Strengthening Research Partnerships at MUCE

From 21 - 25 April 2025, MUCE hosted a collaborative workshop titled Equitable Partnerships for African Research Infrastructure and Capacity (EP for Africa). This event brought together representatives from various partner institutions, including MUCE, the University of Makerere (MU), the University of Addis Ababa (AAU), and the University of Manchester (UoM). The goal of the workshop was to tackle key challenges in managing research portfolios, particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

The workshop focused on enhancing the research management lifecycle, from grant acquisition to data governance. It emphasized the importance of building equitable systems to support international research partnerships and the need for institutional strategies that promote transparency and mutual respect. Key activities included mapping out each institution's research management lifecycle and identifying areas of strength and challenges in infrastructure.

Participants engaged in peer learning sessions, aiming to develop a toolkit to guide the management of research projects, and addressed critical issues such as resource allocation and shared decision-making. The workshop underscored the importance of equitable research collaborations, highlighting the necessity of nurturing both academic and support functions within research ecosystems. This collaborative effort is expected to contribute to the development of sustainable, locally-driven research practices that prioritize capacity-building and mutual benefit among international partners.