Being a presentation at the 9th Wet Africa Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) held during 23-26 November, 2015 at the University of Legon, Ghana

1. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Developing Intra-African Collaboration among Early
Career Scientists: Models of Research Capacity and
Innovation in Africa
Olawale Emmanuel Olayide
Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, Nigeria & Post-Doctoral Visiting Research Fellow, Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
waleolayide@yahoo.com, oe.olayide@ui.edu.ng, oeolayide@knust.edu.gh
+233241358571; +2348035973449

2. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Outline
• Introduction
• The CIRCLE programme
• Benefits of the CIRCLE programme
• Essentials of research and innovation management
• Models of research capacity and innovation management in Africa
• Conclusion & recommendations
• Acknowledgements
• Resource materials

3. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Introduction
• The Climate Impacts Research Capacity and Leadership Enhancement
(CIRCLE) programme is institution-based
• Provides support for early career scientists/researchers
• It is an initiative of the Department for International Development (DFID) of
the United Kingdom (UK)

4. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Introduction
 Develops the skills and research outputs of early career African researchers
in the field of climate change and its local impacts on development
 Agriculture and food security
 Health and well-being
 Energy
 Water
 Policy and political economy

5. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Introduction
• The criteria for participation in the programme ensure commitment of
stakeholders through endorsements and regular reporting of activities
• The stakeholders are:
 Early career scientists/researchers (Post-Masters & Post-Doctoral)
 Nominating institutions (Home & Host)
 Funding organization
 Quality support team
 Management team

6. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Benefits of the CIRCLE Programme
• The benefits of the CIRCLE programme include:
 Travels & exposure
 Research funds management
 Research networks
 Visibility
 Publication in high impact journals

7. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Benefits of the CIRCLE Programme
 Training and capacity development
 Effective communication
 Financial accountability
 Opportunity to explore other opportunities (door-to-doors)
 Mentoring & supervision
 Research leadership enhancement
 Creation of a research niche

8. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Essentials of Research & Innovation Management
• Bridging the gap in the area of south-south collaboration among young
African scientists/researchers
• Appreciation of inherent mutual benefits that can be achieved through intra-
African research collaborations and co-habitation
• Appreciation of intrinsic multicultural research environment in Africa

9. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Some Models of Research Capacity Development & Innovation Management in
Africa
• CIRLE: Climate Impacts Research Capacity and Leadership Enhancement
• AGRODEP: African Growth and Development Policy Modeling Consortium
• AWARD: African Women in Agricultural Research and Development

10. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
CIRCLE

11. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle

12. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle

13. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
AGRODEP

14. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
AWARD

15. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Comparison

16. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Comparison

17. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Comparison

18. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Comparison

19. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Conclusion and Recommendations
• Research capacity development in Africa has improved in recent times with
strategic focus and thematic areas
• Different models have emerged – CIRCLE, AGRODEP & AWARD
• There is the need to ensure mentoring and succession planning, and
development of Next Generation Researchers (NGRs)
• Scalability and sustainability should be of utmost priority

20. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Acknowledgements
• Management Team of CIRCLE programme: DFID, ACU & AAS
• The University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
• The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,
Ghana

21. CIRCLE | www.acu.ac.uk/circle
Resource Materials
• https://www.acu.ac.uk/focus-areas/early-careers/circle/
• http://www.agrodep.org/sites/default/files/AGRODEP_Brochure_English_Ma
y_final.pdf
• http://www.asti.cgiar.org/pdf/ASTI-AWARD-brief.pdf
• http://www.agrodep.org/news/agrodep-featured-2015-resakss-conference
• http://www.scidev.net/global/capacity-building/multimedia/young-african-
climate-change-researchers.html