On 15 April 2026, NASAC, in partnership with Taylor & Francis Group and TCC Africa, convened a virtual meeting on Publishing Visibility and Impact: Strengthening African Research in the Global Knowledge Ecosystem. The event attracted more than 220 participants, including researchers, academics, science leaders, and policy stakeholders from across Africa, reflecting the growing momentum toward enhancing the visibility, accessibility, and global impact of African research.
The meeting was officially opened by NASAC President Prof. Ekanem Braide, who emphasized that the engagement was designed as an educational platform to provide practical, inclusive, and context-relevant insights for Africa’s diverse research environments. She noted that while African countries differ in capacity and resources, they share common challenges that require collective reflection and coordinated action. She further highlighted the importance of a balanced understanding of the global publishing ecosystem, particularly regarding issues of access, equity, ethics, and research visibility.
Dear Colleagues and Partners,
Welcome to the June 2026 edition of the NASAC E-Bulletin.
This edition reflects NASAC’s continued commitment to strengthening science systems in Africa. This means fostering collaboration among academies and stakeholders, and enhancing the visibility and impact of research from Africa on the global stage. Our feature story highlights the NASAC webinar on Publishing, Visibility and Impact, which brought together researchers, publishing experts, and science leaders. The webinar explored practical strategies for increasing accessibility, reach, and influence of scholarship in Africa. The discussions underscored the importance of robust research ecosystems, ethical publishing practices, and capacity development in advancing Africa’s scientific contribution to global knowledge.
We also report on the inaugural session of the 2026 Academy Development Initiative (ADI) Series. ADI focused on promoting collaboration and partnerships among science academies. The session emphasized the value of structured partnership frameworks, trust-building, resource mobilisation, and effective leadership as critical drivers of sustainable and impactful collaboration.
In addition, this edition features a landmark study by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). The study examines extreme heat as a growing climate-health threat in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The findings highlight the urgent need for coordinated adaptation measures and evidence-informed policy responses to safeguard vulnerable communities from the escalating impacts of climate change.
We are also pleased to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Prof. Vasey Mwaja of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences. Prof. Mwaja was honoured with the 2026 ACES Alumni Career Achievement Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to science, agriculture, innovation, and capacity development.
Finally, we feature updates from the Mauritius Academy of Science and Technology (MAST), including the constitution of its Council for the 2026–2028 term. This milestone marks an important step in strengthening the Academy’s leadership and strategic direction as it continues to advance science and innovation in Mauritius and beyond.
We thank our members, partners, and stakeholders for their continued engagement and support. We remain hopeful that you will find this edition of the e-Bulletin informative.
Sincerely,
Prof. Ekanem Braide
President, NASAC
The first online session of the 2026 Academy Development Initiative (ADI) series was held on 30 April 2026, on the topic Strengthening Collaboration and Partnerships among Science Academies in Africa. The session explored practical approaches to building effective institutional partnerships.
The keynote presentation by Prof. Irvy (Igle) Gledhill emphasized structured collaboration frameworks, trust-building, leadership, resource mobilisation, and project management principles. Discussions highlighted the importance of science academies engaging effectively with government and industry while maintaining independence and credibility. Participants also shared experiences on sustaining partnerships, overcoming funding constraints, and strengthening institutional cooperation.
Participating in the African Science Academies Meeting (AMASA) 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, proved to be both an inspiring and thought-provoking experience for Dr. Natisha Dukhi. Bringing together scientists, policymakers, and development practitioners from across Africa and beyond, the meeting provided a valuable platform for examining some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, including water security, the clean energy transition, and the increasingly important relationship between the two.
Throughout the meeting, participants engaged in robust discussions and exchanged diverse perspectives on science-driven approaches to sustainable development. The deliberations underscored the critical role of evidence-based policymaking and highlighted the growing importance of collaboration in addressing complex and interconnected challenges facing African societies.
What distinguished AMASA 2025 was not only the quality of the scientific discourse but also the spirit of partnership that permeated the event. Experts from different disciplines and regions came together around issues of shared concern, fostering meaningful dialogue and strengthening networks that will continue to support scientific cooperation across the continent.
Morocco’s progress in renewable energy and water innovation provided an especially fitting backdrop for the discussions. The country’s achievements served as a powerful reminder that many of the solutions Africa seeks are already being developed and implemented within the continent, offering valuable lessons and opportunities for adaptation elsewhere.
For Dr. Dukhi, one of the key takeaways from the meeting was the value of collective action among African science academies. AMASA 2025 demonstrated the impact that can be achieved when the continent’s scientific institutions work together, share knowledge, and advocate with a unified voice on issues of strategic importance.
The experience left her with new perspectives, valuable professional connections, and a renewed appreciation of what becomes possible when African scientists and science academies unite around a shared vision. AMASA continues to serve as an important platform for advancing dialogue, strengthening partnerships, and shaping science-informed solutions for Africa’s future.
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has released a landmark consensus study identifying extreme heat as a major and escalating climate-health risk in the SADC region. The report highlights the cascading impacts of heat on health systems, food security, water resources, and livelihoods, particularly affecting vulnerable populations and outdoor workers.
The study calls for strengthened regional coordination, improved climate adaptation planning, and urgent policy action to build resilience across Southern Africa in the face of accelerating climate change.
The Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS) congratulates Prof. Vasey Mwaja on receiving the 2026 ACES Alumni Career Achievement Award from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The award recognizes his exceptional contributions to agriculture, science policy, and innovation across Africa and globally.
His distinguished career spans leadership roles in national and international scientific institutions, advisory bodies, and research programs, reflecting a lifelong commitment to advancing science for sustainable development.
The Mauritius Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) has announced its newly constituted Council for the 2026–2028 term following its Council meeting held on 12 May 2026. The new leadership will guide the Academy’s strategic direction and strengthen its role in promoting science and technology for societal benefit.
NASAC congratulates the incoming Council and looks forward to continued collaboration in advancing science across Africa.
The Académie des Sciences, des Arts, des Cultures d’Afrique et des Diasporas Africaines (ASCAD) convened its International Seminar on 2–3 June 2026 at the École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d’Économie Appliquée (ENSEA) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Held under the theme “Water and Food Security in Côte d’Ivoire for Sustainable Development,” the seminar brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and development stakeholders to examine the critical relationship between water resource management and food security.
The event provided a platform for participants to discuss the growing challenges facing agricultural systems in Côte d’Ivoire and the wider West African region, including climate variability, population growth, and increasing food demand. Discussions emphasized the need for integrated, participatory, and sustainable approaches to water governance to strengthen agricultural resilience and support long-term food security.
The seminar explored strategies for improving water governance, enhancing food and nutrition security, and identifying innovative solutions to climate-related challenges. Reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of these issues, contributions were drawn from the social sciences, natural sciences, exact sciences, arts and culture, and the humanities.
The seminar also featured presentations of research papers and expert contributions aligned with the event’s thematic areas. Selected papers were considered for publication in the seminar proceedings, further contributing to the dissemination of knowledge and best practices.
Through this initiative, ASCAD reaffirmed its commitment to advancing scientific dialogue and promoting evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development in Côte d’Ivoire and across Africa.
MAST: Championing Science for Society — A Journey of Growth, Impact & Regional Leadership
When the Mauritius Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) was established in 2007, it began with a clear vision: to harness science and technology for national development. But it was MAST’s decision to join the NASAC in 2009 that marked the start of a transformative journey, one that elevated the Academy from a local institution to a regional voice in science advice and policy dialogue.
From Foundation to Growth
With early NASAC support through a Capacity Building Grant, MAST laid the groundwork for its institutional strength, establishing a functional Secretariat and launching a newsletter to engage stakeholders and promote science awareness nationwide. These steps built both visibility and credibility, essential for influencing national policy.
Regional Leadership through Collaboration
Through NASAC, MAST participated in high-level dialogues and continental projects that expanded its reach. It contributed to influential publications such as “Harnessing Modern Agricultural Biotechnology” (2015) and “Food Security and Nutrition in Africa” (2017), while serving on editorial teams and peer review panels. These experiences positioned MAST as a credible contributor to Africa’s science-policy interface.
Hosting Global Science Dialogues
MAST leveraged NASAC’s network to bring international scientific conversations to Mauritius. The 2012 Water Management in Africa Conference and the 2016 Climate Change Symposium focusing on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) attracted global participation and placed MAST at the forefront of regional collaboration on pressing environmental challenges.
Strengthening Science Advice for Policy (2024)
A second NASAC Capacity Building Grant empowered MAST to take science advice to the next level. It developed two policy booklets — Enhancing Crop and Livestock Production in Mauritius and The Role of the Fisheries Sector in Food Security — offering practical recommendations for policymakers. The launch of a revamped website further extended its reach to decision-makers, researchers, and the public.
Looking Ahead
As MAST approaches its 20th anniversary in 2027, it continues to embody its motto: “Science and Technology at the Service of Society.” Its growth and impact are a testament to the transformative value of NASAC membership, a partnership that has strengthened MAST’s institutional capacity, expanded its networks, and amplified Mauritius’s scientific voice on the African stage.
The Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) was established on 13 December 2001 in Nairobi, Kenya and is currently the affiliate Network for the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) in Africa.
NASAC is a consortium of merit-based science academies in Africa that aspires to make the “voice of science” heard by policy and decision makers within and outside the continent. NASAC is dedicated to enhancing the capacity of existing national science academies and champions in the cause for creation of new academies where none exist.
- African Academy of Sciences (AAS)
- Algerian Academy of Science and Technology (AAST)
- National Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters of Benin (ANSALB)
- Botswana Academy of Sciences (BAS)
- The National Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters of Burkina Faso (ANSB)
- Burundi Academy of Sciences and Technology (BAST)
- Cameroon Academy of Sciences (CAS)
- National Academy of Sciences and Technologies of Congo (ANSTC)
- Congolese Academy of Sciences (ACCOS) Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Academy of Sciences, Arts, Cultures of Africa and African Diasporas (ASCAD), Cote d’Ivoire
- Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), Egypt – Provisional Member
- Kingdom of Eswatini Academy of Sciences (KEAS) – Provisional Member
- Académie des Sciences du Mali (ASM)
- Académie des Sciences du Guinée (ASG)
- Ethiopian Academy of Science (EAS)
- Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS)
- Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS)
- Madagascar’s National Academy of Arts Letters and Sciences
- Mauritius Academy of Science and Technology (MAST)
- Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology in Morocco
- Academy of Sciences of Mozambique (ASM)
- Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS)
- Rwanda Academy of Sciences (RAS)
- Academy of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal (ANSTS)
- Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
- Sudanese National Academy of Science (SNAS)
- Tanzania Academy of Sciences (TAS)
- National Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters of Togo (ANSALT)
- Tunisia Academy of Sciences Arts and Letters
- Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS)
- Zambia Academy of Sciences (ZaAS)
Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences (ZAS)
Cameroon Academy of Young Scientists
Académie des Sciences pour les Jeunes en République Démocratique du Congo (ASJ-RDC)
Ghana Young Academy (GhYA)
Benin Young Academy of Science
The Nigerian Young Academy
South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS)
Sudanese Academy of Young Scientist (SAYS)