Application Deadline: November 10, 2018
The African Union Commission is committed to ensure that science, technology and innovation contribute to our sustainable development efforts. The Constitutive Act, establishing the African Union, recognizes the need to advance the development of Africa by promoting research in all fields, and in science and technology in particular.
The Commission, through its Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology implements a strategic science and technology development programme through the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA-2024), aimed at contributing to the wellbeing and improved quality of life for the African citizens as articulated in the African Union Agenda 2063. In January 2007, the AU Heads of State and Government “declared 2007 as the launching year for building constituencies and champions for science, technology and innovation in Africa”.
The programme is implemented at national level for young researchers, regional level for women scientists and continental level open to all scientists. The Continental level is the
highest level of the programme. The objective is to give out science awards to top African
scientists for their achievements and valuable discoveries and findings in science, technology and innovation. AUKNASE reflects and underscores a success story and the critical role of
science and technology in the development and integration of Africa. Under this programme
prizes are awarded to top African scientists in each of the following two sectors
(a) Life and Earth Science and innovation; and
(b) Basic Science, Technology and Innovation at the national, regional and
continental levels.
The African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence Programme is implemented using the set of rules of procedure.
The African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence Programme (AUKNASE) shall be organized at three levels:
1. Continental Level where two awards of USD 100,000 are given to African pioneer scientists
2. Regional Level where two African women scientists per each of the five
geographical regions of Africa are given USD 20,000 each, and
3. National Level dedicated to young African researchers, where two
prizes are given per country and the value of the prizes is determined by the African Union Commission
Eligibility Requirements:
- To be eligible for the African Union Scientific Awards nominees shall be African scientists who have made remarkable achievements, demonstrated by number and quality of their publications, number of trained research graduate students, applicability of the scientific work to Africa’s challenges, and its patentability. The award is intended to recognize those who demonstrate excellence in research of relevance to the developmental needs of the continent.
- Only nationals of the African Union (AU) Member States are eligible to participate in these Awards;
- Nominees shall be Africans residing in any of the AU member states and can be nominated only for achievements based on work conducted in an African country.
Nominations:
- Online Nominations ( on the on-line system…..) will be invited from any institution in the continent, from universities, research institutions, professional bodies, academies, industrial establishments, and so on.
- Nominations may be received from:
- individuals who may be senior individuals of the same or higher rank than the nominee;
- Heads of institutions who may have their own formalized procedure for nomination, chairpersons of committees who review the achievements of scientists in their institutions;
- The nominator is required to show the importance and impact of the research of the applicant. The focus will be on the quality of the work and not necessarily the number of publications. Thenominator should provide a narrative presentation (up to five pages) of the importance, relevance, quality and impact of the work. A full CV as well as 5- 10 copies of best publications are to be submitted together with the Nomination Form.
- All successfully completed nominations on the will be automatically acknowledged.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence