STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FUNDING

AGENCIES IN WEST AFRICA (SRIFA)

Key Informant Interview Guide

The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) in partnership with the African
University of Science and Technology (AUST) is conducting a study on Strengthening the
National Research and Innovation Funding Agencies in West Africa (SRIFA). This study aims to
strengthen the Agencies where they already exist (Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, and
Sierra Leone) to efficiently deliver on their mandates and support the development of
institutional frameworks/mechanisms for establishing new research funding agencies where they
do not exist (Ghana, and Nigeria). To achieve this, information is being sought from relevant
stakeholders including the Councils, policymakers (governments), research organizations,
universities, CSOs, NGOs, private sector etc. The information obtained from this study will
provide an in-depth understanding of the statuses of research and innovation funding ecosystems
in the six participating countries in terms of the relevant policies and institutions; key actors,
their roles, linkages, power and influence as well as their needs for more effective Councils
where they exist and for the development of institutional frameworks for the establishment of new
research funding agencies where they do not exist. I hope that your answers to my questions will
help strengthen the research and Innovation funding Councils in your country. I expect our
discussion to last about 20 minutes.

We expect that your response will help strengthen the research and innovation funding Council
in your country to perform better. This interview is also expected to last for about 20 minutes.
Please note that participation in this study is optional and responses are to the best of your
ability and knowledge. Information received will only be used for the purposes of this study and
any personal information treated in confidence. For further information please contact the
Project Officer, Dr. Cynthia Nwobodo at: cnwobodo@atpsnet.org

1. INTRODUCTION
Date:
a.1. Name of the respondent (optional):
a.2. Phone number (optional):
a.3. Email address:

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a.4. Sex: Male Female Other ____________________
a.5. Any Disability? If yes, please tick as appropriate (i) Physical disability (ii) low
vision/blind, (iii) person who is deaf?,
a.6. Age: (Tick appropriately)
15-35 36-45 46-55 56 and above
a.7. Name of the organization you work for: …………………………………………
a.8. Designation: ----------------------------------------------------------------------
a.9. Share 3 key tasks that you carry out based on your job designation
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
a.10. The number of years worked in the organization:
a.11. Country:
a.12. Category of organization of the respondent
a. Government (Ministry, Department or Agency)
b. Research institution
c. University
d. Non-Governmental Organization/Civil Society Organization
e. Private Sector
f. Media
g. Development Partner/Donor Agency
h. Any other (please specify): …………………………………..

2. POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL LANDSCAPE FOR RESEARCH AND

INNOVATION FUNDING
2.1. Kindly list five (5) key policy and institutional challenges facing research and innovation
funding in your country?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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2.2. Among the key policy and institutional challenges, could you identify one key challenge
that particularly affects women and other vulnerable groups within the research and
innovative funding environment?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2.3. Please list up to five measures that can be used to resolve the key policy and institutional
challenges earlier listed in section 2.1.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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2.4. Which of these measures outlined above could also help to resolve challenges that may
be specific to women and other vulnerable groups within the research and innovative funding
environment?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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3. STAKEHOLDER POWER AND INFLUENCE IN THE RESEARCH AND
INNOVATION FUNDING ECOSYSTEM
(This section aims to rate the power and influence of different kinds of stakeholders in national
research and innovation funding in the participating countries).

For each actor/stakeholder identified below, state their level of power and influence in national
research and innovation funding in your country. On the scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is the most
powerful/influential and 1 is the least powerful/influential (please tick appropriately)

Please note: Power in this context refers to the ability to control or make decisions, while
influence refers to the ability to affect or sway those decisions. Power is often associated with
formal authority, such as a position of leadership, while influence can be held by anyone,
regardless of their formal role or position. Power is often used to achieve specific goals or
outcomes, while influence is used to persuade or change the attitudes or behaviours of others.
The stakeholders with high powers are able to control or direct others, enforce their own interests
or make things happen. Those with high influence, on the other hand, have the capacity to shape
the beliefs, attitudes, or actions of others without using coercion or force.

The rating that will be provided below is subjective and based on the perceptions of the
respondents. It may also be based on personal experiences of the respondents while interacting
with these stakeholders.

3.1. Stakeholder level of power

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Name of stakeholder/actor Level of power

1 (Least 2 3 4 5 (Most
Powerful) Powerful)
Government at different
Levels
Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and
Innovation (MESTI)
National Development Planning Commission (NDPC)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI)
Ministry of Business Development (MoBD).
The Nation Builders Corps (NABCO)
Ministry of Aviation
Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations
Ministry of Railway Development
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA)
Ministry of Finance (MoF)
Ministry of Business Development (MoBD)
Forestry Commission (FC)
Goil Company Limited (GOIL)
National Board for Small Scale Industry (NBSSI)
Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB)
Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC)
Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) formerly Ghana Standards
Board
Ministry of Energy
Ghana Skill Centre
Youth Employment Agency (YEA)
National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme
Energy Commission
Rural Enterprises Programme (REP)

Other specify

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NGOs/CSOs/FBOs/
Development partners
Ghana Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
Kumasi Institute of Technology, Energy and Environment
(KITE)
Farm Radio International
Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI)
International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Accra (AGRA)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Chamber of Agribusiness
Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE)
Ghana Association of Scientists Teachers (GAST)
Ghana Tech Lab
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
The Linda Agyeiwaa Atiase Scholarship Fund for Girls
(LAASFUND)
Sports and Youth Development Organization
Ghana Life Savers Organization
Informed Choice Foundation Ghana
International Organization on Migration (IOM)
Rural-Urban Partnership for Africa (RUPFA)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
New Partnerships for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
Other specify

Private sector
Peasant Farmers Association (PFAG)
Savanah Young Farmers Network Agribusiness Innovation
Hub (iHub)
Centre for Social Innovations
Dansyn Ghana Limited
Enablis Entrepreneurial Network Ghana
Private Enterprise Foundation
Venture Capital Trust Fund

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Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology.
Eqwip Hubs
Grassroots Hub
HapaSpace
Ho Node
Hopin Academy
i.Code
Business & Entrepreneur Development Centre
Impact Hub
Kumasi Hive
Steward Investment
SkyFox Ltd
Rancard Solutions Ltd
BlueCrest College
mPedigree
Busy Internet
Afrifanom
Formally Vokacom
AirtelTigo
Association of Ghana Industries (AGI)
Rockefeller Foundation
Wellcome Trust
Ford Foundation
Mastercard Foundation
Other specify

Research institutions/universities
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Institute for sustainable Energy and environmental solutions-
(ISEES)
Oil Palm Research Institute, Ghana (OPRI)
Food Research Institute (FRI)
Crops Research Institute (CRI)
Water Research Institute (WRI)
Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI)
Animal Research Institute (ARI)
Institute of Industrial Research (IIR)
Institute of Scientific and Technological Information (INSTI)

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Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI)
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana (KNUST)
Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI)
University of Professional Studies (UPSA)
Ho Technical University (HTU)
Sunyani Technical University (STU)
University for Development Studies (UDS)
Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development
(KTU)
Centre for Business Development, KNUST
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
(GIMPA)
University of Cape Coast Business Incubator (UCC BI)
Lancaster University
Other specify

Media

Other specify

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3.2. Stakeholder level of Influence

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Name of stakeholder/actor Level of influence

1 (Least 2 3 4 5 (Most
influential influential
) )
Government at different
Levels
Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and
Innovation (MESTI)
National Development Planning Commission (NDPC)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI)
Ministry of Business Development (MoBD).
The Nation Builders Corps (NABCO)
Ministry of Aviation
Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations
Ministry of Railway Development
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA)
Ministry of Finance (MoF)
Ministry of Business Development (MoBD)
Forestry Commission (FC)
Goil Company Limited (GOIL)
National Board for Small Scale Industry (NBSSI)
Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB)
Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC)
Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) formerly Ghana
Standards Board
Ministry of Energy
Ghana Skill Centre
Youth Employment Agency (YEA)
National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme
Energy Commission
Rural Enterprises Programme (REP)
Other specify

NGOs/CSOs/FBOs/
Development partners
Ghana Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
Kumasi Institute of Technology, Energy and Environment
(KITE)

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Farm Radio International
Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI)
International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Accra (AGRA)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Chamber of Agribusiness
Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE)
Ghana Association of Scientists Teachers (GAST)
Ghana Tech Lab
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
The Linda Agyeiwaa Atiase Scholarship Fund for Girls
(LAASFUND)
Sports and Youth Development Organization
Ghana Life Savers Organization
Informed Choice Foundation Ghana
International Organization on Migration (IOM)
Rural-Urban Partnership for Africa (RUPFA)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
New Partnerships for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
Other specify

Private sector
Peasant Farmers Association (PFAG)
Savanah Young Farmers Network Agribusiness Innovation
Hub (iHub)
Centre for Social Innovations
Dansyn Ghana Limited
Enablis Entrepreneurial Network Ghana
Private Enterprise Foundation
Venture Capital Trust Fund
Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology.
Eqwip Hubs
Grassroots Hub
HapaSpace
Ho Node

12
Hopin Academy
i.Code
Business & Entrepreneur Development Centre
Impact Hub
Kumasi Hive
Steward Investment
SkyFox Ltd
Rancard Solutions Ltd
BlueCrest College
mPedigree
Busy Internet
Afrifanom
Formally Vokacom

13
AirtelTigo
Association of Ghana Industries (AGI)
Rockefeller Foundation
Wellcome Trust
Ford Foundation
Mastercard Foundation
Other specify

Research institutions/universities
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Institute for sustainable Energy and environmental
solutions-(ISEES)
Oil Palm Research Institute, Ghana (OPRI)
Food Research Institute (FRI)
Crops Research Institute (CRI)
Water Research Institute (WRI)
Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI)
Animal Research Institute (ARI)
Institute of Industrial Research (IIR)
Institute of Scientific and Technological Information
(INSTI)
Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI)
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana (KNUST)
Science and Technology Policy Research Institute
(STEPRI)
University of Professional Studies (UPSA)
Ho Technical University (HTU)
Sunyani Technical University (STU)
University for Development Studies (UDS)
Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development
(KTU)
Centre for Business Development, KNUST
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
(GIMPA)
University of Cape Coast Business Incubator (UCC BI)
Lancaster University
Other specify

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Media

Other specify

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4. AREAS OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FUNDING
(This section seeks to identify the areas that have been prioritized in research and innovation
funding).
Please rate the extent of priority given to these areas in research and innovation funding in your
country.

Areas of funding Current level of priority

1(Least 2 3 4 5(Highest
extent) extent)
Basic Research
Product development
Infrastructure
Scholarships (PHD, Masters)
Publication/ dissemination
Convenings (e.g., conferences, trainings, exhibitions
etc.)
Commercialization
Others specify

5. TRAINING NEEDS TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL RESEARCH AND

INNOVATION FUNDING
(This section aims to identify areas and levels of training needs for strengthening research and
innovation funding in your country)

5.1 Kindly identify and rate the level of training needed to strengthen the national research and
innovation funding agencies in your country on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is the most needed and
1 is the least needed (please indicate and check appropriately).

Training Need Areas Level of need

1 (Least 2 3 4 5 (Most
needed) needed)

Fundraising and grantsmanship

Grants management and disbursements

Online management of grant calls

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Quality assurance and ethics in research

Financial reporting systems

Institutional risk assessment

Effective Communication of research

results

Gender equality and inclusion strategies

Public private partnership

Training and capacity building in research

management

Commercialization of research outputs

Safeguarding intellectual property rights

Strategies for using evidence to inform

policy such as how to write a policy brief

Capacity building on gender responsive

data collection, management, reporting
and archiving

How to strengthen the role of national

intermediaries

Monitoring, evaluation and learning in

project management

Monitoring, evaluation and learning in

Council internal processes

Policymaking processes

Others, please specify

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5.2 Kindly identify and rate the level of technical support needed to strengthen the national
research and innovation funding agencies in your country on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is the
most needed and 1 is the least needed (please indicate and check appropriately) (For countries
that have Council)
Technical Support Need areas Level of need
1 (Least 2 3 4 5 (Most
needed) needed)

Drafting of STI policy

documents/frameworks

Organizing benchmarking/ learning

visits to other well-performing Councils

Commissioning of studies on specific

STI issues relevant to Councils

Brokering STI agreements with other

Councils and Actors in the ecosystem

Stakeholder engagements and policy

dialogue on topical issues of R&I
funding interests to the Council

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Creation of physical and online
platforms for knowledge sharing among
critical R&I funding stakeholders in the
country
Support on advocacy for increased R&I
funding in the country from
policymakers and parliamentarians
Others Specify

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6. TECHNICAL SUPPORT NEEDS FOR DEVELOPING INSTITUTIONAL
FRAMEWORKS AND MECHANISMS FOR ESTABLISHING COUNCILS FOR
NATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FUNDING (FOR COUNTRIES
THAT DO NOT HAVE COUNCILS)
(This section aims to identify the technical support needs for establishing national councils for
research and innovation funding in countries where they do not exist in West Africa).

6.1 Kindly identify and rate the level of technical support required for the establishment of
national research and innovation funding agencies in countries where the Councils do not
currently exist. Use a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is the most needed and 1 is the least needed (please
check boxes appropriately)
Needs area Level of need
1 (Least 2 3 4 5 (Most
needed) needed)
High-level policy & stakeholder
engagement workshops to advocate for
developing institutional frameworks for
establishing Councils
Breakfast meetings/workshops to
advocate for the development of
mechanisms & institutional
frameworks for establishing Councils
Drafting of gender responsive policy
documents and bills
Preparation and presentation of seminal
papers
Commissioning of topical papers to
promote & facilitate the establishment
of Councils
Consultations with select parliamentary
committees on R&I funding
Development of strategic STI
documents such as policies and policy
implementation strategies
Benchmarking/ Learning visits to
successful and well performing
Councils in Africa
STI Policy making
Developing International
collaborations and partnerships
Support on advocacy for increased R&I
funding in the country from
policymakers and parliamentarians
Creation of physical and online

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platforms for knowledge sharing
among critical R&I funding
stakeholders in the country
Others specify

7. How can the national research and innovation funding agency or its equivalent in your
country be enhanced or supported to perform most efficiently? List five major strategies for
achieving this:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

8. How can the national research and innovation funding agency or its equivalent in your country be
effectively strengthened to promote inclusion and gender responsiveness in its operations?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

End the Interview

Thank you for your time and ideas.

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