Africa's Scientific Research Capacity is Growing
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When it comes to scientific research and innovation, Africa is a global laggard. The continent contributes a paltry 1 percent of the world’s research output, a far cry from its position as the world’s second-most-populated continent.
The problem is compounded by low-quality educational curricula and the fact that global funding is skewed more toward health and agricultural development and less so toward science, technology, mathematics and engineering projects. (STEM).
But all is not lost, as more and more African researchers are broadening their horizon and engaging in much-needed projects. These projects tackle issues ranging from food security, energy and transportation to poverty, diseases like malaria and HIV, immunization and challenges stemming from climate change. This has seen the number of papers from African researchers double in just over a decade, improving in quantity, quality and international citation, according to data from Scopus, the largest database of peer-reviewed literature.
Ollivier Girard/CIFOR