AfricaLics successfully convened the Research Coordination Areas (RCAs) Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, from 9–11 March 2026, bringing together researchers, RCA coordinators, senior scholars, and AfricaLics alumni to strengthen collaboration and shape the future of innovation and development (I&D) research across the continent. Hosted at the Eka Hotel, the workshop focused on integrating alumni into ongoing research activities while reinforcing the RCAs as long-term platforms for collaborative knowledge production and policy engagement.
The workshop built on the progress achieved since the creation of the RCAs in 2022, highlighting their role in connecting research with Africa’s development priorities. Participants reviewed the achievements of the four existing Research Coordination Areas: STI Measurement in Africa, Global Value Chains, Innovation and Industrialization, Innovation and Sustainable Energy Transition (I-SET), and Advancing Inclusive Agricultural Innovation for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa (AACRA). Throughout the discussions, participants emphasized the importance of producing research that is not only academically rigorous but also capable of informing policy and addressing real societal challenges.
One of the workshop’s highlights was the presentation of a bibliometric analysis of AfricaLics research capacity-building activities conducted between 2012 and 2024. The findings demonstrated the network’s growing academic impact, with more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and over 6,000 citations, while also identifying opportunities to strengthen collaboration, mentorship, gender balance, and long-term engagement with alumni.
Interactive sessions encouraged participants to exchange ideas on how the RCAs could become stronger collaborative platforms. Through a World Café exercise and thematic discussions, attendees proposed new mechanisms for joint research agendas, knowledge sharing, policy engagement, and the development of the AfricaLics Knowledge Base, envisioned as an open repository for publications, datasets, policy briefs, and learning resources supporting innovation research across Africa.
During the second and third days, each RCA refined its research agenda and transformed initial concepts into more structured research proposals. Participants discussed methodologies, theoretical frameworks, funding opportunities, and implementation strategies while receiving constructive feedback from peers. The collaborative process reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary research, cross-country cooperation, and proposals capable of generating both academic contributions and practical policy impact.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to sustaining collaboration beyond the meeting itself. By strengthening partnerships among researchers, integrating AfricaLics alumni into ongoing initiatives, and promoting African-led research agendas, the RCAs reaffirmed their role as strategic platforms for advancing innovation and development studies. The event demonstrated that collaborative research, supported by strong networks and long-term capacity building, remains essential for generating knowledge capable of addressing Africa’s most pressing development challenges.