The Association of African Universities is a member of a consortium implementing the Project, titled The Promotion of Research, Innovation and Digital Culture in Central Africa (PRICNAC)’ Project.   

PRICNAC, is a four-year initiative, targeted at improving Central African countries’ research and innovation capacities. It focuses on consolidating innovation ecosystems, productive synergies, entrepreneurship, digital technologies, and innovation policies in the interests of sustainable development and poverty reduction. It also aims to create the platform for the discussion of best practices and strengthening of professional ties among the participating countries.   

Other institutions involved in the implementation of this high impact project include the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), Obreal Global Observatory, African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES), and the Network of Experts in Educational Engineering of Central Africa and the Great Lakes. 

Through this project, the AAU and partners aim to (i) Link research-innovation systems in Central Africa with those of the entire African continent, as well as with Europe and other developing regions in the world, with a view to sharing good practices. (ii) Promote social, solidarity and inclusive entrepreneurship for young people, in order to promote employability and their social inclusion. (iii) Create a permanent PRICNAC network in order to strengthen the links between the different actors of innovation in Central Africa. 

 PRICNAC is running for a period of 48 months (January 2021 – January 2025) , with a total investment of EUR 4,151,509. It is funded by the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the European Union under the ACP Innovation Fund and is being implemented in Eight (8) countries a follows – Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sao Tome and Principe, and Chad.  

In the Central African sub-region, PRICNAC has launched a micro-projects initiative, with each of the selected micro-projects receiving funding for a period of 10 to 14 months. At the local level, these micro-projects will bring together many stakeholders for various purposes including learning and sharing, networking, exchange of best practices, among others. During the first phase of the project, twelve (12) projects will be funded. Following that, some micro-projects may obtain further funding to ensure their sustainability and impact consolidation. The maximum amount of funding will be 150,000 euros per project over 10 to 14 months. Again, the micro-projects that will be selected at the first phase of the project will form a network called “PRICNAC Network” which will be operational during and after the project PRICNAC, and will subsequently be further developed by its members. 

PRICNAC will also feature cross-cutting activities, monitoring and networking for project beneficiaries as well as training courses in innovation, research and entrepreneurship, adapted to local needs. 

 For more details about the project, please click here.