The recent call at the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa has put the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations under the spotlight, with scholars emphasizing the urgent need for South African government backing. During the 24th International Conference on Higher Education in Africa, Professor Isabella Aboderin from the University of Bristol highlighted how external funding dependencies hinder African research agendas. For South African universities like the University of Cape Town and Wits, this charter represents a pathway to elevate their global standing while addressing local challenges.

South Africa's higher education sector, already contributing 50% of sub-Saharan Africa's indexed publications, stands to gain immensely. Yet, with continental research output at just 1.6% globally, stronger political will and financial commitment from Pretoria could unlock transformative potential in fields like climate adaptation and health sciences.

🌍 Origins and Launch of the Charter

Launched in July 2023 at the Association of African Universities' conference in Windhoek, Namibia, the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations emerged from a coalition of major African bodies including the AAU, African Research Universities Alliance, and African Academy of Sciences. Coordinated by institutions such as UCT's Institute for Humanities in Africa, UNISA's Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair, and the University of Pretoria's Future Africa, it addresses deep-rooted power imbalances in global research.

Africa's researchers make up only 0.7% of the global total despite representing 10% of the adult population in key regions. International partnerships, while numerous, often sideline African priorities, authorship, and capacity building. The charter, now endorsed by over 130 entities worldwide, calls for a shift towards Africa-centered collaborations that foster equity and mutual benefit.

Key Principles Guiding Transformative Collaborations

The charter outlines ten core principles to reconfigure research partnerships:

• Equity and Mutual Benefit: All partners contribute equally to agendas, labor, and outcomes.
• African Epistemic Agency: Prioritize African knowledges, languages, and theories over Western dominance.
• Fair Division of Labor: Balanced roles in data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
• Capacity Strengthening: Invest in African institutions' infrastructure and skills.
• Research Integrity and Authorship: Equitable credit and decision-making on publications.
• Uptake and Impact: Ensure findings benefit African contexts first.
• Partnership Longevity: Sustainable, multi-year commitments beyond short grants.
• Funding Realignment: Governments match external funds to reduce dependency.
• Systemic Change: Challenge colonial legacies in global science systems.
• Pluriversal Knowledge Production: Embrace diverse scholarly traditions for richer global science.

These principles provide a blueprint for South African universities to negotiate better terms in international projects, enhancing their research sovereignty.

South African Universities Leading the Charge

South African institutions have been pivotal. UCT's HUMA hosted steering committee meetings, while UNISA and UP's Future Africa drive implementation. Wits signed on in September 2025, committing to charter-aligned projects in urban adaptation and AI governance. Stellenbosch and UKZN have integrated its ethos into social sciences and health research.

In QS Rankings 2026, UCT remains Africa's top university, underscoring SA's leadership. Of 15 highly cited African scholars in Clarivate 2025, ten are South African, reflecting robust output despite funding constraints.

Challenges in South African Research Landscape

Despite strengths, SA's R&D spend hovers below the AU's 1% GDP target at around 0.5%. Universities rely heavily on external grants, which often dictate agendas. Brain drain, infrastructure gaps, and low domestic funding exacerbate issues. The charter urges matching funds, a step SA government could take via NRF expansions.

TVET colleges, key for skills development, lag in research integration. Charter principles could bridge this by fostering collaborations between universities and colleges on applied transformative research like renewable energy tech.

Case Studies: Transformative Projects in SA Universities

At Wits, the KidneyGenAfrica study exemplifies charter ideals, mapping genetic kidney risks with equitable African leadership. UCT's rheumatic heart valve research received R13m grants, prioritizing local capacity. UP's Future Africa coordinates pan-African initiatives on sustainable development, embodying mutual benefit.

These projects demonstrate how charter-guided collaborations yield high-impact results, from quantum internet advancements at Wits to fungal pathogen combats at UCT-IDM.

Government Backing: The Missing Piece

The Addis conference explicitly called on governments like South Africa's to provide political endorsement and financial matching. Current NRF budgets fall short; experts propose doubling R&D investment to meet AU goals. This would stabilize universities amid global funding shifts, retaining talent and boosting publications.

SA's Department of Higher Education and Training could lead by policy reforms, integrating charter principles into funding criteria. Recent scholarly appeals stress this urgency for continental stability.

Global Endorsements Bolstering SA Efforts

Over 120 signatories, including Bristol University Alliance and Coimbra Group, affirm the charter. International funders like UKRI are aligning policies. For SA, this opens doors to equitable EU Horizon partnerships and US collaborations, amplifying local research.

The charter's playbook offers practical tools, aiding SA unis in negotiations.

Implications for SA Colleges and Broader Higher Ed

Beyond universities, TVETs like TUT stand to benefit from applied research links. Principles promote inclusive partnerships, addressing language gaps and epistemic diversity noted in UCT studies. Enhanced funding could equip colleges for transformative vocational research in green skills.

Photo by Nnaemeka Ugochukwu on Unsplash

• Increased domestic grants for college-university consortia.
• Capacity building in data ethics and AI.
• Equity in STEM outcomes, per UJ studies.

Future Outlook: Roadmap for Implementation

An Africa-led steering group will craft policies and standards. For SA, 2026 could mark charter domestication via white papers. Universities anticipate 20-30% research output growth with govt support. Actionable insights include joint NRF-industry funds and talent retention incentives.

As Prof Aboderin noted, implementing the charter reverses peripherality, enriching global science. SA higher ed is poised to lead this transformation. AAU's ongoing efforts signal momentum.

Explore opportunities in SA research roles via research jobs or university positions.