South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) of Tanzania hosted the second Joint Researcher’s Workshop (JWR) which ended yesterday (28 July 2015).

The workshop was held at the DUT Hotel School Conference Centre, Ritson Campus.

In April 2011, an agreement of collaboration in science and technology between the governments of South Africa and Tanzania was signed. Towards the implementation of the signed agreement, the two countries developed a programme of co-operation which sought to facilitate scientist and technological collaboration between the two countries by supporting researchers from universities, universities of technology, science councils and public research on institutes on an equal and mutually beneficial basis.

The aim of the workshop was to assess the progress attained in joint funded projects emanating from the first South Africa-Tanzania joint call for proposals to share success and challenges experienced by researchers and to facilitate networking among researchers for further collaboration.

Joseph Semone, the representative from the South African Department of Science and Technology, said his Department supports the workshop because it understands challenges faced by the African continent. “The department also request researchers to identify challenges affecting collaboration (on research) and how they can be improved,” said Semone.

John Mngondo, Acting Permanent Secretary in Tanzania’s Department of Communication, Science and Technology, said the collaboration between the two countries is important as it would allow the two countries to share their experiences, adding that researchers should address problems facing communities through their research-work.

– Mxolisi Ntanzi

Pictured: Delegates attending the 2nd South Africa-Tanzania Joint Researchers’ Workshop at the DUT Hotel School.