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This study explores the effectiveness of international efforts to build the capacities of national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) in Africa and proposes actions to improve the performance of these systems. Analysis draws on agricultural research expenditure data in Africa, Asia and Latin America and key informant interviews of 26 senior representatives of international and African research organisations. We conclude that donors and international partners have increased the supply of professional African scientists while contributing relatively little to the institutional capacities of African NARES. We propose a transition to what we call a twenty-first century African-led agricultural research system and identify actions to manifest it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the transferable (soft) skills articulated in a Research Management (RM) Professional Competency Framework (PCF). The Framework was developed, prior to COVID-19, from continentally anchored RM praxis in Africa. While the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) Framework (2016) includes nine key 'technical' competency areas for respective RM organizational levels (administrative, management and leadership), it is the RM transferable skills that have been brought to the forefront in the current complex COVID-19 environment. This article is therefore a timely focus on what RM practitioners offer as 'human-being' professionals and not only knowledgeable experts. The paper therefore contributes to novelty in terms of mindfully integrating the personal into the professional practice architectures, and, as such, reinforcing work-life integration based on what it means not only to "know" and "do" within a profession, but also to "be" a professional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the furtherance of knowledge, researchers and research are supported organizationally, but sometimes organically. Yet the research enterprise needs to be systemically managed. Research managers, however, are still striving to define their functions. Is research management part of the continuum of research itself? Is it an occupation? Is it a profession? Increasingly scholars are problematizing what the professionalization discourses mean for research management. Alongside other professionalization initiatives, the Southern Africa Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) developed a Professional Competency Framework (PCF) for research management. The article addresses at a micro-to-meta level of analysis, the conceiving of the PCF, and then posits how the developmental journey towards a PCF may fit into a macro impetus towards professionalization. The findings extend theorising around competencies, professionalization and attendant methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempts to improve the policy environment have led to a growing pressure on governments in Africa to embark on policymaking that is more evidence based and considers a wide spectrum of scientific and indigenous knowledge. Local - or 'homegrown' - research networks on the continent can help strengthen the role of scientific knowledge in policymaking by increasing the capacity of researchers and by enhancing the visibility and communication of the research produced. While a large number of regional and sub-regional research networks have sprung up in Africa, the mere existence of networks does not guarantee their success. In reality, the impact of research networks on the science-policy interface depends on how well the networks operate in practice. We present a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of research networks in a way that is comparable across networks. The evaluation framework was used to evaluate two sub-regional research networks: the NEPAD Southern African Networks of Water Centres of Excellence (SANWACTE) and the NEPAD Southern African Network for Biosciences (SANBio). The evaluation revealed some shared constraints limiting the effectiveness of both networks, including uneven regional representation, asymmetry between network members, and difficulties in securing sufficient, diverse and sustainable resources. Further research into network design and funding models is suggested in order to enhance the role of these networks in providing locally appropriate knowledge for policymaking on the continent. Significance: • While a large number of research networks have sprung up in Africa, the mere existence of networks does not guarantee success. • Uneven regional representation, power asymmetries, and limited funding constrain the effectiveness of research networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the experiential perspectives of the authors on the shortcomings in LIS PhD theses submitted for examination or supervised in 15 purposively selected universities in Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Ghana, and South Africa. In all, 36 theses were examined and/ or supervised for the period 2008-2016. The shortcomings discussed here were isolated in the conception of the research topic, introduction (background to the study), review of literature, selection and use of theory, presentation and discussion of the results, as well as in the technical presentation of the theses. The authors conclude that the shortcomings identified in the LIS PhD projects may be attributed to a number of factors including, but not limited to inadequate preparedness on the parts of supervisors and the candidates, and limited support given to PhD candidates. The authors recommend rethinking the mode of offering the LIS PhD programmes from being exclusively research-oriented to a hybrid model of course work and research. The issues raised in this article have implications for PhD supervision capacity building, postgraduate support and mentorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are cooperative arrangements between governments and multinational corporations (MNCs) that are created to finance, construct and manage infrastructure projects. PPPs are a means for governments to gain much-needed private sector investment and expertise for economic development. Historically, Africa's involvement in PPPs has been limited relative to other continents. However, African governments, which are strapped for resources like other public entities, now have a greater need for infrastructure development to support the continent's population growth and demand for its commodities from emerging countries. Based on these conditions, PPPs will grow in importance in Africa. The purpose of this Insights Article is to discuss the past and current state of PPPs in Africa and the existing challenges of PPPs on the continent. We also discuss the opportunities that PPPs present to researchers who wish to contribute to the development of PPPs as an area of management inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of African science and technology has been hampared by a multitude of problems. From the continent's late start in the race to setting up and obtaining universities with research quality fundamentals to equipment acquisition, lack of capacity, limited research and development resources and most importantly the increasing absence of international research partnerships. The lack of a strong international research partnerships for the African university and research community, the fact that most African universities and research communities are new, most of them less than 50 years in business have exberted the expected academic growth of the African university and research. With all these problems, two solutions are fundamental: a development of a strong government backed funding policy for the African university and research community and strong international partnerships and research infrastructure to support a culture of both applied and fundamental research to drive the badly needed indigineous innovations and development of a knowledge pool of skills for development. Without these, the African university and research will continue to be deligated to the tail end of the world class universities and research communities. This paper focuses on the building of an African international research infrastructure to bring the continent beyond today's internent to a smart future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on a published paper regarding the differences of industrial organization of corruption between Asia and Africa. She cites the lack of definition of the concepts of the paper leading to the failure of the author to extend the importance of the message. She believes that the paper implies extraordinary and often false generalizations about sub-Saharan Africa. She suggests the need to improve conceptual clarity that may encourage a broad research agenda in reporting.

The article focuses on the assistance provided by the Central Connecticut State University's Department of Anthropology on the rediscovery of Africans' presence during the 18th and 19th century in Connecticut. It stresses on the detection of graveyard where Africans were buried, which prompted archaeologitsts to conduct archaelogical survey and exploration. Further, it reveals the exploration of the Cockle Hill in New Salem Plantation where sought materials validate the Africans' practices.

The author offers his response to a comment made by Dr. Kim Moloney on his article regarding the differences of the industrial organization of corruption between Asia and Africa. He argues on the opinion of Moloney on the unreliability of his research on the World Bank's 1997 World Development Report asserting that the idea was based on direct world observations. He clarifies the connection of violence to corruption in Africa by presenting index depicting the high number of crime in the region.