Science for Africa Foundation

Science for Africa Foundation The Science for Africa Foundation is a pan-African, non-profit organisation that supports, strengthens, and promotes science and innovation in Africa.

The growing risk of pandemics highlights how disease threats increasingly transcend national borders, presenting a criti...
29/04/2026

The growing risk of pandemics highlights how disease threats increasingly transcend national borders, presenting a critical opportunity to strengthen regional collaboration and advance more intelligent, integrated surveillance systems across Africa.

At the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026 , the Science for Africa Foundation convened and led a high-level session on AI-enabled cross-border surveillance and early warning systems for pandemic preparedness, bringing together leaders across government, policymakers, public health, research, civil society, and health innovation.

Aligned with the summit’s focus on innovation, integration, and interdependence, the session chaired by SFA Foundation CEO Dr Tom Kariuki underscored a critical shift toward intelligence-driven, real-time systems that can detect and respond to health threats across borders.

Key outcomes from the session include:

🎯 A clear call for stronger regional coordination and interoperable data-sharing frameworks.
🎯 Recognition of AI and digital tools as central to real-time outbreak detection and response.
🎯 Identification of system gaps limiting timely, evidence-based decision-making.
🎯 Emphasis on scaling solutions beyond pilots toward sustainable implementation.
🎯 Reinforced commitment to African-led leadership in shaping resilient health systems.

For Africa, the path forward is clear. Align systems, scale solutions, and strengthen collaboration to stay ahead of emerging health threats.

The Science for Africa Foundation, with The Task Force for Global Health, last week convened the Pathogen Genomics Fund...
29/04/2026

The Science for Africa Foundation, with The Task Force for Global Health, last week convened the Pathogen Genomics Funders Forum (PGFF), a meeting which brought together global funders, researchers, and public health leaders in Nairobi, Kenya, to advance coordinated investment in pathogen genomics across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

A clear message emerged – the future of outbreak preparedness depends on how well we align, invest, and act together.

Key outcomes from the forum include:
❶ A stronger shared understanding of the genomics landscape and ongoing investments across LMICs
❷ Clear priority areas for funder alignment, especially in procurement and supply chains
❸ Identification of practical, near-term solutions to improve affordability, accessibility, and scalability
❹ Concrete steps toward coordinated action with defined priorities, success metrics, and next steps
❺ Renewed focus on translating genomics data into real-world public health decisions
❻ Direct insights from a site visit to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) grounding discussions in real-world implementation

As pathogen genomics becomes central to disease surveillance and response, this level of coordination is essential to sustain momentum.

Find out more about the PGFF here 🔗 https://bit.ly/4t3jTXo

We’re hiring a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Officer to support evidence-based programming an...
23/04/2026

We’re hiring a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Officer to support evidence-based programming and adaptive learning across the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative.

See full job description and application details here 🔗 https://bit.ly/4e4cQdo

During the World Health Summit Regional meeting next week, we’re bringing African-led expertise to the global stage to t...
23/04/2026

During the World Health Summit Regional meeting next week, we’re bringing African-led expertise to the global stage to tackle our continent’s most pressing health challenges.

They include:
Byron Bitanihirwe | Driving the conversation on the structural landscape of Mental Health research.
Doris Wangari | Championing Health Systems Resilience in the face of Climate Change and environmental shifts.

Byron and Doris are sharing real-world insights from the SFA Foundation’s work across Africa.

The WHS Regional Meeting 2026 will be taking place next week. Tom Kariuki, our CEO and Evelyn Gitau, our CSO, will not o...
22/04/2026

The WHS Regional Meeting 2026 will be taking place next week. Tom Kariuki, our CEO and Evelyn Gitau, our CSO, will not only be attending but also leading engaging sessions and panels.

Congratulations to Prof. Margaret Ilomuanya on her promotion to full professor at the University of Lagos!Prof. Ilomuany...
20/04/2026

Congratulations to Prof. Margaret Ilomuanya on her promotion to full professor at the University of Lagos!

Prof. Ilomuanya is doing work that truly matters. As a pharmaceutical scientist specialising in women's health, she's tackling one of reproductive medicine's most persistent gaps — the lack of safe, non-hormonal contraceptive options that actually centre women's needs and lived realities.

Her research into biodegradable electrospun scaffolds for non-hormonal birth control is the kind of bold, patient-focused science that has the potential to change lives across the continent and beyond.

This promotion is a recognition of her excellence, her leadership, and her unwavering commitment to science that serves people.

At Science for Africa, through Grand Challenges Africa, we are proud to be associated with her journey – and honoured to support researchers like Prof. Ilomuanya who are raising the bar for African science on the global stage.

Here's to many more breakthroughs ahead. 👏

The global health landscape is facing a financing emergency - one that threatens the survival of national health researc...
16/04/2026

The global health landscape is facing a financing emergency - one that threatens the survival of national health research systems across low- and middle-income countries.

A new paper published in The Lancet, co-authored by Dr Tom Kariuki, CEO SFA Foundation and leading global health advocates, makes a compelling case: health sovereignty depends on strong domestic research and innovation systems.

The crisis in numbers:
🔹 Over half of countries spend less than 0.05% of GDP on health research
🔹 The target? At least 2% of total health expenditure
🔹 Nearly 80% of research still originates from high-income countries
🔹 Women and early-career researchers face growing instability

What needs to change?
🎯 Treat health research as a national investment priority
🎯 Align research with local needs—not external agendas
🎯 Invest in AI and digital infrastructure to leapfrog barriers
🎯 Build equitable global partnerships with fair benefit-sharing

At the SFA Foundation, we believe predictable domestic investment is critical to building resilient, locally-led research ecosystems that contribute to global health security.

📖 Read the full commentary and join the conversation:
🔗 https://bit.ly/4tpsHb9

What if the pressure to innovate is actually a catalyst for change?In Investing in Impact, Evelyn Gitau joins leading vo...
15/04/2026

What if the pressure to innovate is actually a catalyst for change?

In Investing in Impact, Evelyn Gitau joins leading voices to explore how Africa is adapting to shifting funding landscapes and what it takes to build sustainable, impactful health solutions.

The conversation highlights a critical shift toward innovation grounded in real-world demand and designed for lasting impact.

Also featuring Tonny Omwansa and Yasmin Chandani.

🎧 Tune in: https://bit.ly/4dPssRN

Africa’s agrifood systems are at a decisive moment.The Annual Trends and Outlook Report 2025 (ATOR) Featured Issue reinf...
08/04/2026

Africa’s agrifood systems are at a decisive moment.

The Annual Trends and Outlook Report 2025 (ATOR) Featured Issue reinforces a critical insight: transformation will not come from technology alone but from how technology is embedded within systems—institutions, policy, and inclusive innovation ecosystems.

From AI and digital tools to biotechnology and mechanisation, the opportunity exists. The real constraint is adoption—driven by weak coordination, limited investment, and high transaction costs.

The takeaway is clear:
👉 Innovation must be systemic, not isolated
👉 Policy must enable scale, not just pilots
👉 Investment must align with long-term resilience

Africa’s pathway to food security and economic growth lies in moving beyond access to technology and toward integrated, scalable, and inclusive systems.

📖 Read the featured issue: https://bit.ly/4e5UvfN

We are seeking a world-class event management partner for the Global Mental Health Conference organised in partnership w...
07/04/2026

We are seeking a world-class event management partner for the Global Mental Health Conference organised in partnership with the Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN).

The selected firm will be responsible for delivering a seamless, well-coordinated, and high-impact event that aligns with the conference’s vision and meets the expectations of all stakeholders, participants, and partners.

See detailed RFP here 🔗 https://bit.ly/41idX1y

A Landmark Moment for African AI & Open ResearchAfrica’s future is taking shape, grounded in its own priorities. At th...
02/04/2026

A Landmark Moment for African AI & Open Research

Africa’s future is taking shape, grounded in its own priorities. At the 4th EAC Regional STI Conference in Kigali , the EAC Declaration on Artificial Intelligence took a bold step by adopting proposals to strengthen research ecosystems across the continent.

This goes beyond technology. It’s about building systems that work for Africa, rooted in open science, collaboration across disciplines, and the value of indigenous knowledge. Through our collaboration with AUDA NEPAD, this vision is being shaped with intention and ownership.

Why this matters:

🚀 Moving from ideas to impact—toward a more connected, open research landscape.
🗺️ Advancing the agenda with stronger financing and digital infrastructure.

This is about ensuring AI works for people, communities, and the continent’s future.

Read more: https://scienceforafrica.foundation/media-center/open-research-proposals-adopted-east-africas-ai-declaration



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