A Vision: Transformed lives on the continent through science

The AAS tripartite mandate is:

• recognising excellence through The AAS’ highly prestigious fellowship and award schemes;
• providing advisory and think tank functions for shaping Africa’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) strategies and policies;
• implementing key Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) programmes addressing Africa’s developmental challenges.

The STI that the Academy supports focuses on five strategic focus areas:

1. environment and climate change;
2. health and wellbeing;
3. natural sciences;
4. policy and governance;
5. social sciences and humanities.

The AAS recognises excellence through the election of AAS Fellows and Affiliates who are distinguished researchers who represent the continent’s talented and promising men and women from across the globe. The 460 Fellows, who are elected based on their publication record, innovation, leadership roles and contribution to policy, provide the strategic leadership to shape The AAS’s programmes, engage with governments to enable wise investment on the continent, serving as reviewers for AAS grant applications and mentor early career scientists. The AAS also awards the Obasanjo Prize every two years to an outstanding scientist who contributes to the development of the continent.

The AAS has four platforms:

• AAS Open Research, which is the Academy’s innovative, open access platform to enable AAS funded and affiliated researchers to publish immediately, without barriers and with the benefit of transparent review
• The Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA), which is the programmatic arm of the Academy, created in partnership with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD Agency). AESA provides the funding and agenda setting to catalyse the development and implementation of STI programmes in Africa
• The Coalition for African Research and Innovation (CARI), which is a sustainability platform set up with The AAS and her partners to accelerate STI programmes in Africa
• The Global Grant Community whose core is an innovative and integrated tool—the Good Financial Grant Practice standard—to standardise, simplify and strengthen financial governance of grant funding worldwide.

Strategy

A five-year strategic planning running from 2018 to 2022 is currently being implemented with a specific focus on building partnerships, spur scientific excellence and provide an enabling environment for people to learn and grow.