Research Matchmaking

Research Avenue A: Developing and testing new models for resilient health systems, particularly related to primary care

• Supporting cost effective, accessible health systems, including policy frameworks, infrastructure, information technology, and workforce capacity, particularly in fragile or crisis affected contexts.
• Strengthening of primary care, trauma, and emergency medical services that improves equity and access to treatment for vulnerable and underserved populations, particularly mothers, children, and adolescents.
• Innovation in health financing and public health insurance models, including public–private partnerships, that promotes sustainable and equitable health system funding and patient access.
• Integrating insights from health determining sectors and the social determinants of health to address mental health, malnutrition, or other non communicable diseases that place strain on health systems.

Research Avenue B: One Health preparedness and infectious disease surveillance

• Strengthening integrated One Health surveillance and diagnostic systems through coordinated use of human, animal, or environmental data to improve early warning, detection, and response to emerging diseases.
• Application of AI driven surveillance and predictive modelling technologies that improves preparedness for zoonotic and/or climate linked health threats.
• Supporting prediction of emerging and re emerging diseases and strengthens pandemic preparedness at transboundary or regional levels, taking explicitly into account the context of climate change impacts.
• Integrating interdisciplinary insights related to agriculture, food security and the environment, and/or elements of traditional knowledge to support a holistic approach to One Health.

Research Avenue C: Exploring the use of traditional knowledge to combat communicable and non communicable diseases

• Improving, harmonizing, and strengthening pharmacopoeia systems, focusing on the quality, safety, and efficacy of traditional medicines through meta-analyses and new guidance.
• Development, promotion, and scaling of traditional therapeutic products and approaches at multi country or regional levels to address communicable diseases, non communicable diseases, and trauma or injuries, as well as mental health.
• Biodiversity based research, including bioprospecting and genomics, that contributes to health objectives through the development of new compounds.

Research Avenue A: Climate-resilient and agroecological production systems

• Advancing integrated climate-smart and agroecological practices that enhance productivity, resilience, and sustainability across diverse African agro-ecologies.
• Innovation in soil, livestock, and water management that reduces climate vulnerability while increasing yields in rain fed and irrigated systems.

Research Avenue B: Inclusive precision agriculture, post harvest systems, and value addition supporting small-scale farmholders

• Use of digital and precision agriculture tools, including AI, Genetic editing, earth observation, drones, and sensors, that improves farm-level decision-making and resource efficiency.
• Innovations in post-harvest handling, processing, and traceability technologies that reduces losses, enhances food safety, and strengthens agro-industrial value chain supporting climate-smart food systems.

Research Avenue A: Applications

• AI and other digital applications addressing community challenges in national priority sectors (i.e. agriculture, health, environment, education)
• Support scaling of proven AI-enabled innovations (I.e. computing, support commercialization pathway)
• Enhance use of AI in scientific research.

Research Avenue B: Learning and entrepreneurship

• Skills development models for African youth and women, researchers, and STI institutions in STEM and AI. (i.e. training programs, fellowships).
• Stimulate digital and AI-enabled entrepreneurship

Research Avenue A: Diversified, renewable, and optimized energy sources and systems

• Energy diversification strategies that reduce dependence on fossil fuels and climate-vulnerable energy sources, ensuring accessibility for marginalized populations.
• Leveraging traditional ecological knowledge and biodiversity to support clean energy production.
• Optimization of renewable energy systems, including solar, wind, biomass, biogas, green hydrogen, and hydropower technologies, for affordability and scalability across diverse African contexts.

Research Avenue B: Innovation for energy storage, efficiency, and smart systems

• Innovation in battery technologies, energy storage systems, and smart grids that increases energy reliability and efficiency.
• Supporting clean cooking and demand-side energy efficiency.

Research Avenue C: Local and regional commercialization, manufacturing, and partnerships

• Strengthening of local and regional manufacturing and commercialization of energy technologies to enhance energy access and security- especially for vulnerable and marginalized groups such as women, youth and the disabled - while promoting inclusive industrial development.
• Development of resilient and sustainable practices across energy value chains to support strategic autonomy and reduce maintenance and lifecycle.

Research Avenue A: Water security, biodiversity and natural resource governance

• Improving access to safe water and sanitation under increasing climate stress.
• Application of digital and geospatial technologies and/or innovative governance models and protocols that support biodiversity conservation and enable sustainable management of land, water, and natural resources.
• Circular economy and waste to resource solutions that reduce pollution and environmental degradation, from sectors such as mining and other extractive industries.

Research Avenue B: Water security, climate resilience and adaptation

• Improving access to safe water and sanitation under increasing climate stress.
• Disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness through improved climate modelling, forecasting, and early warning systems.
• Adaptation and scale-up of strategies and community participation frameworks that support climate resilient livelihoods and ecosystems