A bold new chapter in global collaboration is unfolding as Harvard University launches the 2025 cycle of the Motsepe Presidential Research Accelerator Fund for Africa, awarding grants to five transformative projects focused on public health, technology, education, and urban resilience across the continent.
Jointly announced by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, the Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs, and the Harvard Centre for African Studies, the latest round of recipients represents a deepened commitment to interdisciplinary, Africa-centred research built on equal partnerships between Harvard and African institutions.
Now in its fifth year, the Motsepe Fund has evolved beyond a science-and-development focus to embrace a full STEAM approach, welcoming arts and humanities into its technology-driven framework. This shift has attracted teams from across Harvard’s 13 schools, with student-faculty collaborations and South-North partnerships at the core.
“What sets the Motsepe Fund apart is its ethos of mutual respect and long-term problem-solving,” said Mark Elliott, Vice Provost for International Affairs. “It’s about building something enduring—with African researchers, not just about them.”
John Shaw, Vice Provost for Research, added: “This year’s proposals showcase incredible range—from malaria immunity and AI-driven enterprise to sustainable school meals and informal urban transit reform.”
Highlights from the 2025 Awardees:
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The Green Corridor Project (South Africa)
Led by Prof. Maurice Cox, this urban design initiative explores how public green spaces in Cape Town and the Western Cape can advance public health and social cohesion through community co-creation. -
Nourished Minds (Ethiopia)
Prof. Wafaie Fawzi’s team integrates climate-resilient agriculture with school nutrition programs, in partnership with UNICEF and Ethiopian public health institutions, to fight child malnutrition and boost educational outcomes. -
AI for African Enterprises
Led by Prof. Asim Khwaja, this project partners with African economists and data scientists to explore how artificial intelligence can drive inclusive economic growth and innovation. -
Malaria Immunity in Kenya
Prof. Daniel Neafsey, working with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), will investigate genetic and immune responses to malaria, to enhance vaccine strategies and precision health. -
Reimagining Urban Transport (Uganda)
Assoc. Prof. Carole Voulgaris is teaming up with Ugandan transit planners to study informal minibus networks in Kampala, blending urban planning with behavioural economics to inform policy from the ground up.
Unlike conventional research models, the Motsepe Fund emphasises co-leadership and equitable engagement. African institutions are not passive collaborators—they are intellectual architects helping steer the research agenda.
The fund, backed by the Motsepe Foundation, has doubled its financial support following early successes, paving the way for Harvard to scale this model of engaged scholarship. It offers a powerful case for how global universities can shift from academic extractivism to authentic partnership.
As the selected projects begin field implementation across Africa, they promise not just academic output, but practical, community-rooted solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing challenges.
Article by RB Reporter
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