Matchmaking for proposals for the 7th Call
On this website Africa-UniNet members post possible topics and contacts for research cooperation proposals for the 7th Call (1 September - 30 November 2026).
- If you have ideas for proposals and you are looking for a cooperation partner please send your idea (working title and brief abstract) to: africa-uninet@oead.at
- If you are interest in one of the project ideas please directly contact the email contact.
- The proposed topics are listed in order of receipt.
Proposal for a Workshop of the VMU Vienna supported by the AFRICA-UNINET
Research on mitochondria is relevant to a wide range of scientific questions but isn´t to date on primary focus for researchers. The proposed workshop will introduce participants to the applications of mitochondrial research and present the mitochondrial expertise at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (VMU) for initiating research cooperations. Furthermore, hands-on training sessions during the workshop will demonstrate that high impact data in mitochondrial research can be obtained not only through expensive methods but also with a limited budget.
Mitochondrial function is impaired in many degenerative diseases, leading to increased formation of reactive oxygen species and altered ATP production. Therefore, reducing oxidative stress due to mitochondrial dysfunction is a starting point for research into new protective substances. For cell protection, researchers are seeking substances that support mitochondrial function, for example, by reducing oxidative stress, degrading damaged mitochondria via mitophagy, or through other mechanisms. In contrast, cancer researchers are interested in starving cancer cells, i.e., reducing mitochondrial ATP production. In addition, mitochondrial research is relevant in parasitology, as reducing mitochondrial function can support the fight against infectious diseases. These diverse research interests are combined by the use of cell lines. Various parameters can be determined in cell cultures, providing insights into the effects of substances. The measurements include i) the mitochondrial membrane potential, ii) the level of reactive oxygen species, iii) the oxygen consumption rate, and iv) ATP production. Taken together, these parameters provide a good indication of the state of the mitochondria.
Mitochondrial studies are equally relevant for describing pathophysiological processes and investigating the mechanisms of action of pharmacologically active substances. In pharmacognosy, the screening of secondary plant metabolites in cell cultures provides an initial indication of their pharmacological properties. However, the individual methods vary in their informative value, and the data obtained should not be overinterpreted. Furthermore, screening methods should be cost-effective and easy to perform. The workshop will present and apply the methods mentioned before. The data will be discussed with regard to their limitations, reliability, and applicability.
The workshop will lay the foundation for further collaboration between VMU and participating universities in the Africa Uninet network. The VMU has many years of experience in mitochondrial research. Several research groups at the Department of Biomedical Sciences at VMU Vienna have been involved for years. Of particular note are the Physiology and Biophysics Unit (Prof. Elena Pohl, research focus: uncoupling proteins) and the Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology (Assoc. Prof. Lars Gille and Assoc. Prof. Katrin Staniek, current research focus: mitochondrial targeting in leishmaniasis). The Neurochemistry research group (Dr. Rudolf Moldzio) focuses on cell culture models for Parkinson's disease. Their research interests include secondary plant metabolites relevant to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
We propose a four-day workshop open to all interested African members of the Africa Uninet, which can be attended online. VMU plans approximately 12 presentations in English, to be held in the mornings. Depending on interest, presentations from African partners will also be included. The afternoons will be dedicated to hands-on techniques. For this, however, the number of participants will need to be limited. We consider networking not only between Europe and Africa, but also among the African universities themselves as an additional benefit of the workshop. We would appreciate it if time could be allocated for discussion rounds during the workshop, either in French or in Swahili for all interested African members.
Contact: Dr.rer.nat. Dipl.-Biol. Rudolf G. Moldzio (Rudolf.Moldzio@vetmeduni.ac.at), Medical Biochemistry Dept. for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
The Institute of Engineering Design and Product Development (IKP) at TU Wien, specifically the Research Unit of Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Engineering, is an academic research group focused on the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system and on the development of assistive and rehabilitation technologies. Its work includes computer-aided modeling and simulation, as well as the development of wheelchairs, exoskeletons, functional electrostimulation systems, and other mobility-support technologies.
The research unit comprises two professors and a core team of six PhD researchers, and it is further supported by a strong group of master’s and bachelor’s students in mechanical and biomedical engineering through teaching and research activities. This structure enables agile research, development, and prototyping across a wide range of rehabilitation engineering applications.
The unit also works on wheelchair development and offers strong experimental and technical capabilities through its motion analysis laboratory and in-house manufacturing infrastructure. Available facilities include an 8-camera motion analysis system, EMG, force plates, 3D printing, and a fully equipped mechanical workshop for prototype development and testing.
Within the Africa-UniNet network, the research unit is interested in establishing collaborations for joint research projects, exchange activities, and capacity building, and is especially eager to jointly apply for funding for innovative and context-relevant healthcare technologies.
Website: https://www.tuwien.at/mwbw/ikp/reha/forschung
Contact: Georgios Aronis, PhD (georgios.aronis@tuwien.ac.at), Senior Scientist TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), Institute of Engineering Design and Product Development
The transition towards sustainable, resilient, and equitable healthcare systems has underscored the critical role of transport in ensuring timely access to healthcare services and the reliable distribution of essential health commodities. While considerable investments have been made in strengthening healthcare systems across Africa, transport-related barriers continue to undermine last-mile healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and underserved communities. These challenges are further compounded by climate change, inadequate transport infrastructure, rapid urbanisation, and the growing demand for sustainable mobility solutions. Consequently, improving last mile healthcare delivery has emerged as a critical interdisciplinary research priority requiring expertise from engineering,transportation,health sciences, environmental sciences, digital technologies, community development and public policy.
In response to these challenges, the Department of Management Science at Kisii University in partnership with the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa) at the University of Johannesburg, invites researchers within the Africa-UniNet network to be part of this collaborative initiative. The initiative seeks to establish an interdisciplinary research platform that brings together researchers from African and Austrian institutions to co- develop and context- relevant and sustainable transport solutions that strengthens healthcare logistics and improve last- mile healthcare delivery. By fostering interdisciplinary scholarship, the initiative aims to generate evidence that informs policy and practice while contributing to more resilient healthcare systems across Africa and beyond.
The initiating research team brings complementary expertise in transport and supply chain management, with particular strengths in sustainable transport, healthcare logistics, smart transportation systems, transport policy, and supply chain resilience. Current activities include sustainable transport systems, active mobility and health, smart transportation and urban governance, healthcare logistics, and supply chain resilience, supported through joint research programmes between Kisii University and the University of Johannesburg. These activities have strengthened the team's experience in interdisciplinary research, postgraduate supervision, international partnerships, research capacity development, and scientific publication, providing a strong foundation for expanding cooperation with engineering, health, technology, and environmental researchers.
We invite researchers who share this vision to help build an interdisciplinary consortium capable of developing internationally competitive research and innovation projects. We particularly welcome collaboration with researchers and research groups working in transport engineering, rehabilitation engineering, biomechanics, healthcare technologies, intelligent transport systems, biomedical engineering, digital health, geographic information systems (GIS), artificial intelligence, data analytics, operations research and optimisation, public health, health systems research, civil engineering, environmental sustainability, mechanical engineering, and related interdisciplinary fields. By integrating expertise across these disciplines ,the consortium will develop scalable solutions that enhance healthcare accessibility and strengthen resilient healthcare systems.
The immediate objective of this collaboration is to jointly prepare a competitive proposal for the Africa-UniNet 7th Call while establishing a long-term interdisciplinary consortium. Beyond the current call, the consortium will promote collaborative research projects, joint scientific publications, academic staff and postgraduate student exchanges, joint supervision of Master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral researchers, capacity-building workshops, researcher mobility, and future applications to international funding programmes, including Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and other multinational research initiatives. By combining the strengths of African and Austrian institutions, we aim to create a sustainable research partnership that advances green transport solutions for healthcare and delivers lasting scientific, societal, and policy impact.
Contact: Enock Musau Gideon, PhD (enockmusau@kisiiuniversity.ac.ke / emusau@uj.ac.za), Senior Researcher Department of management Science Kisii University, Kenya
Green marketing practices is an approach that encompasses various actions and practices such as altering products, changing production processes, adjusting to environmentally sustainable packaging, introducing sustainable distribution channels, and modifying communication, all aimed at reducing negative environmental impact and enhancing sustainability in business dealings (Khandelwal & Yadav, 2014). Majority of the studies (Fraj et al, 2011; Ko & Jeon, 2024; Utama, 2024; Al-Dmour et al, 2023; Choudhury et at, 2019; Zampese et al, 2016; Khaleeli et al, 2021; Mukonza and Swarts, 2020) and Afande, 2015) reviewed on Green marketing practices were from the non-food and beverage manufacturing sub-sector such as non-profit organization, construction industry, service sector, retail sector, etc. Consequently, little is known about the status and the effect of green marketing practices on the sustainable manufacturing of Kenya's food and beverage manufacturing sector.
1.2. Objectives
To examine how gender parity can leverage the sustainable manufacturing of Kenya’s food and beverage sector.
To analyze how green marketing practices can leverage the sustainable manufacturing of Kenya’s food and beverage sector.
1.3 Research Questions
How does gender parity leverage the sustainable manufacturing of Kenya’s food and beverage sector?
How does green marketing practices leverage the sustainable manufacturing of Kenya’s food and beverage sector?
1.4 Proposed Methodology
The study will be conducted in Kenya’s food and beverage sector comprising a KAM membership of about 181 clustered as follows: dairy and meat processing firms, grain milling firms, edible fats and oils processing firms, beverages, fruits, and vegetable processing firms, fish processing firms, wines, and beer and spirits firms. Top directors, managers, and employees of these firms will be targeted. The study will employ a mixed methodology research design, using the pragmatic approach. We will conduct a scoping study of the food and beverage manufacturing sector to appraise the state of the sector. We will identify a representative sample of key industry stakeholders for an inception meeting. Alongside this inception meeting, we will conduct key informant interviews concurrently. Thereafter we will design a quantitative study to collect data in line with the research questions. We will develop and validate an online questionnaire and implement it using Kobo Collect Toolbox. The quantitative data will be summarised, and analysed to test statistical significance using multiple regression models. The output of these results will be presented to a panel of stakeholders at a closing meeting to be validated. We expect stakeholder input in shaping the policy directions regarding outcomes of the project. These will be documented in reports for external policy dialogues.
Contact: Prof. Fredrick Aila (faila@maseno.ac.ke), Maseno University
Aquaculture presents a transformative opportunity for rural livelihoods in Kenya by enhancing food security, increasing income, and reducing poverty. However, its expansion is hindered by the reliance on fishmeal—an expensive and ecologically unsustainable protein source for aqua feeds. Concurrently, malnutrition remains a critical challenge, necessitating innovative, nutrition-sensitive interventions. The NutriSaq project proposes integrating Spirulina (Arthrospira fusiformis) farming into small-scale aquaculture systems as a sustainable solution to enhance feed availability, improve nutrition, and create economic opportunities. Spirulina, a nutrient-rich microalga, offers a high-protein, essential amino acid, and micronutrient profile while promoting circular economy principles through resource-efficient production and reduced environmental impacts. This project pursues three key objectives: (i) integrating Spirulina farming within smallholder aquaculture to enhance cost-effective, high-quality fish feed production; (ii) improving household nutrition by evaluating the dietary impact of Spirulina-enriched aquaculture products in mitigating malnutrition; and (iii) assessing economic benefits, and gender-inclusive livelihood opportunities associated with integrated aqua-spirulina farming. A mixed-methods approach will be employed, including participatory training, demonstration plots at Maseno University, and technical support to facilitate adoption. Adoption rates and system performance will be monitored through surveys and field observations. Nutritional benefits will be assessed via laboratory analysis of Spirulina-enriched fish for protein, omega-3, and micronutrient content. Economic and social impacts will be evaluated using cost-benefit analysis, econometric modeling, and qualitative assessments. Environmental sustainability will be monitored through water quality testing and life cycle assessments. NutriSaq will foster resilient livelihoods and enhance food and nutrition security for rural Kenyan communities by addressing key constraints in feed costs and malnutrition.
Contact: Eric Ochieng Ogello (eogello@maseno.ac.ke), Maseno University
Indigenous traditional medicinal knowledge has played a fundamental role in promoting community health and well-being in Tanzania for centuries. However, this knowledge is predominantly transmitted orally by elderly custodians, placing it at significant risk of extinction as knowledge holders age without systematic documentation. This project seeks to document, preserve, and promote indigenous traditional medicinal knowledge through a participatory approach involving traditional healers, elders, researchers, and local communities. The project will establish a digital knowledge repository and community-based archives to record medicinal plant species, preparation methods, therapeutic applications, cultural values, and sustainable harvesting practices while safeguarding community intellectual property rights and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing. In addition, the project will assess the conservation status of medicinal plant species and develop strategies for their sustainable management. By preserving this valuable indigenous knowledge, the project contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by strengthening access to traditional healthcare knowledge; SDG 4 (Quality Education) through intergenerational knowledge transfer; SDG 15 (Life on Land) through biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering collaboration among communities, universities, research institutions, and policymakers to ensure the long-term preservation and responsible utilization of indigenous medicinal knowledge.
Contact: Faraja Sanga (sangafaraja@gmail.com/ faraja.sanga@rucu.ac.tz), Lecturer, Department of Humanities, Ruaha Catholic University, Iringa, Tanzania
Religious and cultural diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for peaceful coexistence in multicultural societies. This project aims to strengthen community resilience through interdisciplinary research on interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, and social cohesion by comparing successful models from Austria and Nigeria. The collaboration will examine the roles of educational institutions, faith-based organizations, youth engagement, and community leadership in promoting peaceful coexistence and preventing conflict. Through joint research, staff and student mobility, policy dialogues, and community engagement activities. The project seeks to develop evidence-based strategies and educational resources that foster inclusive societies, foster peaceful coexistence, and build resilient communities. Thereby contributing to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Contact: Dr. Chidinma A. Okafor (chidinmaokafor@gouni.edu.ng), Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Nigeria
DNA technologies are increasingly important for biodiversity conservation, food authentication, public safety, and forensic investigations. This project seeks to establish an Austria–Africa collaborative platform to strengthen capacity in molecular genetics and DNA-based technologies through joint research, staff exchanges, and specialized training. Leveraging the newly established DNA Forensic Center at Godfrey Okoye University, the project will focus on biodiversity monitoring, food authenticity verification, forensic DNA applications, and molecular identification of plant and animal species. The collaboration will develop standardized laboratory protocols, enhance research infrastructure, and foster knowledge exchange between Austrian and African researchers, contributing to sustainable environmental management, food integrity, and scientific innovation. The project will enhance scientific capacity, strengthen biodiversity conservation and food integrity, and contribute to SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Contact: Dr. Chidinma A. Okafor (chidinmaokafor@gouni.edu.ng), Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Nigeria
Spent lithium-ion batteries represent a valuable yet underutilized resource rather than mere hazardous waste. This study proposes a circular economy strategy for recovering graphite and transition metals (such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese) from spent electrodes. The recovered graphite is purified and oxidized to produce high-quality graphene oxide, while the extracted metals are repurposed to synthesize ternary layered double hydroxides (LDH). These two components are subsequently integrated to form hybrid nanocomposites characterized by a large surface area, abundant active sites, and enhanced electrical conductivity. The resulting LDH/graphene oxide nanocomposites exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance in water-splitting reactions, particularly the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), positioning them as promising, cost-effective catalysts for green hydrogen production. By combining sustainable battery-waste management with the development of advanced catalytic materials, this approach supports clean energy goals while minimizing the environmental footprint associated with spent lithium-ion battery disposal, offering a scalable pathway toward sustainable energy conversion technologies.
Contact: Professor Hussein A. Khalaf (hkhalaf70@sci.dmu.edu.eg), Damanhour University, Egypt.
Building on our published research on gendered land access and symbolic violence in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania (Lusasi & Mwaseba, 2020; also Lusasi & Charles, 2025 conference presentation), this project aims to investigate and address the critical link between women's insecure land tenure and their access to water for domestic and agricultural use under conditions of climate stress. While land laws in Tanzania formally recognize women's rights, customary patriarchal norms continue to limit women's control over family land, a situation increasingly impacting their ability to secure water resources as rainfall patterns become more unpredictable.
Objectives:
1. To examine how gendered land access shapes women's water-use strategies and vulnerabilities in climate-stressed villages.
2. To identify the institutional, customary, and socio-economic barriers that prevent women from participating in water governance and climate adaptation decision-making.
3. To design, implement, and evaluate intervention activities aimed at strengthening women's land and water rights.
4. To generate policy-relevant recommendations for integrating gender-equitable land and water management practices.
This project will be implemented in selected villages within Mufindi, Njombe, and Wanging'ombe districts in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. This choice is strategic, as it builds on prior research and established community relationships in these areas, ensuring the feasibility and depth of the qualitative, quantitative, and participatory components of the study. The districts represent a climate-sensitive zone with significant agricultural livelihoods and gendered land-tenure dynamics, making them an ideal setting for investigating the land-water-climate nexus.
Methodology:
The research project will employ a mixed-methods approach:
Structured household surveys using survey tools (e.g., questionnaires, household asset inventories) to collect data on land ownership, water access, household decision-making, and climate adaptation strategies from a representative sample of at least 300 households across selected villages.
Focus group discussions (sex-disaggregated), key informant interviews with village leaders, land officers, and women's group representatives, and participatory mapping of land and water resources.
A series of community workshops and training sessions focused on: (i) Legal literacy and awareness of women's land and water rights. (ii) Gender-sensitive water resource management and climate adaptation planning. (iii) Participatory dialogue forums to address symbolic violence and enhance women's participation in local governance structures, including (iv) a pilot participatory land-use mapping exercise with women's groups.
Expected Outcomes:
• Enhanced understanding of the gendered land-water-climate nexus in Tanzania's Southern Highlands.
• Strengthened capacity of women and community leaders to advocate for equitable land and water governance.
• A validated intervention model for gender-sensitive climate adaptation that can be scaled to other rural African contexts.
• Policy briefs and academic publications contributing to national and regional land and water governance reforms.
This project seeks an Austrian partner with expertise in gender, water management, or climate adaptation to collaborate on a cross-country comparative study, potentially drawing on Austria's experience in integrated water resource management and gender mainstreaming in development programs. The research directly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Contact: Justin Lusasi (justin.lusasi@rucu.ac.tz/ julusasi@gmail.com), Lecturer, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ruaha Catholic University, Iringa – Tanzania
Regenerative agriculture has emerged as a promising approach for addressing the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic challenges. Unlike conventional production systems that often emphasize short-term productivity, regenerative agriculture seeks to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, improve ecosystem services, strengthen climate resilience, and increase long-term farm profitability through practices such as crop diversification, crop rotation, agroforestry, conservation tillage, integrated crop-livestock systems, composting, cover cropping, and improved grazing management (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], 2023; Rehberger et al., 2023). While considerable attention has been devoted to the environmental benefits of regenerative agriculture, relatively little empirical evidence exists on its economic viability, profitability, adoption dynamics, and integration with agritourism, particularly within the diverse agro - ecological regions of Kenya.
The proposed study seeks to address this knowledge gap by developing an integrated economic modelling framework for regenerative agricultural practices in agritourism farming systems in Kenya. The study aims to generate empirical evidence on the profitability, technical efficiency, adoption intensity, climate resilience, and long-term sustainability of regenerative farming systems while exploring opportunities for farm diversification through agritourism. Agritourism offers an innovative avenue for increasing farm incomes by integrating agricultural production with tourism experiences, environmental education, local food systems, cultural heritage, and value-added products, thereby strengthening rural economies and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
The study will be conducted across selected agro ecological regions representing Kenya's major farming systems. The research will adopt a convergent mixed-methods design integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches to ensure methodological rigour and comprehensive understanding. Quantitative data will be collected through structured household surveys administered to representative samples of farming households, while qualitative data will be generated through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, farm observations, case studies, and document reviews involving farmers, extension officers, county government officials, tourism stakeholders, financial institutions, researchers, and value-chain actors. This triangulated approach will enhance the credibility, validity, and transferability of the findings by integrating multiple data sources, stakeholder perspectives, theoretical lenses, and analytical techniques (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2018). The expected outputs include a national inventory of regenerative agricultural practices, a validated Regenerative Agriculture Intensity Index, regional value-chain maps, farm-level estimates of profitability and technical efficiency, long-term economic projections, and evidence-based policy recommendations.
Contact: Professor Fredrick Aila (faila@maseno.ac.ke), Department of Business Administration, Maseno University
Rural communities in Tanzania are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall, declining agricultural productivity, and increased pressure on natural resources. Although Indigenous Knowledge (IK) has enabled communities to adapt to environmental changes for generations, it remains underutilized in formal climate adaptation strategies. This project aims to co-produce climate resilience by integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific innovation through participatory research involving local communities, universities, government agencies, and international partners. The project will document indigenous climate adaptation practices, evaluate their effectiveness alongside scientific approaches, and develop locally appropriate climate resilience models for sustainable agriculture, water resource management, and ecosystem conservation. Capacity-building activities will strengthen knowledge exchange between researchers, students, and communities while promoting evidence-based policy recommendations for climate adaptation. By fostering equitable partnerships between African and European universities, the project will enhance interdisciplinary research and community-driven innovation. The project contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through climate-smart agriculture and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by strengthening adaptive capacity.
Contact: Faraja Sanga (sangafaraja@gmail.com / faraja.sanga@rucu.ac.tz), Lecturer, Department of Humanities, Ruaha Catholic University, Iringa Tanzania
Indigenous family planning knowledge has supported women's reproductive health in rural Tanzania for generations by providing culturally accepted approaches to fertility regulation, birth spacing, and maternal well-being. This knowledge, primarily preserved and transmitted orally by elderly women, is increasingly threatened by modernization, changing social norms, and the absence of systematic documentation. As knowledge custodians age and pass away, valuable indigenous practices risk being permanently lost, reducing opportunities to harness local innovations for sustainable reproductive healthcare. This interdisciplinary project aims to revitalize indigenous family planning knowledge through community-based participatory research, digital preservation, and scientific collaboration between Tanzanian and Austrian researchers. The project will document traditional fertility regulation practices, examine their cultural significance and perceived health benefits, and co-develop an AI-supported digital platform for the ethical preservation and intergenerational transfer of indigenous knowledge. Working closely with local communities, traditional knowledge holders, reproductive health practitioners, and policymakers, the project will establish frameworks for responsible knowledge governance, promote respectful dialogue between indigenous and biomedical knowledge systems, and generate evidence to inform culturally responsive reproductive health policies. By preserving endangered knowledge while fostering innovation and international collaboration, the project contributes to sustainable women's health, knowledge equity, and community empowerment. The project directly advances SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Contact: Faraja Sanga (sangafaraja@gmail.com / faraja.sanga@rucu.ac.tz), Lecturer, Department of Humanities, Ruaha Catholic University, Iringa Tanzania
Indigenous medicinal knowledge has long supported healthcare in Tanzania, particularly in rural communities, yet much of this knowledge remains undocumented and is at risk of disappearing as elder custodians pass away and biodiversity declines. This project aims to develop an AI-supported digital platform to document, preserve, and promote indigenous medicinal knowledge through collaboration with traditional healers, local communities, universities, and healthcare professionals. Using participatory research, ethnobotanical surveys, and artificial intelligence, the platform will securely capture medicinal plant information, traditional healing practices, and cultural knowledge while respecting Indigenous Data Sovereignty and intellectual property rights. AI tools will facilitate multilingual documentation, knowledge classification, and accessible digital learning resources for research, education, and policy development. The project will strengthen research collaboration between African and European universities, enhance community capacity for digital knowledge preservation, and support biodiversity conservation. It contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by advancing sustainable healthcare, innovation, conservation, and international research partnerships.
Contact: Faraja Sanga (sangafaraja@gmail.com / faraja.sanga@rucu.ac.tz), Lecturer, Department of Humanities, Ruaha Catholic University, Iringa Tanzania
Kibuon-Tende Catchment crisscrosses three west Kenya administrative counties of Nyamira, Homabay, Kisii and flows down to Lake Victoria, the second world’s largest freshwater mass. Upstream-downstream gradient of the catchment is intensively characterized by poor agricultural practices on erodible acrisols and phaeozem soil types which have exacerbated water and soil degradation in the basins reducing water quality and quantity. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer nutrients are used in farming with the runoff ending up in the Lake causing eutrophication, flourishment of the water hyacinth, increased toxic algal blooms and reduced fishing activities. Also, undermined downstream irrigation infrastructures such as Kimira-Oluch smallholder irrigation project (KOSFIP) in Homabay county and municipal water treatment systems of urban centers in the basins and lake trans-boundary cargo transportation activities. The study proposes to document and learn with communities’ nutrient dynamics in the catchment upstream-downstream and to link nutrient concentration levels with land use and management interventions to be scaled-up for long term water quality and productivity improvement in the basin. The study approach shifts from the traditional top-down and macro-level engineering approaches to catchment management as currently practiced in basins, that overlooks participation of local communities, ending up in scanty adoption of promoted catchment interventions. The research will bridge the gap by implementing participatory and community driven framework to be structured around objectives to:
(i) document and map the current upstream-downstream hotspot nutrient pathways among smallholder farmers, (ii) determine the upstream-downstream nutrient concentration levels of N, P and K across 3 elevation blocks (upstream, mid-stream, downstream) at depths 0–15 cm, 15–30 cm and 45–60 cm among local landholders in catchment, (iii) quantify effects of nutrient concentration on upstream-downstream physical and chemical water quality and, (iv) identify possible sustainable off-farm and on-farm catchment management interventions for improved downstream water quality in the catchment. Expected outcomes: These objectives will drive to development of high-resolution maps by GIS experts showing the key hotspots for nutrient pathways, provision of a database with comprehensive water quality levels and a guideline manual constituting the catchment-based practices to be implemented off-farm and on-farm thereby enhancing effective management. By fostering partnerships between African and the European universities, the investigation aim to directly contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs) specifically, the SDG 17 which encourages partnerships for the goals and, SDG 6 which aim to ensuring clean water and sanitation to all. This will be promoted through protection of the catchment from agricultural waste (runoff and nutrients) which is later discharged into the lake basin. Thirdly, SDG 13 on climate action through protection of Kibuon-Tende river bank and its wetland buffers thus promoting ecosystem-based mitigation from unpredictable events such as flooding that result from climate shocks. Lastly, the project will also contribute to SDG 15 & SDG 14 which promotes life on land and below water, respectively by ensuring conserved ecosystem and biodiversity in the catchment through reduced land degradation.
Contact: Prof. Samson Maobe (snmaobe@gmail.com / snmaobe@kisiiuniversity.ac.ke), School of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Kisii University, Kenya.
Wheat is a major food-security crop in Ethiopia, but its productivity is constrained by several fungal diseases, including Septoria diseases. However, their occurrence, distribution, severity, pathogen diversity, and environmental drivers in Eastern Ethiopia remain poorly documented. This proposed study aims to characterize the spatial and temporal epidemiology of wheat Septoria diseases across representative wheat-growing areas of Eastern Ethiopia and agro-ecologies. Multi-season field surveys will assess disease incidence and severity, while information on wheat varieties, cropping systems, agronomic practices, altitude, and environmental conditions will be collected. The study will integrate field disease observations with climatic and geographic variables to determine the factors associated with disease development. GIS, spatial analysis, statistical modelling, and machine-learning approaches will be used to identify disease hotspots and develop predictive Septoria disease-risk maps. Septoria-specific environmental thresholds will be determined. The expected outputs include a georeferenced Septoria disease database, pathogen characterization, disease distribution and hotspot maps, identification of climatic and agro-ecological risk factors, and a predictive disease-risk model. A minimum of 250 fields across 15 districts will be surveyed, and model performance will be validated using spatial cross-validation. The findings will support targeted surveillance, resistant variety deployment, improved fungicide timing, and integrated disease management, thereby contributing to a shift from reactive to predictive management of wheat Septoria diseases in Ethiopia. Moreover, the proposed study primarily contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by reducing wheat yield losses caused by Septoria diseases through predictive disease surveillance, risk mapping, and improved disease-management strategies. It also directly contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by identifying climate and environmental drivers of disease development and generating climate-informed disease-risk predictions to support adaptation. Furthermore, the study supports SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting targeted, environmentally responsible disease management and reducing unnecessary fungicide applications.
Contact: Dr. Amin Mohammed (aminmahammed@gmail.com), Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype characterized by rapid progression, high recurrence, early metastasis, and limited therapeutic options. The development of effective, affordable, and less toxic treatments is therefore urgently needed, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death characterized by gasdermin-mediated membrane pore formation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, represents a promising therapeutic strategy for TNBC. Diosmin, a naturally occurring citrus flavonoid with reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities, has not been investigated for its ability to induce pyroptosis in breast cancer. This study proposes to investigate the synergistic anticancer effects and molecular mechanisms of diosmin and ceritinib, an FDA-approved ALK inhibitor with reported pyroptosis-inducing activity, in TNBC. First, pyroptosis- and TNBC-associated hub genes will be identified through integrated bioinformatics analysis of publicly available transcriptomic datasets, protein–protein interaction networks, and functional enrichment analyses. The cytotoxic and long-term growth-inhibitory effects of diosmin and ceritinib, individually and in combination, will subsequently be evaluated in MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 TNBC cells. Pyroptosis will be characterized using biochemical, molecular, fluorescence, and immunofluorescence approaches targeting gasdermins, caspases, NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18. Finally, a THP-1-derived macrophage/TNBC co-culture model will be employed to investigate treatment-induced changes in tumor-immune interactions and cytokine responses. The study is expected to elucidate a novel diosmin-ceritinib therapeutic strategy for TNBC and provide mechanistic insights supporting the development of accessible, scalable anticancer interventions. This research directly aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being). Particularly target 3.4, by contributing to the development of innovative and accessible therapeutic strategies for cancer and reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases.
Contact: Dr. Omoboyowa Damilola Alex (Damilola.omoboyowa@aaua.edu.ng), Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria
This research which involves evaluating the critical mineral potentials of southwestern Nigeria with a comprehensive study of the lithium-rich pegmatites around Ila Orangun-Omuo Aran section of the Ilesha Schist Belt is aimed at exploring critical minerals in a special rock suite identified as pegmatites in the study area. The study area is located within the Nigerian Basement Complex and specifically existing as an integral part of the southwestern basement complex which is well noted for hosting varieties of minerals of huge economic benefits, hence for several years have since become a point of research interest for researchers and mineral explorationists. This study intends to fill a huge research gap following previous attempts by other workers as they concentrate research attentions on geological mapping of the basement rocks in the area and conduct geochemical analysis on the rocks alone without considering the need for critical minerals exploration like lithium and other associated elements in the basement rocks. It will also not just map the rocks but will give special attention to pegmatites in the study area being the target host rocks for the critical minerals like lithium, cesium and tantalum. This research intends to use an integrated or combined research methods which must include the use of current research tools and equipment in geosciences for both field and laboratory studies. Research methods that will be used include field study, remote sensing and geoinformatics, geophysical methods, laboratory studies involving petrographical and geochemical analyses. These methods are expected to achieve the various objectives already highlighted for the purpose of this research so as to obtain the expected research outcomes. This research when completed is expected to establish the pegmatite fields, ascertain the quality and quantify the volume of pegmatites in the area. This will provide a robust information on the exact locations of pegmatites in the area with respect to elucidating the geology and their classifications into various types based on the quality and grade of lithium and other critical earth elements found in the pegmatites for local, national and international economic benefits which include its’ usefulness in the manufacturing of electric cars, voltaic cells and batteries for green energy technology. This is pivotal to achieving affordable clean energy as well as actions to combat against climate change and its heavy impacts on a global scale. These two are known to be part of the key targets of the world Sustainable Development Goals agenda tagged ‘SDG 2030’. This research will certainly be of immense economic benefits as it will help to attract investors in the mineral and extractive industries locally and globally to the study area.
Contact: Dr. Jayeola Afolabi Olubunmi (afolabi.jayeola@aaua.edu.ng / jaffero2001@yahoo.com), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba - Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria
Food processing by-products in Nigeria offer significant but largely unutilized nutrient and bioactive potential, while disposal poses further challenges by consuming resources and impacting the environment. In parallel, access to affordable nutritious foods and opportunities for value addition along local food value chains continue to be significant development priorities. This project proposes the use of an integrated green biorefinery approach to convert some Nigerian food-processing by-products, including plantain/plantain peel, Ofada rice bran, and orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) peels, into valuable food ingredients and nutrient-dense functional food.
The research question is: Can the combined food-grade recovery of nutrients and bioactive compounds from multiple food processing by-products in Nigeria, offer a more nutritious, environmentally sound and economically viable alternative than current disposal or single component processing approaches?
The Nigerian researcher brings complementary expertise in indigenous foods, characterization of nutritional and phytochemical profiles, food formulation, development of functional foods and analysis of value chains. The project partner, an Austrian research partner will bring expertise in green extraction and biorefinery technologies, food processing engineering, characterisation methods, life cycle assessment, the circular bioeconomy, and techno-economic analysis. In collaboration, the project partners will design and validate research scale processes to recover protein, fibre, resistant starch, carotenoids and other nutrient-rich compounds from the by-products and to formulate these into useful functional foods relevant to Nigeria.
The project will move beyond the assumption that waste valorisation is sustainable, and instead simultaneously document both the nutritional benefits, as well as the environmental and economic viability of circularity through both nutritional, environmental and economic assessments. Nutritional quality, bioactives,safety, physicochemical and sensory properties, stability, and bioaccessibility of digested food components will be quantified. A life cycle assessment of the waste management alternatives – disposal, each process, and biorefinery, and analysis of commercialization with Nigerian small/medium enterprises (SMEs) and value chain actors will be carried out.
The project is expected to provide validated Green processing protocols, a novel ingredient platform, prototype functional food, evidence-based information on environmental sustainability and technical viability, and case studies, jointly authored publications and strengthened Nigeria-Austria research capacity. These will serve as a stepping stone for more comprehensive, larger scale projects in the long-run.
The proposed research directly contributes to SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate action) with significant co-contributions to SDG 3, 9 and 17. It contributes to an SDG-aligned, scalable locally-rooted and internationally transferable approach to circular food innovation.
Contact: Dr. Mary Bose Oyewale (mary.oyewale@aaua.edu.ng), Department of Food Science and Technology, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.
The proposal is based on my M.Sc. and PhD chemistry studies. Phytochemicals in isolated fractions from Carissa spinarum, Toddalia asitica, Physalis minima show anti-allergic compounds with established anti-allergic activity. The fractions from the investigation are preserved for further research on standardization in proposed 3 activities suggested in this call.
(i) Part I: Phytochemicals /compounds in the preserved fractions of these traditional medicinal herbs require further isolation, purification, structural elucidation and anti-allergic evaluation for the standardization. The isolation, structural elucidation requires HPLC-MS and NMR-MS or NMR, respectively. It is for the reason we request grants to carry out research in collaboration with scientists, pharmaceutical manufacturers in other countries for the purpose of accessing facilities and synergizing with expertise missing in Kenya so as to advance the study results towards drug development.
(ii) Part II: Agricultural extension and cultivation of herbs growing in wild as new commercial crops will be promoted with smallholder farmers for sustainable supply of raw materials and marketing avenues with pharmaceutical manufactures strengthened.
(iii) Part III: Other ant-allergy traditional medicinal herbs demonstrated in published PhD research data from same investigation will undergo standardization later on. The purification, structural elucidation, and biological evaluation of isolated compounds will expand chemical and pharmacological knowledge of Carissa spinarum, Toddalia asitica and Physalis minima and their potential therapeutic applications.
Contact: Moses A. G. Maobe (amoses@kisiiuniversity.ac.ke), Kisii University, Kenya
In this fast-growing world, the demands on economic advancements motivate companies to adopt innovative strategies that promote their visibility through various advertising modes in order to increase sales of products and services geared towards increasing company profitability. Sometimes though this comes at an undesirable cost. The traditional physical advertising installation strategy, while having significant commercial benefits for business visibility and pedestrian wayfinding, has also led to a massive influx of physical commercial signage, particularly in densely populated urban centers. In numerous countries globally, modern city spaces have reached a tipping point of visual and physical saturation as the case with Uganda. Physical billboards, digital screens, and small-format signs consume valuable ground and airspace, clutter city architectural landscapes, and contribute to material waste.
There is an urgent need for an alternative advertising medium that preserves the utility of commercial marketing and wayfinding without requiring permanent, physical terrestrial footprints. It is against that background of severe spatial and visual congestion caused by the massive installation of physical advertising signage that this Rainbow formation concept is being considered for exploration as a realistically viable solution.
The key research question to be considered for this concept is; How can the optical physics of the rainbow formation method be engineered to create scalable space advertising signage? The technical issues that are embedded in the question include how artificial light refraction and moisture dispersion can be controlled to project legible, stable advertising images in open air, and the environmental conditions that are appropriate for the visibility of rainbow-based space signage. Humidity, ambient light, wind speed and energy requirements or technological limitations for large-scale outdoor optical projections are some of the technical issues that are worth considering.
The contextual driver of this research concept has 3 elements namely: one; urban overcrowding which compromises the efficiency of pedestrian wayfinding facilities (Calori, 2015; Zhou et al., 2024), two; the commercial space boom driven by startups, space tourism, and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) small satellite constellations that can present viable infrastructure to host novel commercial ventures (Denis et al., 2020). Third is using atmospheric optics to bridge the gap between science and visual beauty to generate targeted illumination (Sarkar et al., 2026). This concept can be developed in an inter-disciplinary nature with expertise from Physics and optics, Space Engineering and Visual design.
This concept if actualized has the potential to completely free up physical space in congested urban centers and additionally respond to SDG 9; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11; sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 17; partnership for the goals.
Contact: Oliver Odongo (olodongo@nkumbauniversity.ac.ug), Lecturer, Visual Communication Design. School of Commercial Industrial Art and Design. Nkumba University
The steady decline in the nutritional quality of food has gone a long way to contribute to the lack of healthy food for the under-served population, especially women and children in local and underserved parts of the world. This decline in nutritional quality is especially intensified by the presence of soil borne diseases and disease-causing microorganisms.
This study aims to evaluate and understand how the nutritional value of selected crops such as cowpea, (Vigna unguiculata), cassava, (Manihot esculenta), soybean, (Glycine max), habanero pepper,(Capsicum chinense), tomato, (Solanum lycopersicum) and maize (Zea mays), are influenced by agro-ecological interventions such as crop diversification, organic amendments, reduced tillage, and cover cropping. These interventions can improve the nutritional value of the crops, the crop productivity, and the soil health. These methods can easily be employed by small-holder farmers at the barest cost. These practices will be applied singly and in combinations then the crops will be evaluated for best improved nutritional values and quality.
The optimal performing practices can be suggested as improved farming techniques to alleviate poor food quality, low productivity, and achieving the SDGs 2, 3, 12, and 15. It will also provide information on the best agro-ecological practices to reduce or limit soil borne diseases for crop production system.
Contact: Dr. Esther O. Tella (tella.esther@lcu.edu.ng , bukolatella23@gmail.com), Department of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria
Ethiopia possesses exceptional medicinal-plant biodiversity and extensive traditional knowledge of plant-based treatments for various disease including cancer. However, this valuable resource remains scientifically underexplored and insufficiently translated into advanced therapeutics. Plumbago zeylanica, widely used in Ethiopian traditional medicine, contains plumbagin, a bioactive naphthoquinone with potent anticancer activity [1]. However, its clinical translation is limited by poor aqueous solubility, rapid systemic elimination, insufficient tumor selectivity, and toxicity toward healthy tissues [2]. This international collaborative project aims to develop a multifunctional nanotheranostic platform using Ethiopian-grown P. zeylanica both as a source of plumbagin and as a biological agent for the green synthesis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Plant-derived phytochemicals can facilitate nanoparticle formation and stabilization, potentially reducing the use of hazardous chemical reagents [3]. Plumbagin will be isolated from P. zeylanica and characterized using validated analytical techniques. The green-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles and plumbagin will subsequently be incorporated into biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocarriers functionalized with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) peptide as a tumor-targeting ligand. LHRH receptor-targeted nanoparticles have demonstrated enhanced uptake and tumor accumulation in LHRH receptor-expressing breast cancer models [4,5]. The resulting nanoplatform is designed to improve the solubility, stability, controlled release, and tumor-selective delivery of plumbagin while enabling magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic-hyperthermia-assisted therapy. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are widely investigated as multifunctional materials for drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic hyperthermia [6,7]. The formulation will be characterized for particle size, morphology, surface properties, chemical composition, drug loading efficiency, release kinetics, magnetic responsiveness, imaging performance, and hyperthermia capacity. Its cellular uptake, tumor selectivity, mechanism of cell death, and anticancer efficacy will be evaluated in LHRH receptor-expressing breast cancer models and compared with free plumbagin and nontargeted formulations. The most promising formulation will subsequently be investigated in an animal tumor model to determine its biodistribution, imaging capability, therapeutic efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and systemic safety. This project will uniquely utilize a single Ethiopian medicinal plant as both the source of an anticancer compound and the biological material for green nanoparticle synthesis. It is expected to validate Ethiopia’s traditional medicinal knowledge, establish an environmentally sustainable nanomedicine approach, strengthen international research collaboration, and create a translational pathway for developing innovative cancer theranostics from African medicinal resources.
Reference
1. Tuasha, N.; Petros, B.; Asfaw, Z. Plants Used as Anticancer Agents in Ethiopian Traditional Medical Practices: A Systematic Review. Evid-Based Complement. Altern. Med. 2018, 2018, 6274021.
2. Rajalakshmi, S.; Vyawahare, N.; Pawar, A.; Mahaparale, P.; Chellampillai, B. Current Development in Novel Drug Delivery Systems of Bioactive Molecule Plumbagin. Artif. Cells Nanomed. Biotechnol. 2018, 46 (Suppl. 1), S209–S218.
3. Hamdy, N. M.; Boseila, A. A.; Ramadan, A.; Basalious, E. B. Iron Oxide Nanoparticles–Plant Insignia Synthesis with Favorable Biomedical Activities and Less Toxicity in the “Era of the Green”: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceutics 2022, 14, 844.
4. Li, M.; Tang, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Lv, S.; Li, Q.; Chen, X. Targeted Delivery of Cisplatin by LHRH-Peptide-Conjugated Dextran Nanoparticles Suppresses Breast Cancer Growth and Metastasis. Acta Biomater. 2015, 18, 132–143.
5. Xiao, K.; Liu, Q.; Suby, N.; Xiao, W.; Agrawal, R.; Vu, M.; Zhang, H.; Luo, Y.; Li, Y.; Lam, K. S. LHRH-Targeted Redox-Responsive Crosslinked Micelles Impart Selective Drug Delivery and Effective Chemotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2021, 10, 2001196.
6. Li, K.; Nejadnik, H.; Daldrup-Link, H. E. Next-Generation Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics. Drug Discovery Today 2017, 22, 1421–1429.
7. Pucci, C.; Degl’Innocenti, A.; Belenli Gümüş, M.; Ciofani, G. Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Magnetic Hyperthermia: Recent Advancements, Molecular Effects, and Future Directions in the Omics Era. Biomater. Sci. 2022, 10, 2103–2121.
Contact: Yitayal Admassu Workie (yitayal.admasu@aastu.edu.et), Industrial Chemistry Department, Nanotechnology Center of Excellence, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Ethiopia
The symbiotic relationship between entomopathogenic nematodes (specifically Steinernema spp and Heterorhabditis spp) and their bacterial partners (Xenorhabdus spp and Photorhabduss pp, respectively) has long been known for insect-killing properties. During insect infection, these bacteria produce in situ a diverse array of secondary metabolites that mediate pathogenicity, suppress host immunity, and protect the insect cadaver from competing organisms. The spectra of secondary metabolites produced differ widely among different by EPN species, under different environmental conditions and may exhibit different biological activities. Some of the secondary metabolites have antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, antiprotozoal and nematicidal properties and bioactive compounds, and may be encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) but remain largely untapped. This project proposes a systematic investigation of the diversity in native EPNs in Uganda and their symbiotic bacteria. Through application of multiple tools – metabolomics, genome mining, and bioactivity-guided fractionation – the project will seek to discover novel bacteria-derived bioactive natural products from EPN infected insects that can be exploited as antibiotics, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, etc.
Contact: Prof Herbert Talwana (herbert.talwana@mak.ac.ug), Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Makerere University, Uganda
Digital financial innovation is reshaping financial intermediation through FinTech, cryptocurrency markets, blockchain-based financial services and decentralized finance (DeFi). These developments create opportunities for financial innovation and broader participation in digital financial services, while also generating new challenges associated with market volatility, liquidity, interconnectedness, information asymmetry and technological risk.
This proposed Austria-Nigeria research project seeks to develop an integrated empirical framework combining financial econometrics, machine learning and blockchain analytics to identify and predict risks within Nigeria's emerging digital-finance environment and examine their implications for financial resilience and inclusion.
The project will combine cryptocurrency-market information, relevant DeFi and blockchain/on-chain indicators, and Nigerian financial and macroeconomic variables. Financial econometric methods will be used to analyse volatility, dependence, spillovers, interconnectedness and structural changes. Machine-learning methods will then be evaluated against appropriate econometric benchmarks to determine whether they provide additional predictive information about periods of elevated digital-finance risk. The research will also examine the implications of digital-finance risks and opportunities for financial inclusion and financial-system resilience in Nigeria.
Federal University Dutse will contribute expertise in banking and finance, financial economics, financial econometrics, FinTech, digital finance, cryptocurrency and DeFi research, machine-learning applications in finance, financial risk and the Nigerian financial system.
We seek an Austrian Africa-UniNet member institution or research group with complementary expertise in one or more of the following areas: financial econometrics, quantitative finance, financial risk, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, computational finance, FinTech, digital finance, cryptocurrency, decentralized finance, blockchain analytics, smart contracts, blockchain security, cybersecurity, network analysis or related fields.
The project is intended to develop a genuine Austria-Nigeria research partnership involving joint research design, methodology development, researcher mobility, capacity building and peer-reviewed scientific publications. Researchers from finance, economics, mathematics, statistics, computer science, information systems and related disciplines are welcome.
The project will contribute primarily to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Contact: Dr Umar Musa Kallah (umar.kallah@fud.edu.ng), Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Nigeria
