AFRICAN UNION RESEARCH GRANTS CONTRACT SIGNING & KWAME NKRUMAH REGIONAL SCIENTIFIC AWARDS CEREMONY

By African Union Commission (AUC)
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AFRICAN UNION RESEARCH GRANTS CONTRACT SIGNING & KWAME NKRUMAH REGIONAL SCIENTIFIC AWARDS CEREMONY

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 14, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- INVITATION TO THE MEDIA

When: 17th December 2012 Time: 8:30 -11:00 am

Where: African Union Headquarter, New Conference Complex: Small

Conference Room 1, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Why: 1. Grant contract signing for African Union 2012 Open Call for

Research Proposals and,


2. African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards: Regional Awards for Women Scientists

Who: Organized by the Department of Human Resources, Science

&Technology of African Union Commission (AUC)


Background:


1. African Union Research Grant: 2012 Open Call for Research Proposals


The bid to support Research Initiatives in Africa got a historical boost through the Partnership 8 on Science, Information Society and Space of the EU-Africa Joint Strategy that identified the African Union Research Grants Programme as an early deliverable in the 2008 negotiations. This flagship programme is designed to mobilize African scientific excellence and to promote both intra-Africa and international collaboration in scientific research in priority areas articulated in the Africa's Consolidated Plan of Action for Science and Technology.


The programme innovatively brings together African researchers to form supranational networks and scientific research consortia. The programme has a total budget of 14.7 million Euro, through the Financing Agreement of the 10th EDF Intra-ACP Envelop. The African Union Commission through its Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology is the Delegated Regional Contracting Authority for the African Component of the Programme.


The first and second Calls were launched on the 16th December 2010 and 18th January 2012 respectively to support research in Post-harvest & Agriculture; Renewable & Sustainable Energy and Water & Sanitation, with the inclusion of climate change and fisheries in the second call.


2. AU Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards: Regional Awards for Women


In January 2007, the African Union Heads of State and Government declared 2007 as the launching year for building constituencies and champions for science, technology and innovation in Africaā€¯. In response to this political momentum and commitment, the African Union Commission launched the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards Programme that runs with a core budget of USD1.1 million with main goal to popularize science and technology among African citizens.


The Awards Programme consists of awarding scientific prizes to outstanding African scientists in Earth and life Sciences and Basic Science, Technology and Innovation, and in the process acknowledging the success and scientific research leadership of our scientists. The programme is implemented through a tripartite partnership with a view to coordinate and to boost science and technology at national, regional and continental levels.


Journalists are invited to cover the ceremony on the 17th of December from 8:30 -11:00 am at the AU Commission.