By Milliam Murigi
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) has marked its 25th anniversary with the unveiling of a new Knowledge Hub in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
The launch comes amid government officials calling for stronger links between research, innovation and policymaking across Africa.
The facility at Ulwazi Place is designed as a collaborative space for researchers, policymakers, development partners, private sector actors and civil society to meet, train and co-create solutions to development challenges.
“The hub will serve as a center for learning, collaboration, and co-creation. Equipped with smart conferencing facilities and collaborative innovation spaces, the hub is expected to convene researchers, policymakers, development partners, private-sector leaders, civil society actors, and young innovators from across the region,” said APHRC Executive Director Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi.
According to her, the knowledge hub is intended to help bridge the gap between research and policy by providing a platform where ideas can be translated into action. It will help strengthen the generation and application of African-led research in areas including health, education, urbanisation and climate resilience.
“This building is more than a physical infrastructure. It will be the nerve center of our vision for a truly African knowledge system. We are building a thriving intellectual ecosystem that empowers researchers, nurtures young talent, stimulates innovation, and strengthens evidence-informed decision-making across sub-Saharan Africa,” Kyobutungi said.
Speaking during the launch on behalf of Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation Principal Secretary Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak said Africa’s development trajectory would increasingly depend on its ability to generate and apply knowledge to solve complex challenges.
He said institutions such as APHRC play a central role in building stronger knowledge systems that connect research to policy and practice, particularly at a time when governments are grappling with issues such as climate change, food insecurity and digital transformation.
“Africa’s transformation will increasingly depend on our ability to generate, interpret and apply evidence to solve complex development challenges,” he said.
Prof. Abdulrazak said the establishment of the knowledge hub represents more than a physical infrastructure investment, describing it as part of a broader push to strengthen Africa’s scientific and innovation ecosystem and its capacity to shape its own development agenda.
He pointed to Kenya’s recent establishment of a standalone State Department for Science, Research and Innovation as a sign of growing political commitment to science-led development, arguing that research must be better translated into policy, innovation and commercial opportunities that create jobs.
“We must take care of the youth on the continent by creating jobs, creating wealth and reducing overdependence,” he said, adding that science and innovation must be central to economic transformation.
He also cited Kenya’s Science, Research and Innovation (SRI) Synergy Blueprint, a Sh500 billion framework aimed at streamlining the country’s research ecosystem, reducing duplication and improving access to research infrastructure across institutions.
Prof. Abdulrazak said the initiative reflects a broader effort to strengthen collaboration between government, academia, industry and development partners to improve the impact of science, technology and innovation.
“This knowledge infrastructure investment comes at a pivotal moment for Africa’s scientific and innovation landscape across the continent. There is a growing recognition that sustainable development and economic transformation must be anchored in a strong, national and regional research ecosystem,” he said.
However, he acknowledged persistent challenges in Africa’s research landscape, including limited data generation and underutilization of locally produced evidence in policymaking. He said improving data systems and interpretation would be critical for more informed decision-making.
The launch brought together government officials, diplomats, development partners, academics and civil society representatives, highlighting growing efforts to strengthen collaboration in Africa’s knowledge economy.
