The Research and Innovation Directorate (RID) is pleased to inform the University community of a funding opportunity under the Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) for collaborative, multi-country research to support key pillars of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2034 (STISA-2034).

Co-funded by participating African Science Granting Councils, the Government of Norway, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Wellcome, and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), this call seeks to support high-quality, policy-relevant research, strengthen regional partnerships, and accelerate the uptake of research evidence to support inclusive and sustainable development across Africa.

Priority Sectors
The call covers the following priority sectors:

• Agriculture
• Health
• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies
• Energy
• Environment

Please note that for Ghana, applicants are eligible under the following streams only:

• Health
• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies

Objectives of the Call
This multilateral research call will support multi-country flagship projects that aim to:

• produce new knowledge and innovations that address Africa’s challenges in line with STISA-2034 and national research priorities;
• support research and innovation with clear pathways to policy uptake and application; and
• strengthen a more integrated African science, technology, and innovation ecosystem linked to policy and long-term partnerships.

Funding and Duration

• Maximum funding per Ghanaian consortium member: GHS 800,000
• Project duration: up to 36 months

Eligibility
Applications must be submitted by a consortium consisting of:

• one lead applicant institution; and
• at least two co-applicant institutions from participating SGCI countries.

Please note that:

• no more than five co-applicant institutions may be included;
• each institution must nominate a full-time Principal Investigator;
• all applicant institutions must be able to administer research funds and jointly apply for funding;
• the lead applicant institution must be the institution that submits the proposal; and
• applicant institutions must have independent legal status and be capable of receiving and administering funds from their respective national science granting councils.

Additional institutions may participate in the wider consortium as partners, consultants, or end users, but organisations outside Africa may not directly or indirectly receive research funds from this call.

 Ghana-Specific Requirements
For Ghana, the following additional requirements apply:

• applicants may be Ghanaian or foreign entities with significant Ghanaian participation;
• eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, SMEs, startups, and private-sector organizations;
• letters of support from authorized institutional representatives are required; and
• the Ghana Card will serve as the primary form of identification for Principal Investigators and team members.

Deadline
Expressions of Interest must be submitted no later than 25 September 2026 at 23:59 EDT.

Information Sessions
Information sessions are scheduled for:

• Session 1
  Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
  Time: 8:00–10:00 a.m. EDT (UTC-4)
  Register here.
•  Session 2
  Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
  Time: 8:00–10:00 a.m. EDT (UTC-4)
  Register here.

Both webinars will cover the same content. Applicants are welcome to register for the session that best fits their schedule.

Colleagues interested in this opportunity are encouraged to begin consortium discussions early and to explore the SGCI matchmaking platform for consortium-building support.

For more information on the call, kindly visit the official call page and the SGCI matchmaking platform.

Interested applicants are kindly requested to inform RID of their intention to apply to enable institutional guidance and support. Please email rid-grantsmgt@ug.edu.gh, with jobappiah@ug.edu.gh in copy, ahead of the deadline.