Research in Africa boosted through agreement

UCT recently signed an agreement with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to promote research on the continent.

VC Dr Max Price (right) and Dr Carlos Lopes (left), executive secretary of UNECA, entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at extending interdisciplinary research in Africa and promoting regional and continental engagement to drive the transformation agenda in industry and tertiary education.

Both UCT and UNECA expressed the hope that the "joint academic and research activities will help to bridge the research-policy gap to better inform the academic research on pressing policy issues and to bring academic research more to the attention of policymakers and governments".

UNECA is mandated to promote the economic and social development of its member states, foster intraregional integration and promote international cooperation for Africa's development. It is one of five regional UN commissions and works together with among others governments, civil society and academic institutions to promote Africa's economic and social development.

Photo by Michael Hammond.