The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is a non-aligned, non-political, not-for-profit, pan-African learned society formed in 1985.The AAS elects AAS fellows and affiliates. The AAS also awards the Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery and Technological Innovation every two years to an outstanding scientist who contributes to the development of the continent..
Introduction Strengthening research capacity in Africa is vital for tackling pressing health, educational and socioeconomic challenges facing the continent. At the core of this effort is the cultivation of innovative research leaders through postgraduate training programmes that incorporate mentorship-infused supervision. Such models have demonstrated potential in improving research skills, boosting academic productivity and fostering leadership development among emerging scholars. This systematic review and meta-synthesis protocol aims to examine existing mentorship-infused supervision practices across African higher education institutions. The review seeks to identify effective models, uncover common challenges and barriers, and generate evidence-based recommendations to develop sustainable, contextually relevant strategies. Insights from this work will inform policies and practices to enhance postgraduate research training, advance research leadership and contribute to the broader goal of strengthening research ecosystems across Africa.Methods and analysis A systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis will be undertaken, focusing on qualitative research studies as well as the qualitative components of mixed-methods studies. Relevant studies published in English will be identified through a comprehensive search strategy. The electronic databases, including Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, African Journals Online, EMBASE and CINAHL, will be searched to capture a wide range of peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. Databases will be searched from March 2026. Two reviewers will independently perform study selection, data extraction, quality assessment and evaluation of risk of bias, using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist.Ethics and dissemination This systematic review and meta-synthesis will analyse publicly available literature and does not require ethical approval, as it involves no primary data collection. It will adhere to established ethical and methodological standards, including proper citation and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The findings will be widely disseminated through open-access journal publication, conference presentations and targeted reports for universities, research institutions and policymakers to inform and support mentorship-based postgraduate research supervision across Africa.PROSPERO registration number CDR420251049878. Available from https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251049878.
Background Mentorship is increasingly recognised as a key mechanism for supporting grant acquisition, research productivity, and career development. This systematic review and meta-synthesis examined mentorship initiatives designed to enhance grant success among early-career African researchers. Methods Following PRISMA 2020, Joanna Briggs Institute guidance, and the GRADE-CERQual framework, we searched major bibliographic databases and grey literature up to February 2026. Qualitative and mixed-methods studies reporting on mentorship programmes for early-career African researchers and grant-related outcomes were included. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, were critically appraised using the CASP tool, synthesised thematically. Findings Five themes emerged: (1) structured mentorship, (2) competency development, (3) institutional support, (4) collaborative networks, and (5) research outcomes. Mentorship was associated with improved grant-writing skills, confidence in navigating funding opportunities, research productivity, and career progression. Most studies reported intermediate outcomes, including proposal development, networking, and skills acquisition, with limited direct evidence of successful grant awards. Enablers included formal mentorship policies, supportive leadership, and professional networks, whereas barriers included limited mentor availability, inconsistent programme structures, and insufficient resources. Interpretation Mentorship is an important strategy for strengthening the research capacity and supporting grant acquisition among early-career African scientists. Common features included structured and multilevel mentorship, institutional support, collaborative networks, and targeted skills development. The included studies described mentorship as a pathway to grant success through intermediate mechanisms rather than direct funding outcomes. Institutionalising mentorship within African research systems, alongside investments in mentor development and structured supervision, is essential for improving grant competitiveness and advancing Africa’s scientific leadership and sovereignty. Funding This systematic review and meta-synthesis study had no specific grant from any funding agencies. OO’s research protected time was partially supported by the Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers’ Grant from National Research Foundation and the South African Medical Research Council Extramural Unit Grant Award.
INTRODUCTION:The WHO has declared climate change the defining public health challenge of the 21st century. Incorporating climate and environmental outcomes in randomised trials is essential for enhancing healthcare treatments' sustainability and safeguarding global health. To implement such outcomes, it is necessary to establish a framework for unbiased and transparent planning and reporting. We aim to develop extensions to the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT 2025) and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT 2025) statements by introducing guidelines for reporting climate and environmental outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS:This is a protocol for SPIRIT and CONSORT extensions on reporting climate and environmental outcomes in randomised trials termed SPIRIT-Implementing Climate and Environmental (ICE) and CONSORT-ICE. The development of the extensions will consist of five phases: phase 1-project launch, phase 2-review of the literature, phase 3-Delphi survey, phase 4-consensus meeting and phase 5-dissemination and implementation. The phases are expected to overlap. The SPIRIT-ICE and CONSORT-ICE extensions will be developed in parallel. The extensions will guide researchers on how and what to report when assessing climate and environmental outcomes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION:The protocol was submitted to the Danish Research Ethics Committees, Denmark in June 2025. Ethics approval is expected in September 2025. The SPIRIT and CONSORT extensions will be published in international peer-reviewed journals.
We look at the link between climate change and vector-borne diseases in low- and middle-income countries in Africa. The large endemicity and escalating threat of diseases such as malaria and arboviral diseases, intensified by climate change, disproportionately affects vulnerable communities globally. We highlight the urgency of prioritizing research and development, advocating for robust scientific inquiry to promote adaptation strategies, and the vital role that the next generation of African research leaders will play in addressing these challenges. Despite significant challenges such as funding shortages within countries, various pan-African-oriented funding bodies such as the African Academy of Sciences, the Africa Research Excellence Fund, the Wellcome Trust, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as initiatives such as the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence and the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association, have empowered (or are empowering) these researchers by supporting capacity building activities, including continental and global networking, skill development, mentoring, and African-led research. This article underscores the urgency of increased national investment in research, proposing the establishment of research government agencies to drive evidence-based interventions. Collaboration between governments and scientific communities, sustained by pan-African funding bodies, is crucial. Through these efforts, African nations are likely to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of their systems and communities by navigating these challenges effectively, fostering scientific excellence and implementing transformative solutions against climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases.
