Evaluation of the Research Capacity Building Program ‘Strengthening of FNI as National Research Fund’

Sammanfattning

This report presents the findings of the evaluation of Swedish support for the National Research fund of Mozambique (FNI). It assesses what has worked well and less well, with the aim of providing Sida with input to a new phase of contribution. The team found that priorities of FNI to support research initiatives are in line with priorities of the Mozambican government in strengthening science, technology and innovation, and relevant to the Swedish Strategy for research in development cooperation. FNI’s organisational capacity has improved and stakeholders recognise FNI as a professional and well-connected institution. However, in the spread of FNI’s Swedish-funded grant portfolio, social, economic and political sciences are weakly represented, limiting relevance of FNI to more society-oriented research. Expanding research initiatives regionally and internationally, and maintaining a high-profile presence in these networks are crucial for the sustainability and further growth of FNI. Recommendations are given for Sida to continue its support, so FNI can become a transformational change instrument in the higher education and research environment in Mozambique and internationally.

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