资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

16/06/2020

Twenty-four new networks are announced today that bring together academics, industry, NGOs, policymakers and practitioners from Africa with UK partners to maximise digital technologies to address development challenges including health, energy and accessibility to online resources. Funded through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), the projects, lasting up to a year, and totalling £3M focus on three themes:

• Digital Rights

For example, one network hopes to bring digital diagnostics to laboratories and clinics across Africa through the use of open source hardware- beginning with a 3D printed microscope.

• Smart Communities

One project plans to develop a system for mapping deprived city neighbourhoods. Accurate and usable maps can help to manage the social and physical impacts of accommodating a rising population.

• Digital Health

A group of young people at the core of one network will work with researchers, service providers and policy-makers to develop responsible and relevant digital mental health interventions for young people in African countries.

Other examples of the networks being funded include diagnosing malaria through a smart phone, training midwives using virtual reality, and monitoring and improving air quality in East Africa.

Africa is ranked top of the global internet penetration growth ranking, meaning growth in the number of people using the internet since 2000, is more than in any other continent. This illustrates how digital technologies and advances are becoming more pertinent to people living within these countries. This rapid growth in usage can be utilised to tackle challenges which affect the lives of people throughout Africa. With the largest cohort of people under 25 in history, digital channels have immense opportunities to provide long and lasting impacts.

Professor Helen Fletcher, Director of International Development at UK Research and Innovation said:

“DIDA has the potential to address many longstanding development issues and deliver positive outcomes across the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) and the GCRF Challenge Portfolios.

Better access to technology could be a game-changer for development and the closing of the income inequality gap in Africa.”

The stage one funding announced today is seed funding to establish networks across a range of partners. Towards the end of the grant, the networks will be invited to apply for stage two funding that will fund six to eight projects with total maximum funding of £19M over three years, costing between £1M to £3M each. The projects in the second stage could be either a research project or enhanced network building through a ‘Network Plus’ grant.

This funding has been allocated from the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), a £1.5 billion fund to support cutting-edge research which addresses the problems faced by developing countries. GCRF will address global challenges through disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and will strengthen capability for research and innovation within both the UK and developing countries, providing an agile response to emergencies where there is an urgent research need. GCRF forms part of the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment and will be awarded in a manner that fits with ODA guidelines.