Research with a path to application
GRAIN's 2026–2027 strategic direction starts with the idea that African scholarship should have practical routes into policy, projects and enterprise. It describes a network that connects researchers across the world to the development challenges of their continent.
In that model, research is the starting point. Strong evidence can inform advisory work, help shape projects and give promising innovations a more realistic route to implementation. The plan also emphasizes entrepreneurial capacity, collaboration between institutions and industry, and careful stewardship of research outputs.
What comes next
The strategy proposes a coordinating centre, regional chapters, a knowledge platform and convenings for researchers and partners. These are development priorities. Individual programmes and participation routes will be announced here when their details are confirmed.
The written vision is “A continent built by its own scholars.” Its guiding line is “From scholarship to enterprise.”