Alliance for African Partnership, a consortium of ten leading African universities, Michigan State University and a network of African research institutes, is excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Partnerships for Innovative Research in Africa seed funding. Each team is composed of at least one lead from an AAP African member institution and one MSU lead. Some teams also include additional partners from NGOs and/or other universities from outside of AAP’s consortium. A consortium-wide initiative, PIRA grants are a tiered funding opportunity designed to cultivate and support multidirectional and transregional research partnerships at any stage of their development, whether it be initiatives to explore and create new relationships or scale existing ones. The total amount of PIRA grants awarded in 2024 is over $500,000. 

Awarded projects cover diverse disciplinary perspectives and span AAP’s seven priority areas:  

• Agri-food systems 
• Water, Energy and Environment 
• Culture and Society 
• Youth Empowerment 
• Education 
• Health and Nutrition 
• Science, Technology and Innovation

All projects will integrate gender, equity and and inclusion issues in all stages of the project.

This year’s winning projects include:

Towards the Implementation of Smart Villages in the Rural Communities of Taraba State in Nigeria 

• Research leads: Shanelle N. Foster (MSU), Chidimma Frances Igboeli (University of Nigeria, Nsukka), Mbika Mutega (University of Johannesburg), Sari Stark (University of Lapland)
• Institutional partners: Michigan State University (College of Engineering), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Johannesburg and University of Lapland
• Funding tier: Scaling grant (up to $100,000)

Green Technology Extraction and Characterization of Bioactive Components from Edible Fruits of Vitex donania and Uvaria chamae

• Research leads: Leslie D. Bourquin (MSU), Insa Seck (UCAD)
• Institutional partners: Michigan State University (College of Agriculture & Natural Resources), Universite Cheikh Anta Diop
• Funding tier: Planning grant (up to $50,000)

Qi Hua Fan of MSU (left) and Tabitha Amollo of Egerton University (right) working in their solar cell lab.

Develop a Partnership for Renewable Energy Research and Education

• Research leads: Qi Hua Fan (MSU), Tabitha Amollo (Egerton)
• Institutional partners: Michigan State University (College of Engineering), Egerton University
• Funding tier: Scaling grant (up to $100,000)

Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Research, Management and Community Alliances in South Africa’s Largest Coastal Marine Protected Area

• Research leads: Amber K. Peters (MSU), Els Vermeulen (UP), Grant Smith (Sharklife)
• Institutional partners: Michigan State University (College of Agriculture and Natural Resources), University of Pretoria, Sharklife Conservation Group
• Funding tier: Planning grant (up to $50,000)

Changing Public Attitudes and Behaviors of Buying Counterfeits through Evidence-Based Education and Awareness-Raising Campaigns in Kenya

• Research leads: Saleem Alhabash (MSU), Maureen Kangu (USIU), Robi Koki Ochieng (USIU), John Akoten (Anti-Counterfeit Authority)
• Institutional partners: Michigan State University (College of Communication Arts & Sciences), United States International University-Africa, Anti-Counterfeit Authority
• Funding tier: Planning grant (up to $50,000)

Leveraging Tourism and Hospitality Ecosystems to Expand Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in Botswana

• Research leads:  Karthik Namasivayam (MSU), Mokgogi Lenao (UB)
• Institutional partners: Michigan State University (Broad College of Business), University of Botswana
• Funding tier: Planning grant (up to $50,000)

Children attending Pre-school in Tanzania benefit from the research project of Bethany Wilinski of MSU and Subilaga M Kejo of University of Dar es Salaam.

Tucheze Pamoja: Co-Creating Feasible and Sustainable Play-based Learning Approaches in Tanzania 

• Research leads: Bethany Wilinski (MSU), Subilaga M Kejo (UDSM)
• Institutional partners: Michigan State University (College of Education), University of Dar es Salaam
• Funding tier: Scaling grant (up to $100,000)

Promoting Science Communication and Engagement through Training and Digital Media Platforms

• Research leads: Susan McFarlane-Alvarez (MSU), Dikabo Mogopodi (UB)
• Institutional partners: Michigan State University (College of Communication Arts and Sciences), University of Botswana
• Funding tier: Planning grant (up to $50,000)

“We were extremely impressed with the quality and diversity of proposals we received for this cycle of the PIRA program. The projects that were awarded all embody AAP’s commitment to innovation, equitable partnership, and our shared vision of transforming lives in Africa and beyond,” said Amy Jamison, co-director of the Alliance for African Partnership.

A unique aspect of PIRA grants is the expectation that institutions will establish and develop equitable partnerships from conception to close out of their respective projects. These equitable partnerships will be among the research team members themselves and include relevant local stakeholders. Teams will involve these local stakeholders as appropriate throughout the project, respecting their knowledge and expertise, and taking an adaptive approach that is responsive to the local context. 

We invite you to join our virtual PIRA launch and showcase event at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 25 when all of our awardees will be discussing their projects. You can register for the event on Zoom. For more information, visit the Alliance for African Partnership website.

This article originally appeared on the International Studies and Program website.