PARC catalyzes and nurtures the building of research programmes that model transformed partnership working and provide a basis for continued learning for such practice.
Beginning with support to Africa-led research agenda setting, PARC facilitates the identification of potential funding sources and formation of consortia; and provides technical input to support the design of research collaborations and of mechanisms to derive learning from them.
Capstone programmes are being developed in four broad areas that represent broad fields of concern and interest in the continent and relevant clusters of expertise within UoB:
- Care systems and economies
- Sexual and gender-based violence
- Water management, sanitation and hygiene
- Climate change
Additional capstone programmes may emerge in time, including from Africa-led projects funded through the PARC Partnerships Fund (PPF)
Capstone One: Care systems and economies
Work in this area seeks to develop a programme of Africa-led collaborative research that generates Africa-centred knowledges about the realities and problematics of early child- and long-term care provision in the continent, and about solutions required to develop transformative care systems that support the aspirations of individuals, communities and at national levels.
Capstone Two: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Work in this area seeks to develop a programme of Africa-led and Africa-centred collaborative research that supports the realization of commitments African countries have made to address and end gender-based violence.
Capstone Three: Water management, sanitation and hygiene
Work in this area seeks to develop a programme of Africa-led research that supports Africa-centred innovation in water management, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
Capstone Four: Climate Change
Work in this area is geared to fostering a programme of Africa-led collaborative research to slow down and mitigate effects of climate change in the continent.
With funding from the Perivoli Foundation we have supported the identification of key research priorities and the conception and implementation of ten climate-focused seedcorn projects by scientists the University of Namibia and the Namibia University of Science and Technology. Insights and further queries generated by the projects will form the basis for the development of proposals for larger, collaborative Namibia-led research.