he National Science, Technology, and Innovation Council (NSTIC) has successfully concluded a two-day Capacity-Building Workshop on Research Excellence for higher educational institutions. Held on March 10th and 11th at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, the workshop aimed to enhance research capabilities, improve grant management skills, and strengthen collaboration between researchers and policymakers in Sierra Leone.
In her welcome address, NSTIC National Coordinator, Mrs. Famata Kaiwa, thanked the Association of African Universities (AAU) for its unwavering support. She acknowledged the foundational efforts of Dr. Noli Moore and Ms. Ruth in ensuring NSTIC’s integration into the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI).
"AAU believed in our potential and ensured that NSTIC became part of SGCI, despite challenges," Mrs. Kaiwa stated. She also announced the launch of NSTIC’s new online grant management system, a milestone expected to revolutionise research funding in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Alex Blandshard, a lead facilitator, outlined the workshop’s key themes, which included:
Research Quality and Excellence – Ensuring rigorous and impactful research outputs.
Ethics in Research Implementation – Upholding integrity in project execution.
Digitalisation in Research Management – Utilizing technology for efficient grant administration.
Collaboration in Research Proposal Writing – Strengthening institutional partnerships for competitive funding.
Dr. Blandshard commended participants for their enthusiasm and urged them to apply the knowledge gained to elevate Sierra Leone’s research landscape.
Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Ramatulai Wurie, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a robust research and innovation ecosystem. She stressed that research should address national needs, be translated into policies and practices, and promote institutional collaboration to avoid isolated efforts.
"Innovation and industrialisation must be integrated into university research frameworks," Dr. Wurie emphasised, citing the European Union-funded rehabilitation of Fourah Bay College’s chemistry lab as an example of linking research to commercialisation.
Professor Jonas Redwood-Sawyerr, Chairman of NSTIC-SL, highlighted the importance of research excellence, quality, and impact. He underscored AAU’s role in helping NSTIC develop transparent selection and funding criteria for research proposals.
"Limited funding requires us to establish clear selection benchmarks, ensuring that only the best research proposals receive support," he noted, urging participants to actively engage in the learning process.
The workshop marked a crucial step in strengthening research capacity in Sierra Leone. Participants gained insights into best practices for securing and managing research funding, fostering global collaborations, and ensuring high-quality research outputs. With NSTIC’s new online management system now operational, research funding in Sierra Leone is set for greater efficiency and transparency.
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