgoale
Professional Officer
International Relations and Cooperation (IRC)
Tel: +27 12 481 4297
Email: [email protected]
Asia and Americas Bilaterals
Nombuso Madonda
Professional Officer
International Relations and Cooperation (IRC)
Tel: +27 12 481 4285
Email: [email protected]
Africa Bilaterals
Puleng Tshitlho
Professional Officer
International Relations and Cooperation (IRC)
Tel: +27 12 481 4061
Email: [email protected]
European and Gulf Bilaterals
Teuns Phahlamohlaka
Professional Officer
International Relations and Cooperation (IRC)
Tel: +27 12 481 4385
Email: [email protected]
CONTACT US
International Relations and Cooperation
PO Box 2600 | Pretoria | 0001
National Research Foundation | CSIR South Gate
Meiring Naude Road | Brummeria | Pretoria East | 0184
T: +27 12 481 4187
science
& technology
Department:
Science and Technology
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA