The Global Innovation Fund and South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation announce partnership to scale high-impact innovations in Africa.

The Global Innovation Fund (GIF) and South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) today announced the renewal of their partnership, reinforcing their shared commitment to supporting and scaling innovations that improve lives across the African continent.

Announced at Science Forum South Africa 2025, the renewal reflects the close alignment between DSTI’s mission to harness science, technology and innovation for South Africa’s socioeconomic development, and GIF’s commitment to identifying and scaling innovations to improve the lives of people living in low- and middle-income countries. The partnership will leverage the expertise and capital of both organisations to support high-impact, scalable innovations addressing some of Africa’s most pressing development challenges, from improving livelihoods and health outcomes to promoting economic inclusion and climate resilience.

The partnership will also provide opportunities to share expertise in areas such as impact assessment, scaling high-potential innovations, fundraising strategies, and shaping the broader innovation ecosystem. 

GIF CEO, Joseph Ssentongo, said: 

“We are excited to deepen our partnership with DSTI, building on our shared commitment to supporting innovations that make a real difference for communities across Africa. By combining GIF’s experience in scaling  promising innovations with DSTI’s expertise and networks, we can help more innovations reach the people who need them most, while advancing economic inclusivity and climate resilience across the continent.”

The DSTI's Deputy Director-General for Socio-economic Innovation Partnership, Dr Mmboneni Muofhe, said:

"The renewal of this partnership with the GIF is firmly aligned with South Africa's STI Decadal Plan, which prioritises inclusive development and innovation-driven growth.  By leveraging this collaboration, we aim to strengthen policy frameworks that support evidence-based decision-making, accelerate the scaling up of high-impact innovations, and ensure that investments deliver measurable socio-economic benefits.  This partnership is a strategic step toward achieving the Decadal Plan's objectives of addressing poverty, inequality, and unemployment while fostering resilience and sustainability across Africa."

By working together, GIF and DSTI aim to scale innovations that foster sustainable development and create lasting impact for people across the continent.