The Initiative Knowledge for Development (IKf D) is a comprehensive cooperation tool aimed at advanced training, research excellence and local capacity building. As part of the terms agreed with UNESCO in 2009 for the creation of the ““International Centre for Advanced Training in Fundamental Sciences of Scientists from Portuguese Speaking Countries” – Centro Ciência LP, the initiative privileges – but is not limited to -the cooperation among Portuguese speaking countries.
IKf D advocates the engagement of R&D units and the academia with current international activities to develop joint research projects and advanced training, to ensure the strengthening of those activities and to stimulate the creation of a collaborative network between Portugal other Portuguese-speaking countries. To do so, it resorts to a mix of public and private funding, through a broad framework of agreements and partnerships already established and others to be set, with funders and players outside the Portuguese-speaking world.
The initiative includes the relaunch of the Programa Ciência Global, created in 2011, aimed at scientists and researchers from Portuguese-PALOP and East Timor, through advanced training and research programmes in Portuguese universities and other scientific institutions, associated with education, R&D or development institutions from these countries. This is to ensure the fight against “brain drain” out of Africa and to ensure the responsibility of national scientific institutions at regional and international level.It uses a combination of public and private funding, through a broad framework of agreements and partnerships already established and to be stimulated on an ongoing basis, with donors and external actors from Portugal and Portuguese Speaking countries.
Ongoing and future initiatives
- To endorse and uphold the establishment and development of scientific institutions in Africa, in close cooperation with Portuguese institutions and research teams;
- To support the setting-up and development of local tools in Africa to provide training and disseminate scientific knowledge to the scientific communities and the African population in general;
- To promote R&D activities in international cooperation, involving Portuguese and African researchers;
- To strengthen international cooperation in Science and Technology through international organizations.
FCT – AKDN Projects
The cooperation program between FCT and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), in progress since 2017, results from the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and Imamat Ismaili, in 2016, which aims to fund research projects to be developed among scientific institutions, whose results have a real impact on the quality of life of the populations targeted.
The first call for proposals was launched in 2017 and 16 projects were selected to be funded, with a total joint FCT-AKDN investment of 4.6 million euros.
The second call for joint projects will run until September 2020. Applications may be submitted by Portuguese, African and AKDN scientific and academic institutions, with the purpose of establishing new initiatives and collaborations, in order to help building and developing research capacities in African countries.
It is also intended to encourage and strengthen scientific, technical, human and social skills and capacities aimed at improving the Quality of Life in Africa. The projects proposed should be on emerging issues in the context of Quality of Life, including, among others: food security and biodiversity, childhood development, education and assessment policies, habitat, sustainable energy systems and urban development, poverty reduction, resettlement of migrants, civil society and pluralism. The proposals should encourage multidisciplinary collaboration and ensure sufficient resources and duration to enable capacity building and knowledge enhancement in Portugal and Africa in these areas.
Further information: www.fct.pt