Sub-Saharan Africa

The Royal Society has a long history of promoting science in Africa by supporting collaborations, networks and exchanges between scientists and building the capacity of scientific institutions.

Our work aims to build sustainable research capacity to support economic growth and development.

Recognising excellent science

Each year we present the Royal Society Africa Prize (previously the Royal Society Pfizer Award, last awarded in 2016) to a scientist making an innovative contribution in the biological sciences to promote capacity-building in Africa.

Previously, the Royal Society Pfizer Africa Academies Programme provided training, mentoring and project support to develop and strengthen national science academies in Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia in partnership with Network of African Science Academies (NASAC).

The Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize is to recognise early-career research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the physical, mathematical and engineering sciences. Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize | Royal Society

Supporting excellent research and researchers

The majority of grants offered by the Society are open to researchers of all nationalities, with many supporting international researchers working in institutions both in the UK and globally. For more information on these opportunities, visit the grants page.

Advice for policy makers

Many of our policy projects tackle issues relevant to Africa. We promote evidence-based policymaking through our global partnerships and support of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

Improving access to journals

We are partners in a number of international schemes to make scientific journal articles available immediately and free of charge to the world's poorest nations.

Support for African Diaspora

The InterAcademy Partnership’s Project on Harnessing Science, Engineering, and Medicine to Address Africa’s Challenges was published in 2019 – copy of the report available here.