African Researchers call for Sustainable Funding at the Afretec PI Conference 2026
The University of Nairobi on 15th -18th June, 2026, welcomed over 150 researchers, innovators and higher education leaders from across Africa for the Afretec Principal Investigators (PI) Conference and the African Research School, a forum aimed at strengthening research collaboration, innovation and capacity building across the continent.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Prof. George Abong, Afretec Network Coordinator, welcomed participants to Nairobi, describing the conference as an opportunity to celebrate progress while identifying new pathways for developing African-centred solutions to the continent's challenges.
"We are glad to welcome you to the City under the Sun," Prof. Abong said. "This meeting provides an opportunity to showcase the progress we have made, discover new pathways, and contextualize solutions that respond to Africa's unique needs."
He noted that the African Research School has become an integral component of the Afretec initiative by equipping emerging researchers with the skills and networks necessary to drive impactful research.
Prof. Abong encouraged participants to make the most of the conference by seeking new collaborators, identifying additional funding opportunities, improving the accessibility of their research, and finding better ways to engage communities that are influenced by their work.
Highlighting the importance of the Afretec Seed Grants, he observed that a good research ecosystem requires sustained investment.
"A strong research ecosystem needs sustained funding. The Afretec Seed Grants provide an important opportunity, and I encourage researchers to seize it," he said.
"Research drives development. It strengthens higher education ecosystems and enables institutions to remain competitive,” Dr. Tim Brown, Director of Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) underscored the critical role research plays in driving economic and social development.
Dr. Brown noted that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 calls for a substantial increase in public and private investment in research and development. However, he observed that countries such as Kenya and Rwanda currently invest approximately 0.7 per cent of GDP in research, below the recommended target of about one per cent.
He challenged researchers to deepen interdisciplinary collaboration and leverage research partnerships to generate practical solutions for Africa's development challenges.
Representing the Mastercard Foundation, Dr. Eunice Muthengi, Director of Education, emphasized that transforming higher education in Africa requires sustained investment not only in institutions but also in the people who drive research and innovation.
"The goals we have set cannot be achieved without higher education institutions. We must also invest in researchers, which is why partnerships such as these are so important," she said.
Dr. Muthengi highlighted the Foundation's long-term commitment to expanding equitable access to higher education through investments in research, innovation, governance, financing, market-driven learning and institutional networks.
She noted that the Foundation's US$100 million investment, now in its sixth year, is helping develop highly skilled, creative global talent while promoting reciprocal knowledge generation across African institutions.
Officially opening the conference, the University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayub Gitau, said the University was honoured to host both the Afretec PI Conference and the African Research School.
He observed that Kenya's transition towards Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), with a strong emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), aligns with the continent's growing focus on research and innovation.
"A new generation of African researchers is emerging—one that responds directly to society's needs," Prof. Gitau said.
He described the Principal Investigators Conference as an important platform for reflecting on research impact, strengthening partnerships and identifying new opportunities for collaboration. He added that the African Research School continues to build the research capacity of postgraduate students and early-career researchers, thereby strengthening African universities for the future.
The conference brings together researchers from Afretec partner institutions to share research findings, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen institutional networks and advance innovative solutions that contribute to Africa's sustainable development.
The African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) has ten partner members so far including Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Agostinho Neto University, Al Akhawayn University, Carnegie Mellon University Africa, The American University in Cairo, Universite Cheikh Anta Diop, University of Lagos, University of Nairobi, University of Rwanda, University of Witswatersrand.
