COVID-19 Africa Rapid-Grant Fund

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https://africarxiv.ubuntunet.net/handle/1/1385

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new type of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 respiratory disease) a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The pandemic presented a significant challenge requiring a global response informed by the best scientific research. The Global Research Council (GRC) issued a declaration calling on participating councils to collaborate in the fight against the virus and encourage open sharing of research findings and data as transparency shall help ensure the development of diagnostics, vaccines and prevention measures for the benefit of every nation.

To support Africa’s response to the pandemic and under the auspices of the Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI), the NRF South Africa, IDRC, Sida, DFID, United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Newton Fund, South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ), SGCI participating councils, and additional partners collaborated to implement a Rapid Grant Fund to address research questions and implement science engagement activities associated with COVID-19. The Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) has been implemented through the collaborative efforts of fifteen science granting councils in sub-Saharan Africa since 2015.
The NRF South Africa administered the USD4.75 million Rapid Grant Fund.

The Fund sought to:
  • Contribute to the African regional and continental response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Support knowledge generation and translation to inform diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19 on the continent.
  • Strengthen African regional and continental science engagement efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Leverage strong multilateral collaborations to support Africa’s consolidated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and attract new collaborations from international partners.

The fund supported Research and Science Engagement. The COVID-19 Rapid Grant Fund repository on Africarxiv archives the research and engagement outputs from the grant recipients.

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Collections in this Community

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
  • Research: African Health Governance Systems  
    Research that investigated facilitating factors, hindrances, and experiences on the deployment of rapid, effective and equitable interventions to prevent and respond to COVID-19; lessons from previous emerging infectious disease outbreaks on the continent and what can be applied to COVID-19; and financing mechanisms for pandemic prevention and response.
  • Research: COVID-19 Virus  
    Research that investigated genetic mutation and the clinical significance of possible mutations.
  • Research: Mental Health  
    Research that investigated the impact of COVID-19 on individual and community mental health, including fear, stigma, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination, and which seeks to understand evidence-based solutions to build greater community trust and prevent social conflicts.
  • Research: Prevention and Control  
    Research that investigated anticipated models of spread of COVID-19; measures that have been employed on the continent, including lockdowns and their efficacy; contextual methodologies of identifying potentially infectious asymptomatic subjects on the continent considering country testing capabilities; and innovations that can address the needs of healthcare workers and care facilities, given the global lack of sufficient personal protective equipment (PPEs) and ventilators that could be developed/scaled/produced on the continent.
  • Research: Science engagement  
    Research that investigated the role and efficacy of traditional and new media in disseminating information and misinformation; effective communication strategies to counter false science and rumours in the context of scientific uncertainty and complexity; and how rumours and misinformation spread and effective measures to stop the spread of misinformation and fear on the continent.
  • Research: Socio-cultural Dynamics of Transmission  
    Research that investigated how social behaviours and population movement patterns (including congested public transport) in Africa influence the risks of COVID-19 transmission within and between quarantine zones, rural/ peri-urban/urban zones, and transnational borders; how to deliver social distancing, self-quarantine, and isolation measures in high-density urban areas like informal settlements; and how migration, trade and investment, social networks and livelihoods (including in communities relying on income received daily to survive) impact transmission dynamics.
  • Research: Vulnerability  
    Intersectional research that sought to better understand vulnerability to the coronavirus as it relates to gender, race, disability, socio-cultural demographics, income, ethnicity, concomitant noncommunicable chronic diseases, and other elements of marginalisation; and how to best protect vulnerable groups from the intense periods of COVID-19 transmission.
  • Science Engagement: Science Advisers  
    Archival materials from support to national African academies of science, African national Young Academies of Science and the INGSA Africa chapter to provide rapid science advice in support of regional and continental responses to COVID-19.
  • Science Engagement: Science and Health Journalists and Communicators  
    Production and dissemination of coordinated science communication outputs that allowed readers access to factual information and analysis to inform their actions and challenge misinformation.