Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa)

About FSNet-Africa

Our Academic Partners

FSNet-Africa Fellowship

Meet the FSNet-Africa Fellows

Our website


About FSNet-Africa

The Food Systems Research Networks for Africa (FSNet-Africa) project seeks to strengthen food systems research capabilities and the translation of evidence into implementable policy solutions and practical interventions in support of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for Africa.

The major contribution of FSNet-Africa to addressing the SDG challenges is its focus on developing a new understanding of African food systems through developing the FSNet-Africa Food Systems Framework and utilising systems-based methodologies to conduct research that enhances understanding of the components of the framework, the interactions between these components, and ultimately the leverage points for food systems transformation. This research is being implemented by an interdisciplinary cohort of early-career research fellows (ECRFs) who are supported in their research to identify and evaluate climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive, poverty-reducing interventions.

FSNet-Africa is a collaborative project between the University of Pretoria (UP), the University of Leeds (UoL), and the Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN).

FSNet-Africa is an ARUA – UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Research Excellence Project funded through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

 

Our academic partners

FSNet-Africa is partnering with ten African institutions in six African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.

The participating institutions are:

  • Ghana: University of Ghana (UG) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
  • Kenya: University of Nairobi (UoN)
  • Malawi: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  • South Africa: University of Pretoria (UP) and University of the Western Cape (UWC)
  • Tanzania: University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), and Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA)
  • Zambia: University of Zambia (UNZA)
  • UK: University of York

 

FSNet-Africa Fellowships

FSNet-Africa is a 2-year-long structured opportunity for ECRFs based at our academic partners who obtained their PhDs less than 10 years ago to (i) conduct impact-focused interdisciplinary research related to African food systems, (ii) build lasting research networks, and (iii) develop their skills to translate their research impactfully.

The FSNet-Africa Fellowship Programme’s first cohort of fellows started in July 2021 and ends in December 2023.

The three formal components of the fellowships (science, mentorship, and leadership development) ensure that the ECRFs are positioned in an enabling environment and provided with the opportunity to develop the necessary skills to achieve the project objectives and significantly advance their academic careers. Towards this end, in addition to research funding, the fellowship offers ECRFs the opportunity to participate in a series of structured activities.

As a strategy to embed capacity in African institutions while building strong partnerships, fellows remain in their universities but spend time at UP and UoL for these structured components of the fellowship.

During the fellowship, each fellow is assigned at least two mentors – one each from an African university and from UoL. These research triads are carefully matched to ensure that the triad is an interdisciplinary team, enabling the ECRFs to receive the support they need to develop and implement quality interdisciplinary research projects. Each triad is also be linked to a researcher at UP, who has similar research interests, to help build their networks within their field. The mentorship component creates opportunities for ECRFs and mentors to build meaningful relationships with researchers outside of their own organisation and from diverse geographic areas that can lead to longer-term collaborations.

The Science Component of the fellowship comprises an orientation workshop, funding to implement a research project, and participation in two 4-week summer school intensives held at UP and UoL. These intensives provide the fellows with the opportunity to work on their research with their mentors and to participate in capacity-development workshops.

The Leadership Component includes a 1-week intensive training period during the second year of the fellowship, which gives fellows the opportunity to develop skills that are not typically focused on during postgraduate education such as leadership in science-policy communication and leading research designed for impact.

After the fellowship, ECRFs will be required to produce a minimum of three deliverables. Each fellow must (i) present their research project at a Stakeholder Engagement Dialogue, (ii) produce a publishable article, and (iii) produce a policy/practice solution-related output (written or other media). Fellows receive support to produce these outputs throughout the fellowship and at a dedicated Write Shop, which will be held at the end of the fellowship.

For more information about the fellowship, click here.

 

Meet the FSNet-Africa Fellows

FSNet-Africa is excited to announce that we have selected 20 fellows from our ten academic partner institutions. These fellows come from six countries and have expertise in 12 different disciplines.

The 2021 FSNet-Africa cohort is 80% female.

Fellows have each been matched with two mentors, one from the University of Leeds and one from our ten academic partner institutions. This research team is what we at FSNet-Africa call the research triad. A University of Pretoria (UP) Host is linked each research team; their role is to expand the triad’s network within UP.

Ready to meet the FSNet-Africa 2021 cohort? Click here.


Visit the FSNet-Africa website to learn more: http://www.fsnetafrica.com.

To keep updated on our activities and opportunities, follow FSNet-Africa on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.


 

- Author Dr Melody Mentz-Coetzee

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