UNESCO - FCDO Sankore Project Strengthening Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Systems and Digital Inclusion in West Africa

The Sankore Project is an initiative funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by UNESCO between March 2025 and March 2026, aimed at addressing structural weaknesses in the science, technology and innovation (ST&I) systems of Ghana and Nigeria. The project focuses on strengthening ST&I governance, supporting the operationalisation of national research funding mechanisms, enhancing institutional capacity for research commercialisation, and facilitating international collaboration, including with UK partners. It is structured around three main outputs: (i) Governance structures, operational frameworks, and sustainable funding mechanisms established to enhance ST&I partnerships with the UK and operationalise national research funds in Ghana and Nigeria; (ii) Capacity of research institutions in Ghana and Nigeria enhanced to commercialise innovative research outputs through strategic partnerships and targeted commercialisation frameworks; and (iii) ST&I Helpdesk established and operational, providing expert, demand-responsive support to FCDO enquiries. The Sankore Project is implemented through coordination between UNESCO Headquarters and Field Offices, notably UNESCO Dakar (Regional Office for West Africa) and the Field Offices in Accra and Abuja, in collaboration with national ministries, research institutions, and technical partners such as UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH). Through its work on activating research funding mechanisms, building institutional capacity for commercialisation, and encouraging international partnerships, the project seeks to create the basis for sustained, system-level improvements in national innovation ecosystems.