Author: ACE Comms Team

Le Centre d’Excellence de l’Enseignement Supérieur Africain pour l’Impact sur le Développement (CEA Impact) annonce les lauréats de sa Première édition du Prix de Recherche en Innovation des Etudiants

COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE

 

Le Centre d’Excellence de l’Enseignement Supérieur Africain pour l’Impact sur le Développement (CEA Impact) annonce les lauréats de sa Première édition du Prix de Recherche en Innovation des Etudiants.

Accra, Ghana (23 novembre 2022) – Le projet Centre d’Excellence de l’Enseignement Supérieur Africain pour l’Impact sur le Développement (CEA Impact) a le plaisir d’annoncer les lauréats de sa Première édition du Prix de Recherche en Innovation des Etudiants (SIRA). Créé par l’Association des Universités Africaines (AUA), l’Unité de Facilitation Régionale du CEA Impact, avec le soutien de la Banque mondiale, le prix reconnaît et promeut l’excellence de la recherche et de l’innovation à valeur scientifique et sociétale, qui répond aux défis du développement de l’Afrique.

Quatre cent vingt-huit (428) candidatures ont été soumises par des étudiants du CEA Impact dans les 11 pays participants (Bénin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ghana, Gambie, Guinée, Niger, Nigeria, Sénégal et Togo) depuis l’annonce de l’appel à candidatures en septembre 2022. Le premier tour du processus d’évaluation transparent et équitable, guidé par les critères stipulés par le prix, a conduit à la sélection de 65 recherches d’étudiants éligibles pour le tour d’évaluation suivant. Suite à la sélection initiale, un comité indépendant d’experts représentant les cinq disciplines thématiques (agriculture, sciences sociales appliquées/éducation, environnement, santé, STIM) du projet CEA Impact a soigneusement évalué chaque soumission. Par la suite, 15 projets de recherche (trois de chaque discipline thématique) ont été sélectionnés pour les prix. Il faut noter que sept (7) projets sur quinze (15) ont été menés par des femmes.

Les lauréats sélectionnés ont reçu une subvention en espèces comprise entre 2000 et 4000 dollars chacun (soit un total de 50 000 dollars de prix en espèces) et des certificats d’excellence en recherche. Les prix ont été remis lors de la cérémonie de clôture du 8ème Atelier régional du CEA Impact qui s’est tenu en Gambie du 14 au 18 novembre 2022.

Le Prix de Recherche en Innovation des Etudiants (SIRA) se focalise sur les étudiants pour stimuler leur intérêt à mettre en œuvre les compétences et les connaissances acquises et visent à stimuler le développement national et régional par la recherche.

Vous trouverez ci-dessous la liste des lauréats.

                                 AGRICULTURE _
Nom Centre Sujet de recherche Position
Mlle Gouegni Edwige Flore Centre pour les maladies tropicales négligées et la biotechnologie médico-légale (ACENTDFB), Université Ahmadu Bello, Nigeria Potentiels immunogènes de Trypanosoma Congolense Phosphatase acide liée à la membrane de poche flagellaire 1ere
M. Magangi Wilfred Abincha Centre d’Afrique de l’Ouest pour l’amélioration des cultures (WACCI), Université du Ghana Enquêtes de sélection pour soutenir la biofortification du manioc par la génomique, la phénomique et la bioinformatique 2 ème
Mr. Krampah Eric Appiah Centre d’Excellence Africain pour la Résilience Côtière (ACECOR), Université de Cape Coast, Ghana. Élevage en laboratoire de larves d’huîtres de mangrove (Crassostrea tulipa) sur des isolats de microalgues locales 2ème Ex aequo
                                                      ENVIRONMENT
Mlle. DJASSOU Adjoavi Colette

 

 Valorisation des Dechets en Produits à Haute Valeur Ajoutee (CEA-VALOPRO), Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny Cote d’Ivoire Elaboration d’éco matériaux pour la construction à partir de béton incorporant des granulats de pneus usagés.

 

 1ere (Tie)
Ms. OUEDRAOGO Habibou

 

Cochercheurs:

Dr. SORE Seick Omar; Dr. NSHIMIYIMANA Philbert

 

 Collège d’Ingénierie : Institut International de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (2iE), Burkina Faso Durabilité des briques en terre comprimées stabilisées aux géopolymères

 

 1st (Tie)
Mlle. Maduka Chinonye Medline Centre de Recherche sur les Produits Chimiques des Champs Pétrolifères (CEFOR), Université de Port Harcourt, Nigeria L’utilisation de matières organiques pour formuler le liquide de frein 3ème
                                                            HEALTH
Mlle. YONGOIKYO KUMAWUESE ABIGAIL Centre pour la technologie et la recherche alimentaires (CEFTER), Université d’État de Benue, Nigeria Formulation d’aliments pour nourrissons à base de farine de mangue enrichie 1ere
Dr. TRAORE/MAïGA Safiatou

 

 Centre de Formation, de Recherche et d’Expertises en Sciences du Médicament, Burkina Faso

 

 Développement D’une Crème A Base De Miel Et De Beurre De Karité Du Burkina Faso Pour Le Traitement Des Brulures Cutanées

 

 2eme
M. Aliyu Mukhtar Centre des maladies tropicales négligées et de la biotechnologie médico-légale (ACENTDFB), Nigeria Prévalence des microsporidies en association avec Plasmodium Falciparum et Wuchereria Bancrofti à Anophèles Gambiae au sein de l’Université Ahmadu Bello, Zaria (Campus Samaru ) 3em
                                                          TIGE
Monsieur OZOUDE CHINEMEREM JERRY

 

Co-chercheurs: M. BASI KINGSLEY JOB

 

 Centre pour le développement durable de l’électricité et de l’énergie (ACE-SPED), Université de Nusukka , Nigéria Design, optimization, and fabrication of perovskite solar cells for low-cost manufacturing of solar panels in Africa

 

 1er
Ms. Iji Juliana Omonya

 

Ms Uzochukwu Maryann Ifeoma; Ms      Odili Cynthia Ujuh

 

 Nigeria Un système d’information hospitalier intégré pour le dépistage et le suivi de la drépanocytose 2eme (Tie)
Mr. DIALLO Al Hassim

 

 Centre d’Excellence en mathématiques, informatique et TIC (CEA-MITIC), Sénégal Un système d’information hospitalier intégré pour le dépistage et le suivi de la drépanocytose 2em (Tie)

 

 

Pour toute autre question relative aux Prix, veuillez contacter :

 

Pour les questions relatives aux médias, veuillez contacter :

Millicent Kyei via makyei@aau.org

 

À propos de SIRA

Le Prix de Recherche en Innovation des Etudiants (SIRA) est une initiative de l’Association des Universités Africaines (AUA), avec le soutien de la Banque Mondiale, pour approfondir l’engagement du projet à faire progresser la production de connaissances innovantes et ayant un impact. Étant donné que le projet CEA Impact vise à améliorer la qualité, la quantité et l’accès à l’enseignement supérieur dans la région, le projet reconnaît, par le biais de ce système de prix, les recherches exceptionnelles ayant une valeur à la fois scientifique et sociétale entreprises par les étudiants des 53 centres d’excellence africains.

Visitez https://sira.aau.org/ pour plus d’informations sur SIRA

Photos des lauréats du prix:

Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) Announces the Winners of its First Students Innovation Research Awards

PRESS RELEASE

 

Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) Announces the Winners of its First Students Innovation Research Awards

Accra, Ghana (November 23, 2022) – The Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) project is pleased to announce the winners of its maiden Students Innovation Research Awards (SIRA). Established by the Regional Facilitation Unit for ACE Impact, the Association of African Universities (AAU), with support from the World Bank, the award recognizes and promotes excellent research and innovation with both scientific and societal value, that responds to Africa’s developmental challenges.

Four Hundred and Twenty-Eight (428) applications were received from ACE Impact students in the 11 participating countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo) since the announcement of the call for applications in September 2022. The first round of the transparent and fair review process, guided by the award’s stipulated criteria led to the selection of 65 eligible student research for the next round of review. Following the initial screening, an independent committee of experts representing the five thematic disciplines (Agriculture, Applied Social Sciences/ Education, Environment, Health, STEM) of ACE Impact Project thoroughly assessed each submission. Subsequently, 15 research projects (three from each thematic discipline) were selected for the awards. It is worthy to note that seven (7) out of the fifteen (15) projects were led by women.

The selected awardees received a cash grant between $2000-$4000 each (summing up to a total of $50,000 cash prize) and certificates of research excellence. The awards were presented at the closing ceremony of the 8th ACE Impact Regional Workshop held in Gambia from 14th -18th November 2022.

The Students Innovation and Research Awards (SIRA) is focusing on students to boost their interest in implementing the skills and knowledge acquired and aims at driving national and regional development through research.

Below is the list of awardees.

                                 AGRICULTURE
Name Centre Research Topic Position
Ms. Gouegni Edwige Flore Center for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria Immunogenic Potentials of Trypanosoma Congolense Flagellar Pocket Membrane Bound Acid Phosphatase 1st
Mr. Magangi Wilfred Abincha West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana Breeding Investigations to Support Cassava Biofortification through Genomics, Phenomics and Bioinformatics 2nd
Mr. Krampah Eric Appiah Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECOR), University of Cape Coast, Ghana Laboratory rearing of mangrove oyster (Crassostrea tulipa) larvae on local microalgae isolates 2nd
                                                      ENVIRONMENT
Ms. DJASSOU Adjoavi Colette

 

 Valorisation des Dechets en Produits a Haute Valeur Ajoutee (CEA-VALOPRO), Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny Cote d’Ivoire Elaboration d’éco matériaux pour la construction à partir de béton incorporant des granulats de pneus usagés.

 

 1st (Tie)
Ms. OUEDRAOGO Habibou

 

Co-Researchers: Dr. SORE Seick Omar; Dr. NSHIMIYIMANA Philbert

 

 Collège d’Ingénerie: Institut International de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (2iE), Burkina Faso Durabilité des briques en terre comprimées stabilisées aux géopolymères

 

 1st (Tie)
Ms. Maduka Chinonye Medline Center for Oilfield Chemicals Research (CEFOR), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria The use of organics to formulate brake fluid 3rd
                                                            HEALTH
Ms. YONGOIKYO KUMAWUESE ABIGAIL Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER), Benue State University, Nigeria Formulation of Infant Food with Fortified Mango Fruit Flour 1st
Dr. TRAORE/MAïGA Safiatou

 

 Centre de Formation, de Recherche et d’Expertises en Sciences du Medicament, Burkina Faso

 

 Developpement D’une Creme A Base De Miel Et De Beurre De Karite Du Burkina Faso Pour Le Traitement Des Brulures Cutanees

 

 2nd
Mr. Aliyu Mukhtar Centre Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Nigeria Prevalence of Microsporidia In Association With Plasmodium Falciparum and Wuchereria Bancrofti in Anopheles Gambiae Within Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Samaru Campus) 3rd
                                                          STEM
Mr. OZOUDE CHINEMEREM JERRY

 

Co-Researchers: Mr BASI KINGSLEY JOB

 

 Centre for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED), University of Nusukka, Nigeria Design, optimization, and fabrication of perovskite solar cells for low-cost manufacturing of solar panels in Africa

 

 1st
Ms. Iji Juliana Omonya

 

Ms Uzochukwu Maryann Ifeoma; Ms      Odili Cynthia Ujuh

 

 Nigeria Un système d’information hospitalier intégré pour le dépistage et le suivi de la drépanocytose 2nd (Tie)
: Mr. DIALLO Al Hassim

 

 Centre of Excellence for Mathematics, Info,atics and ICT(CEA-MITIC), Senegal Un système d’information hospitalier intégré pour le dépistage et le suivi de la drépanocytose 2nd (Tie)

 

For further enquiries related to the Awards, please contact:

For media related enquiries contact:

Millicent Kyei via makyei@aau.org

About SIRA

The Students Innovative Research Awards (SIRA) is an initiative of the Association of African Universities (AAU), with support from the World Bank, to deepen the project’s commitment to advancing the production of innovative and impactful knowledge. As the ACE Impact project aims to advance the quality, quantity, and access to post-graduate education within the region, through this award scheme, the project is recognizing exceptional research with both scientific and societal value undertaken by students from the 53 African Centres of Excellence.

Visit https://sira.aau.org/ for more information on SIRA

Photos of the award recipients

Les Ministres africains de l’Enseignement Supérieur et les Principales Parties Prenantes se réunissent à Banjul pour le 8ème Atelier régional des Centres d’Excellence de l’Enseignement Supérieur en Afrique pour l’Impact sur le Développement (CEA Impact)

COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE

 

Les Ministres africains de l’Enseignement Supérieur et les Principales Parties Prenantes se réunissent à Banjul pour le 8ème Atelier régional des Centres d’Excellence de l’Enseignement Supérieur en Afrique pour l’Impact sur le Développement (CEA Impact)

Accra, Ghana (8 novembre 2022 ) – Les parties prenantes du projet Centres d’Excellence pour l’Impact sur le Développement (CEA Impact) se réunira à Banjul, en Gambie, pour la 8ème réunion semestrielle qui se tiendra du 14 au 17 novembre 2022. La réunion rassemblera les ministres de l’enseignement supérieur et les représentants des gouvernements des 11 pays africains participants, les dirigeants des cinquante-trois (53) centres d’excellence, des experts en la matière, les principales parties prenantes de l’enseignement supérieur, des groupes de réflexion politique et des partenaires tels que la Banque mondiale, l’Agence française de développement (AFD) et l’Association des Universités Africaines (AUA).

 

L’atelier favorise un environnement de partage des connaissances et de mise en réseau entre les centres et les agences concernées, offrant des opportunités de collaboration en présentiel pour l’échange de connaissances régionales. Les outils et directives nécessaires pour faciliter la mise en œuvre efficace et la durabilité des projets sont partagés avec tous les centres, renforçant les partenariats et les réseaux tout en garantissant le maintien des normes de qualité. La réunion vise à fournir un soutien à la mise en œuvre et à partager les meilleures pratiques mondiales avec les centres sur les objectifs du projet, en particulier l’impact sur le développement, l’entrepreneuriat et l’innovation, les initiatives de genre, la transformation numérique et les activités d’impact institutionnel.

Dans le cadre de la participation des étudiants à cette réunion de haut niveau, les lauréats de la première édition du Prix de la recherche en innovation des étudiants ( SIRA ) seront récompensés. Au moins les 15 meilleurs étudiants du CEA sélectionnés par concours pour le SIRA seront récompensés lors de la cérémonie de clôture pour des projets compétitifs exceptionnels qui offrent des solutions et des idées novatrices en matière de recherche transformatrice et de collaborations interdisciplinaires. En outre, les étudiants de l’Université des sciences appliquées, de l’ingénierie et de la technologie (USET) en Gambie auront l’occasion de partager leurs résultats de recherche innovants lors d’une exposition de posters qui se tiendra le 15 novembre 2022.

Toutes les activités, y compris les cérémonies d’ouverture et de clôture, se dérouleront (ou seront organisées) au centre de conférence de l’OCI à Banjul, en Gambie. La participation virtuelle est disponible pour les parties prenantes qui souhaitent participer en ligne. Les sessions d’ouverture et de clôture de l’atelier se tiendront respectivement les 15 et 18 novembre à 8h00 GMT. L’invité d’honneur de la session d’ouverture est Son Excellence Adama Barrow, le Président de la République de Gambie.

L’atelier sera précédé d’une réunion à huis clos des ministres et du comité directeur le 14 novembre 2022. Les ministres de l’enseignement supérieur et les représentants gouvernementaux du projet des 11 pays participants, ainsi que les partenaires clés, feront le point sur les progrès réalisés jusqu’à présent et formuleront des recommandations en vue de la durabilité du projet.

Le projet CEA Impact reste engagé dans la formation de la prochaine génération d’experts dans des domaines prioritaires tels que la science, la technologie, l’ingénierie et les mathématiques (STEM), l’agriculture, l’environnement, les sciences sociales appliquées, l’éducation et la santé, dans le but de promouvoir une croissance et un développement durables en Afrique.

 

Veuillez visiter le site Web de l’événement pour plus de détails sur l’ordre du jour de la réunion, entre autres informations pertinentes.

– FIN –

 

Pour plus d’informations, contactez

La Banque mondiale : Hadijja Jawara , hjawara1@worldbank.org

L’AUA : Millicent Kyei, makyei@aau.org

Gambie : Maya Faal , mayafaal10@gmail.com

 

Informations de base

Le Projet des Centres d’excellence de l’enseignement supérieur en Afrique (CEA) est une initiative de la Banque mondiale en collaboration avec les gouvernements des pays participants pour soutenir les institutions d’enseignement supérieur spécialisées dans les domaines des sciences, de la technologie, l’ingénierie et des mathématiques. C’est le premier projet de la Banque mondiale visant à renforcer les capacités des institutions d’enseignement supérieur en Afrique. Il vise à promouvoir la spécialisation régionale des universités participantes dans des domaines qui répondent à des défis communs spécifiques de développement régional. Il vise également à renforcer les capacités de ces universités à dispenser une formation et mener une recherche appliquée de haute qualité, ainsi qu’à répondre à la demande de compétences nécessaires au développement de l’Afrique. La première phase (CEA I) a été lancée en 2014 avec 22 Centres d’excellence dans neuf (9) pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du centre –Bénin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambie, Ghana, Nigéria, Sénégal et Togo. La deuxième phase (CEA II) a été lancée en Afrique orientale et australe avec 24 centres en Éthiopie, au Kenya, au Malawi, au Mozambique, au Rwanda, en Tanzanie, en Ouganda et en Zambie. Sur la base des premiers succès, la Banque mondiale et l’Agence française de développement (AFD), en collaboration avec les gouvernements africains, ont lancé le projet CEA Impact en 2019 pour renforcer davantage la formation post-universitaire et la recherche appliquée dans les domaines existants et soutenir de nouveaux domaines qui sont essentiels à la croissance économique de l’Afrique. Le CEA Impact couvre 53 centres spécialisés dans les grands domaines thématiques des STEM, de l’agriculture, de la santé, de l’environnement, des sciences sociales/appliquées et de l’éducation. Pour plus d’informations sur le projet CEA Impact, visitez https://ace.aau.org

 

À propos des organisateurs

Association des universités africaines (AUA ) : L’Association des universités africaines est une organisation internationale non gouvernementale à but non lucratif créée par des universités africaines pour promouvoir la coopération entre elles d’une part, et entre elles et la communauté universitaire internationale d’autre part. Créée en 1967, l’AUA est la voix de l’enseignement supérieur en Afrique. L’AUA vise à améliorer la qualité de l’enseignement supérieur africain et à renforcer sa contribution au développement de l’Afrique en soutenant les fonctions essentielles des établissements d’enseignement supérieur et en facilitant la réflexion critique et la recherche d’un consensus sur les questions affectant l’enseignement supérieur en Afrique. L’AUA est l’Unité de Facilitation Régionale du projet des Centres d’Excellence Africains pour l’Impact sur le Développement. L’AUA agit en tant qu’Unité de Facilitation Régionale des Centres d’Excellence de l’Enseignement Supérieur en Afrique pour l’Impact sur le Développement (Projet CEA Impact).

Groupe de la Banque mondiale :  Le Groupe de la Banque mondiale est une institution multilatérale de développement qui s’emploie à réduire la pauvreté et à stimuler la prospérité partagée. Sa filiale IDA (Association internationale de développement) finance la série de projets des Centres d’excellence africains (CEA). Fondée en 1960, l’IDA accorde des dons et des prêts à taux faible ou nul pour financer des projets et des programmes de nature à stimuler la croissance économique, réduire la pauvreté et améliorer la vie des plus démunis. L’IDA figure parmi les principaux bailleurs de fonds des 74 pays les plus pauvres de la planète, dont 39 se trouvent en Afrique. Ses ressources bénéficient concrètement à 1,3 milliard de personnes. Depuis sa création, l’IDA a mobilisé 458 milliards de dollars en direction de 114 pays. Sur les exercices 2019-21, le volume moyen de ses engagements annuels s’établit autour de 29 milliards de dollars, dont 70 % sont destinés à l’Afrique.

Agence française de développement (AFD) : Depuis plus de 75 ans, l’Agence Française de Développement (AFD) lutte contre la pauvreté dans le monde en soutenant des politiques et des investissements au bénéfice des populations les plus démunies. Le renforcement du lien social entre les individus, les collectivités et les territoires sont désormais au cœur de ses actions en matière d’éducation, de santé, d’emploi, d’urbanisme, de climat ou de biodiversité. L’Agence Française de Développement (AFD) est le cofinancier du projet.

African Ministers of Higher Education & Key Stakeholders Meet in Banjul for the 8th ACE Impact Regional Workshop

PRESS RELEASE

 

African Ministers of Higher Education and Key Stakeholders Meet in Banjul for the 8th Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) Regional Workshop

Accra, Ghana (November 8, 2022) – Stakeholders of the Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) project will be convening in Banjul, The Gambia, for the 8th bi-annual meeting to be held from 14th-17th November 2022. The meeting will bring together Ministers of Higher Education and project government representatives from the 11 participating African countries, the leaders of the fifty-three (53) Centers of Excellence, subject matter experts, key higher education stakeholders, policy think tanks, and partners such as the World Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Association of African Universities (AAU).

The workshop fosters an environment of knowledge sharing and networking between the centers and relevant agencies, providing in-person collaborative opportunities for the exchange of regional knowledge. The necessary tools and guidelines to facilitate effective project implementation and sustainability are shared with all centers, strengthening partnerships and networks whilst ensuring quality standards are maintained. The meeting seeks to provide implementation support and share global best practices with centers on the project objectives, especially development impact, entrepreneurship and innovation, gender initiatives, digital transformation, and institutional impact activities.

In line with students’ participation in this high-level meeting, winners of the maiden edition of the Student Innovation Research Award (SIRA) will be recognized. At least the best 15 ACE Impact students competitively selected for the SIRA will be awarded during the closing ceremony for outstanding competitive projects that offer solutions and innovative ideas in transformative research and interdisciplinary collaborations. Furthermore, students from the University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET) in The Gambia will be given the opportunity to share their innovative research outputs through a poster exhibition to be held on November 15, 2022.

All activities, including the Opening and Closing ceremonies will be held (or hosted) at the OIC Conference Centre in Banjul, The Gambia. Virtual participation is available for stakeholders that may want to join online. The opening and closing sessions of the workshop will be held on the 15th and 18th of November, respectively, at 8:00 GMT. The special guest-of-honor for the opening session is His Excellency Adama Barrow, the President of the Republic of The Gambia.

The workshop will be preceded by a closed-door Ministerial/Steering Committee meeting on 14th November 2022. The Ministers of Higher Education and project government representatives from the 11 participating countries together with key partners will take stock of the progress made thus far and make recommendations towards the sustainability of the project.

The ACE Impact project remains committed to training the next generation of experts in priority areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Agriculture, Environment, Applied Social Science, Education, and Health with the aim of promoting sustainable growth and development in Africa.

 

Please visit the event website for details of the meeting Agenda among other relevant information.

– END –

 

For further information, contact

The World Bank: Hadijja Jawara, hjawara1@worldbank.org

The AAU: Millicent Kyei, makyei@aau.org

The Gambia: Maya Faal, mayafaal10@gmail.com

 

Background Information

The Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACE) is a World Bank initiative in collaboration with governments of participating countries to support higher education institutions specializing in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Agriculture, Health, Environment and Social Science/Applied Science and Education. It is the first World Bank project aimed at building the capacities of higher education institutions in Africa through the promotion of regional specialization among participating universities in areas that address specific common regional development challenges. It further aims to strengthen the capacities of these universities to deliver high-quality training and applied research, as well as meet the demand for skills required for Africa’s development. The first phase (ACE I) was launched in 2014 with 22 Centers of Excellence in Nine (9) West and Central African countries; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. The second phase (ACE II) was launched in East and Southern Africa with 24 centers across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Based on the initial successes, the World Bank, and the French Development Agency (AFD) in collaboration with the African governments, launched the ACE Impact Project in 2019 to further strengthen post-graduate training and applied research in existing fields and support new fields that are essential for Africa’s economic growth. Under ACE Impact, there are 53 ACEs specializing in the broad thematic areas of STEM, agriculture, health, environment and social/applied science and education. For more information on the ACE Impact Project, visit https://ace.aau.org

 

About the Organizers

Association of African Universities (AAU): The Association of African Universities is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization created by African Universities to promote cooperation among them on the one hand, and between them and the international academic community on the other. Created in 1967, the AAU is the Voice of Higher Education in Africa. AAU aims to improve the quality of African Higher Education and to strengthen its contribution to Africa’s development by supporting the core functions of Higher Education Institutions and facilitating critical reflection and consensus building on issues affecting Higher Education in Africa. The AAU is the Regional Facilitation Unit of the Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence for Development Impact project.

World Bank Group: The World Bank Group is a multilateral development institution that works to reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity. Its subsidiary IDA (International Development Association) finances the Africa Centers of Excellence series of projects. The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 74 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has provided $458 billion to 114 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $29 billion over the last three years (FY19-FY21), with about 70 percent going to Africa.

French Development Agency (AFD): For more than 75 years, the French Development Agency (AFD) has been fighting global poverty by supporting policies and investments that benefit the poorest populations. Strengthening the social link between individuals, groups, and territories are now at the heart of its actions in education, health, employment, urban planning, climate, and biodiversity. The French Development Agency (AFD) is the ACE Impact project co-financier.

COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE: CEA Impact lance son Premier Prix de Recherche en Innovation des Etudiants (SIRA)

Pour publication immédiate

Les Centres d’Excellence de l’Enseignement Supérieur Africain pour l’Impact sur le Développement (CEA Impact) Récompensent la Qualité, la Recherche Appliquée et l’Innovation.
CEA Impact lance son Premier Prix de Recherche en Innovation des Etudiants (SIRA)

Accra, Ghana, 15 septembre 2022. Le projet des Centres d’Excellence de l’Enseignement Supérieur Africain pour l’Impact sur le Développement (CEA Impact) annonce un appel à candidatures pour son premier Prix de Recherche en Innovation des Etudiants (SIRA). SIRA reconnaît et promeut l’excellence de la recherche et de l’innovation qui répondent aux défis du développement de l’Afrique. Établis par l’Unité de Facilitation Régionale du CEA Impact, l’Association des Universités Africaines (AUA), avec le soutien de la Banque Mondiale, SIRA renforce l’engagement du projet à faire progresser la production de connaissances innovantes et ayant un impact.

Le projet CEA Impact vise à améliorer la qualité, la quantité et l’accès à l’enseignement post-universitaire dans la région.

Grâce à ce programme de prix, le projet reconnaîtra les recherches exceptionnelles ayant une valeur à la fois scientifique et sociétale entreprises par les étudiants des 53 Centres d’Excellence Africains. L’impact pratique et à long terme de la recherche menée est essentiel pour les domaines prioritaires les plus critiques de la région. Les étudiants sont au coeur de ce projet. En tant que principaux ambassadeurs, SIRA cible les étudiants pour stimuler leur intérêt à mettre en oeuvre les compétences et les connaissances acquises pour stimuler le développement et la croissance nationale et régionale. Les candidatures sont acceptées dans les domaines thématiques suivants : santé, production et transmission d’électricité, énergies renouvelables, mines et industries extractives, urbanisme et transports durables, agriculture durable, sciences de l’environnement, éducation et technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC). Pour chaque domaine thématique, trois prix (1ère place, 2ème place et 3ème place) seront décernés.

Les partenaires de l’industrie et du développement qui ont une vision commune du soutien et de l’amélioration de la prochaine génération de main-d’oeuvre hautement qualifiée en Afrique par le biais du mentorat, de la formation pratique et du financement, entre autres types de soutien, sont invités à collaborer à l’initiative SIRA.

Détails de Candidature: Seuls les étudiants inscrits dans les 53 Centres d’Excellence du Projet CEA Impact sont qualifiés pour soumettre une candidature dans le cadre de cette bourse. Les candidats intéressés sont invités à visiter le site https://sira.ace.aau.org/ pour de plus amples informations.

Date limite de dépôt des candidatures: 30 septembre 2022

Pour toute question relative aux prix, veuillez contacter :

  • M. Schneineda Ankomah via skankomah@aau.org
  • M. Enoch Kpaani via tekpani@aau.org

Pour les demandes de renseignements par les médias, veuillez contacter :

  • Mme. Millicent Afriyie via makyei@aau.org

Pour toute information relative au partenariat, veuillez contacter :

  • Dr. Sylvia Mkandawire vía smkandawire@aau.org

Informations de base
Le projet des Centres d’Excellence pour l’Enseignement Supérieur en Afrique (CEA) est une initiative de la Banque Mondiale en collaboration avec les gouvernements des pays participants pour soutenir les établissements d’enseignement supérieur spécialisés dans les domaines suivants : sciences, technologies, ingénierie et mathématiques (STEM), agriculture et santé. Environnement, et Sciences sociales/appliquées et éducation. Il s’agit du premier projet de la Banque Mondiale visant à renforcer les capacités des institutions d’enseignement supérieur en Afrique.

Le projet encourage une spécialisation accrue parmi les universités participantes, en se concentrant sur la résolution de problèmes de développement régionaux communs spécifiques. Il vise à renforcer les capacités de ces universités à dispenser une formation et une recherche appliquée de haute
qualité, en comblant le déficit de compétences et en répondant à la demande requise pour le développement de l’Afrique. La première phase (CEA I) a été lancée en 2014 avec 22 centres d’excellence dans neuf (9) pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre ; Bénin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambie, Ghana, Nigeria, Sénégal et Togo. La deuxième phase (CEA II) a été lancée en Afrique orientale et australe avec 24 centres en Éthiopie, au Kenya, au Malawi, au Mozambique, au Rwanda, en Tanzanie, en Ouganda et en Zambie.

Sur la base des premiers succès, le Groupe de la Banque Mondiale et l’Agence Française de Développement (AFD), en collaboration avec les gouvernements africains, ont lancé le projet CEA Impact en 2019 pour renforcer davantage la formation post-universitaire et la recherche appliquée dans les domaines existants et soutenir de nouveaux domaines essentiels à la croissance économique de l’Afrique. Il existe 53 CEA spécialisés dans les grands domaines thématiques des sciences, de la technologie, de l’ingénierie et des mathématiques (STEM), de l’Agriculture, de la Santé, de l’Environnement et des Sciences Sociales/appliquées et de l’Education, avec un accent prioritaire sur les villes durables ; l’Energie et l’Electricité durables ; les Sciences Sociales et l’Education ; les Transports ; la Santé et la Politique de la Population ; le Développement de la Phytothérapie et les Sciences Réglementaires ; la Santé Publique ; l’Informatique Appliquée et la Communication ; la Production Pastorale ; l’Entrepreneuriat et l’Innovation, entre autres.

Depuis son lancement, plus de 22 000 étudiants ont été inscrits dans le cadre du projet CEA Impact. Cela comprend près de 3 000 étudiants en doctorat, près de 10 000 étudiants en maîtrise et plus de 10000 étudiants inscrits à des cours professionnels de courte durée. En tant qu’initiative régionale, l’inscription des étudiants s’étend au-delà des pays participants à d’autres pays africains, dont le Burundi, le Gabon, entre autres. Conformément aux normes mondiales en matière de formation et de recherche, la majorité des programmes mis en oeuvre par les centres sont accrédités au niveau international et les centres disposent d’un environnement et d’installations propices à l’enseignement, à l’apprentissage et à la recherche, notamment des équipements et des laboratoires de pointe.

Pour plus d’informations sur le projet CEA Impact, visitez le site: https://ace.aau.org.

À propos des Organisateurs

A propos de l’Association des Universités Africaines (AUA): L’Association des Universités Africaines est une organisation internationale non gouvernementale à but non lucratif créée par des universités africaines pour promouvoir la coopération et la collaboration entre les universités, tout en jetant un pont vers la communauté universitaire internationale. Créée en 1967, l’AUA est la voix de l’enseignement supérieur en Afrique. L’AUA vise à améliorer la qualité de l’enseignement supérieur africain et à renforcer sa contribution au développement de l’Afrique. En soutenant les fonctions essentielles des établissements d’enseignement supérieur, l’AUA facilite la réflexion critique et le consensus sur les questions qui affectent l’enseignement supérieur en Afrique. L’AUA est l’Unité de Facilitation Régionale du projet des Centres d’Excellence Africains.

À propos du Groupe de la Banque Mondiale: Le Groupe de la Banque Mondiale est une institution multilatérale de développement qui oeuvre à la réduction de la pauvreté et au renforcement de la prospérité partagée. Sa filiale IDA (International Development Association) finance la série de projets des Centres d’Excellence pour l’Afrique. Créée en 1960, l’IDA aide les pays les plus pauvres du monde en fournissant des subventions et des prêts à taux d’intérêt faible ou nul pour des projets et des programmes qui stimulent la croissance économique, réduisent la pauvreté et améliorent la vie des pauvres. L’IDA est l’une des plus importantes sources d’aide pour les 75 pays les plus pauvres du monde, dont 39 se trouvent en Afrique. Les ressources de l’IDA apportent des changements positifs aux 1,5 milliard de personnes qui vivent dans les pays IDA. Depuis 1960, l’IDA a soutenu des travaux de développement dans 113 pays. Les engagements annuels se sont élevés en moyenne à environ 18 milliards de dollars au cours des trois dernières années, dont environ 54 % pour l’Afrique.

PRESS RELEASE: ACE Impact Launches its First Students Innovation Research Awards (SIRA)

For Immediate Release

Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) to Reward Quality, Applied Research and Innovation
ACE Impact Launches its First Students Innovation Research Awards (SIRA)

Accra, Ghana, September 15, 2022. The Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) project is announcing a call for applicants for its first Students Innovative Research Awards (SIRA). SIRA recognizes and promotes excellent research and innovation which responds to Africa’s developmental challenges. Established by the Regional Facilitation Unit for ACE Impact, the Association of African Universities (AAU), with support from the World Bank, SIRA deepen the project’s commitment to advancing the production of innovative and impactful knowledge

The ACE Impact project aims to advance the quality, quantity, and access to post-graduate education within the region.

Through this award scheme, the project will recognise exceptional research with both scientific and societal value undertaken by students from the 53 African Centres of Excellence. The practical and long-term impact of the research conducted is essential to the region’s most critical priority areas. Students are at the heart of this project. As primary ambassadors, SIRA targets students to boost their interest in implementing the skills and knowledge acquired to drive national and regional development and growth. Submissions are accepted under the following thematic areas; health, power generation, and transmission, renewable energy, mining and extractives, sustainable urban planning and transport, sustainable agriculture, environmental sciences, education, and information
and communication technology (ICT). For each thematic area, three awards (1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place) will be presented.

Industry and development partners with an aligned vision to support and improve the next generation of Africa’s highly skilled workforce through mentorship, hands-on training, and funding, among other kinds of support, are invited to collaborate on the SIRA initiative.

Application Details: Only students enrolled in the 53 centres of excellence under the ACE Impact Project are qualified to make a submission under this award. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit https://sira.ace.aau.org/ for further information.

Application Deadline: 30th September 2022

Contact

For further enquiries related to the Awards, please contact:

  • Mr. Schneineda Ankomah via email skankomah@aau.org
  • Mr. Enoch Kpani via email tekpani@aau.org

For Enquiries by the Media, please contact:

  • Mrs. Millicent Afriyie via email makyei@aau.org

For Partnership related information, please contact:

  • Dr. Sylvia Mkandawire vía email smkandawire@aau.org

 

Background Information

The Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence (ACE) Project is a World Bank initiative in collaboration with governments of participating countries to support Higher Education Institutions specializing in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Agriculture and Health. Environment, and Social/Applied Science and Education. It is the first World Bank project aimed at the capacity building of higher education institutions in Africa.

The project promotes increased specialization among participating universities, focusing on addressing specific common regional development challenges. It aims to strengthen the capacities of these universities to deliver high-quality training and applied research, closing the skills gap, and meeting the demand required for for Africa’s development. The first phase (ACE I) was launched in 2014 with 22 Centres of Excellence in Nine (9) West and Central African countries; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. The second phase (ACE II) was launched in East and Southern Africa with 24 centers across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Based on the initial successes, the World Bank Group and the French Development Agency (AFD) in collaboration with the African governments, launched the ACE Impact Project in 2019 to further strengthen post-graduate training and applied research in existing fields and support new fields that are essential for Africa’s economic growth. There are 53 ACEs specializing in the broad thematic areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Agriculture, Health, Environment, and Social/Applied Science and Education with a priority focus in sustainable cities; sustainable power and energy; social sciences and education; transport; population health and policy; herbal medicine development and regulatory sciences; public health; applied informatics and communication; pastoral production; entrepreneurship and innovation, among others.

Since its inception, more than 22,000 students have been enrolled under the ACE Impact project. This includes almost 3,000 PhD students, close to 10,000 MSc students, and over 10,000 students enrolled in professional short courses. As a regional initiative, student enrolment extends beyond the participating countries to other African countries including Burundi, and Gabon, among others. In line training and research global standards, the majority of programmed rolled out by the centres are internationally accredited and centres are provided with enabling teaching, learning, and research environment and facilities, including state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories.

For more information on the ACE Impact Project, visit https://ace.aau.org

About Organizers

About the Association of African Universities (AAU): The Association of African Universities is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization created by African Universities to promote cooperation and collaboration amongst the universities, whilst simultaneously building a bridge to the international academic community. Created in 1967, the AAU is the voice of higher education in Africa. AAU aims to improve the quality of African higher education and strengthen its contribution to Africa’s development. Through supporting core functions of higher education institutions, AAU facilitates critical reflection and consensus, building on issues affecting higher education in Africa. The AAU is the Regional Facilitation Unit of the Africa Centres of Excellence project.

About the World Bank Group: The World Bank Group is a multilateral development institution that works to reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity. Its subsidiary IDA (International Development Association) finances the Africa Centres of Excellence series of projects. Established in 1960, IDA helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.5 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 54 percent going to Africa

ACE in Focus- Profiling the Africa Centre of Excellence for Mother and Child Health (CEA-SAMEF), Senegal

Written by Millicent Afriyie

The Africa Centre of Excellence for Mother and Child Health, hosted by the University of Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Senegal, is one of the 53 centres of excellence supported with funding from the World Bank to enhance capacities in post-graduate training and applied research. CEA-SAMEF specializes in training and research in Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition and Public Health. Given the increased ratio of maternal and child mortality in the region (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that Sub-Saharan Africans suffer from the highest maternal mortality ratio –200,000 maternal deaths a year), the role of CEA-SAMEF in addressing this challenge cannot be overestimated.

The centre, since its inception has been instrumental in offering quality training in Maternal and Child health as well as publishing impactful research in this area and making impact both nationally and continentally. To date, at least 453 students have been trained by CEA-SAMEF. Of these, 89 are MSc students trained in Public Health, Child Health and Survival, Clinical research, Pediatric Dentistry, Maternal and Child Nutrition while 296 accounts for the total number of PhD students in Public Health and Nutrition and Human Food, among other programmes.

The center has also provided short-term programmes in the areas of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care, Post-Abortion Care, Contraceptive Technology, Resuscitation and Pediatric Emergencies offered to health professionals. Currently, over 68 health professionals have received training from the centre. Notably, a total of162 students have also benefitted from practical internship opportunities.

With the aim of improving maternal and child health care and delivery, CEA-SAMEF has published diverse research which has contributed to knowledge and made impactful breakthroughs in Senegalese communities and across the sub-region. These developmental research include Implementation and evaluation of a method for the diagnosis and early management of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Senegal; Control of hepatitis E in pregnant women: preclinical development of a lentivirus vaccine; Prevention of maternal and child malnutrition during the first 1000 days of life in rural areas in Kaffrine, Senegal; Genetic determinism of uterine fibroids in pregnant women in Senegal, among others. Over 31 works by the centre have been published in peer-reviewed and international journals.

To expand its activities, the centre has forged strategic partnership with organizations and other academic institutions to strengthen its work towards quality maternal and childcare within the region. These partnerships also provide a pathway towards project sustainability and continuity. Some of the centre’s partners include PATH, a Washington state nonprofit corporation, the University of Florence in Italy, the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Guinea-Bissau, among others. These partnerships have resulted in the training of health workers, conduction of research to explore ways to curb maternal and child mortality within the sub-regions as well as generating external revenue for the sustainability of the centre. For instance, the UNICEF-CEA-SAMEF partnership is engineering the training of health workers in Guinea-Bissau, while the PATH collaboration seeks to accelerate the availability, adoption, and scale-up of tools to identify severe illness and decrease mortality in children under five years of age in Senegal through collaborative research between both partners. Also, over 30 staff members of the centre have benefited from the staff mobility partnership with the University of Florence. Through these partnerships and other innovative strategies adopted, the centre so far has generated over US$ 320,000 in funds to support its activities.

More importantly, in deepening its community engagements, many inhabitants of Dakar and its environs have benefitted from free health screening conducted by the centres. Over 2000 Senegalese received free screenings on urinary tract infections in children, anemia in adolescents and children, breast, and cervical cancer in women, among others. In addition, the centre operates a mobile clinic serving over 300 people through the provision of free medical assessments such as high blood pressure and sugar levels as well as providing medical guidance and counselling to patients.

Visit http://ceasamef.sn/ to learn more about CEA-SAMEF

 

ACEs Lead Health Research in Infectious and Genetic Diseases

Through partnerships with various international and local institutions, some of the health focused Africa Centres of Excellence are involved in research which is seeking answers to solving some of humanities challenges and curbing diseases. ACEGID for instance is part of a consortium conducting numerous studies (including an epidemiology study) in line with preparations for the trials of safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for Lassa fever. The centre was also the lead in sequencing the first case of Ebola in Nigeria within 48 hours, a singular feat that led to early containment, management, and control of the disease in Nigeria, and hence saving lives of the many people who could have been infected by the disease.

With an estimated number of about 14, 000 babies born each year with sickle cell disease in Ghana alone, the West Africa Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) is focusing on undertaking key research on sickle cell diseases. WAGMC is also involved in continental level initiatives, projects and networks including the Sickle Cell Diseases Genomics Network of Africa (SickleGenAfrica).  Other key focus areas of the research conducted by the centre include Diabetes, Kidney Disease, and Cancer.

The Centre for Mycotoxin and Food Safety (ACEMFS) is focusing its research on mitigation against mycotoxins for food safety and improved public health and trade. The centre conducts regional surveillance of chemical residues that is, heavy metals, veterinary drug and pesticides residues and hydrocyanic acids in cassava food products among others.

The involvement of some Centres of Excellence in conducting research focused on the characterization of malaria pathogens needs to be underscored. Professor Diabate Abdoulaye, the Centre Director for the African Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Innovation for Vector-borne Disease Elimination (CEA/ ITECH-MTV) for instance, received the Newcomb Cleveland Prize for his outstanding research on fighting malaria in Africa. All these efforts are in line with fostering world-class research excellence and providing lifesaving information and research findings on disease prevention and treatment.

Excellent Science and Advocacy by ACEGID (Nigeria) & Partners sees the World Health Organisation (WHO) agreeing to rename Monkeypox

Written By Mrs Felicia Nkrumah Kuagbedzi

The Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases in Nigeria (ACEGID, Redeemer’s University) has since June 2022 been leading a team of scientists from Africa and beyond to advocate for the renaming of the Monkeypox virus by the World Health Organisation. This advocacy was rooted in the need to counter discrimination and stigmatization of Africa after recent global outbreaks of the Monkeypox disease proved that the disease had no clear link to Africa, yet the current classification of the two types of recognized Monkeypox variants (clades), bear names which are traced to Africa – that is the ‘West African’ clade and the ‘Central African Clade, also known as the ‘Congo Basin’ Clade. It is expected that the renaming exercise will align with best practices and help to eliminate racism, discrimination and stigmatisation.

In a scientific publication, Professor Christian Happi, the Centre Leader of ACEGID, and the rest of the scientists explained that references to the 2022 outbreak as belonging to the “West African” or “Western African” clade/strain is inaccurate, given that the origin of the current global outbreak is still unknown.  Besides, the naming of diseases after the geographical locations where they were first detected is in contrast with the best practice of avoiding geographic locations in the nomenclature of diseases and disease groups as outlined in the WHO’s Guidelines for the naming of infectious diseases.

The scientists succeeded through their position paper to call on WHO to adopt a novel classification/name that is “non-discriminatory and non-stigmatizing and aligned with best practices in the naming of infectious diseases in a way that minimizes unnecessary negative impacts on nations, geographic regions, economies and people, as well as considers the evolution and spread of the virus”. The recent example of naming adopted for SARs-CoV-2 (COVID-19), is cited as being a good example to follow.

WHO indicates that between January 1 and June 22 this year, 3413 laboratory-confirmed cases and one death have been reported to the organisation from 50 countries. It states that the majority of laboratory confirmed cases which have been reported are from the WHO European Region (86%), while the African Region (2%), Americas (11%), Eastern Mediterranean Region (less than 1%) and Western Pacific Region (less than 1%) have also recorded cases.

Despite Africa recording a very small percentage of cases, the scientists engaged in the advocacy explained that ‘the prevailing perception by the international media is that the disease is endemic in people in some African countries”.  Professor Happi and team referenced the use of photos of African patients to portray the disease as a clear example of this perception.  This is further corroborated by a statement issued by the Foreign Press Association, calling on the global media to desist from the usage of images of Africans to depict the outbreak of the disease in Europe.

The scientific research, high-quality publication, and advocacy by ACEGID and their collaborating partners and researchers can be said to have paid off as WHO announced that it is “working with partners and experts from around the world to change the name of the monkeypox virus, its clades and the disease it causes.”

In a separate interview granted by Prof. Happi to a News Media, he called on all relevant stakeholders to collaborate and work even more closely to contain the virus “as we live in a globalised world” wheere an infectious disease that breaks out in the farthest corner of the world could appear in the World’s busiest capitals and metropolitans within 36 hours

He also called for the same level of attention and global enthusiasm to combat the virus, stating that “paying attention to disease wherever it happens benefits everyone,” he added in an interview with the Washington Post.

ACEGID is one of the 53 Africa Centres of Excellence under the ACE Impact Project.  Through the Africa Centres of Excellence for Development Impact Project (ACE Impact), scientists like Prof. Christian Happi and many others have been empowered to be Africa’s leading voices on key issues concerning the five thematic subject areas of the Project – Health, Agriculture, STEM, Environment, Applied Social Science & Education.

The 7th ACE Impact Workshop Ends After Four Days of Intense Discussions in Cotonou

The 7th ACE Impact Workshop Ends After Four Days of Intense Discussions in Cotonou, Benin – The Gambia is set to host the 8th ACE Impact Regional Workshop in November 2022

The highly successful and productive 7th ACE Impact regional workshop hosted from 14 June 2022 ended on Friday 17 June 2022 with several key outcomes and a way forward forged from the event’s discussion.

As key highlights, the workshop was attended by close to 300 participants comprising government representatives from the 11 participating countries of the project, eminent academics, researchers, development partners from the World Bank, IRD and AFD, team members from the Association of African Universities (AAU), project teams from the African Higher Education Centres of Excellence, students and industry partners, just to mention a few. Aside Africa, participants and experts from the United States of America, Europe, New Zealand, and other countries/continents physically participated in the workshop in Benin.  Several other higher education stakeholders also joined the event virtually. Both the closing and opening ceremonies were graced by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Benin – Professor Mrs. Eléonore Yayi Ladekan. The workshop, which gathered the crème de la crème of professionals in Africa’s higher education, recorded several technical sessions, including performance clinics, thematic breakout sessions, parallel and plenary sessions.

The four-day workshop also updated participants and featured discussions on overall project updates, monitoring, evaluation and learning, report from the subject matter experts,  a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, the development impact of the centres’ interventions, as well as a report on the progress of the Centres of Competence in Digital Education (C-CoDE) Initiative. Others included a focus on gender , updates on the Data Systems Maturity Survey and updates on regional networks.

The closing remarks, given by the Secretary General of the AAU, Prof. Olusola Oyewole; The Benin Country Manager of the World Bank, who was represented by Dr. Ekua Bentil (the World Bank Senior Education Specialist and Team Leader of ACE Impact) and the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Benin, were packed with key messages appreciating all the teams for their outstanding contributions to a successful workshop. Their remarks urged the project’s stakeholders to continue collaboratively working towards the shared goal of achieving development impact to accelerate Africa’s growth.

Specifically, the remarks from the World Bank team paid glowing tribute to the Government of Benin, represented by the Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research for hosting both the 7th ACE Impact Regional Workshop and the Project Steering Committee Meeting.  The local organizing committee, Ministers of higher education from across the continent, Vice Chancellors, subject matter experts, partners including the AAU and AFD; Centre leaders and their teams, as well as students from the respective centers, especially those who participated in the workshop’s poster competition were all duly acknowledged. Mrs. Gabrielle Hansen, an officer in charge of logistics at the AAU was specially recognised for her hard work and unwavering dedication to the project, as well as the success of the 7th ACE Impact workshop, despite finding herself in challenging circumstances.  The centres were reminded that it was only through their resilience and dedication that the project could achieve its targets. The messages also made a strong call to the centres of excellence to continue innovating, since ‘innovation and impact is what distinguishes them as ACE Centers,’ they were told.  Another key point highlighted was the fact that as a regional project, the success of one center was the success of all, and therefore collaboration to ensure that the centres succeed was key. Dr. Ekua Bentil, speaking on behalf of the World Bank Country Manager for Benin, said, that the ACE Impact initiative was not merely a project, but a long-term vision to equip Africa to generate the next cohort of experts, researchers and academics who will contribute to solving Africa’s developmental challenges. She also announced that The Gambia had offered to host the 8th ACE Impact Regional Workshop in November 2022, a gesture for which the project was grateful. This announcement was received with loud applause from the hundreds of participants gathered at Palais des Congrès, the venue for the closing ceremony in Cotonou, Benin.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Association of African Universities, Prof. Olusola Oyewole acknowledged the respective teams for their contributions and active participation throughout the workshop discussions. He highlighted the key areas where centres are remarkably delivering on target (including revenue generation and overall student enrolment) and called for efforts to be stepped up in areas such as accreditation and female student enrolment to foster a complete attainment of the project’s targets. He encouraged the centres to critically identify the challenges that confront them and to invest time and resources towards addressing such challenges. The Centres were also urged to consolidate the gains made so far, by devising innovative mechanisms, strengthening partnerships among themselves and with industry and other sectors, while ensuring sustainability of the project. Prof. Oyewole used the platform to call for the adoption of the brilliant ACE Impact model by other African governments and development partners. He wrapped up by expressing his optimism, about the centres being more that galvanised to meet the project’s targets and to significantly enhance the quality of their research and overall contributions, following all the lively and stimulating discussions over the workshops’ duration.

The guest of honour for the official closing ceremony, the honourable Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research for Benin, Prof. Mrs. Eléonore Yayi Ladekan was full of praise for the AAU’s facilitative role towards the successful organisation of the workshop, and overall dynamism and contribution to the centres of excellence project. She called on centres to continue prioritising the key tenets underlying the project including the focus on training quality students, achieving institutional impact, generating innovative solutions, prioritising research excellence, and enrolling female students. While thanking all the stakeholders and development partners for facilitating the project and for choosing Benin as the host country for the 7th ACE Impact Regional Workshop, she congratulated The Gambia for being the next country to host the gathering of some of Africa’s top intellectuals at the upcoming 8th ACE Impact regional workshop. The minister also invited the participants to explore the beautiful city of Cotonou and to visit some tourism destinations in Benin.

Prof. Joel Tossa, the Centre Leader for CEA-SMIA gave the vote of thanks, on behalf of the Local Organising Committee.

Highlights of the Next Steps of the Project

Giving the Immediate next steps related to activities to be prioritised following the workshop, Dr. Ekua Bentil, the Team Lead for ACE Impact at the World Bank listed the following:

  • Submission of project extension request letters by the Project Steering Committee Members to their respective governments by end of June 2022
  • Completion of First ACE Impact re-allocation of Funds and Mid Term Review by end of June 2022
  • Completion of verification of January -May 2022 results and issuance of disbursement letters to centres (June-August 2022)
  • Completion of mid-term review assessment of Second ACE Impact countries (June -September 2022)
  • Subject matter expert site visits and virtual support to the Centres (June – December 2022)
  • Capacity building activities for Centres e.g., Webinars, coaching
    (June 2022 – May 2023)
  • Overseeing the Graduate Tracer Study Implementation (June 2022 – May 2023)
  • Supporting the implementation of ACE Impact thematic networks and partnerships (June 2022 – May 2023)
  • Hosting of the 8th Regional Workshop in The Gambia (November 2022)

Concluding her delivery, Dr. Bentil stressed the need for the centres and their respective governments to work towards ensuring the sustainability of the project, well beyond its stipulated end date and funding period.

Students Poster Exhibition and Awards

The closing ceremony also featured the presentation of Awards to students who had emerged as winners of the poster exhibition, a contest hosted as part of the 7th ACE Impact workshop.  This contest afforded the students, the opportunity to share their innovative research with the event participants. Those who won the first, second and third places were presented their awards by the Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, honourable Prof. Mrs. Eléonore Yayi Ladekan, supported by Prof. Olusola Oyewole, the Secretary General of the AAU, and Dr. Ekua Bentil of the World Bank.

The winners for the poster competition are as follows:

1st Place Position – Benjamin Bonkoungou and Prof. Amos T. Kabo-bah

2nd Place Position – Alle, I. C.; Descloitres, M.; Vouillamoz, J-M. ; Yalo, N.; Lawson, M.; Adihou, C.

3rd Place Position – Essohanam Djeki, Jules Degila, Carlyna Bondiombouy, and Muhtar Hanif Alhassan

 

Written by: Mrs. Felicia Nkrumah Kuagbedzi

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