MBABANE-Namibia has pledged continued support to Eswatini as the kingdom moves to operationalise its National Research Council (NRC) and strengthen its national research, science, technology and innovation system.
Speaking during a capacity strengthening workshop for the operationalisation of the council, Dr Nhlanhla Lupahla, General Manager for Research, Science, Technology and Innovation Coordination and Support at Namibia’s National Commission on Research, Science and Technology, said Namibia stood ready to share its experience and lessons with Eswatini.
Lupahla said Namibia regarded the establishment of the council as more than an institutional development, describing it as an important investment in Eswatini’s ability to use research, science, technology and innovation to address national development priorities.
The two countries, he noted, share historical and regional ties, as well as similarities in their institutional environments and the opportunities and challenges associated with developing national research and innovation systems.
Lupahla recalled a benchmarking visit by an Eswatini delegation to Namibia from August 20 to 24, 2024, which provided an opportunity for the two countries to exchange experiences on the legislative establishment, governance, regulations and operationalisation of a council.
He said Namibia had encountered practical challenges in implementing its own research regulations, including resistance from some sections of society and legal challenges.
“Research regulation can be contentious and at times polarising,” Lupahla said, explaining that researchers, institutions, communities, regulators, government and other stakeholders may have different interests and interpretations of responsible research.
He said Namibia’s approach had been to develop research regulation and authorisation processes through broad consultation, with the aim of creating a system that protects stakeholders while ensuring meaningful participation and shared benefits.
“We share these experiences not because Namibia has all the answers, but because we believe that our respective journeys can inform and strengthen one another,” he said.
Namibia’s support for Eswatini is also expected to extend to the continental science and research community.
Lupahla said Namibia would host the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) All Partners Meeting in Windhoek from September 27 to 3 October 2026. During the meeting, Namibia intends to support Eswatini’s admission into the SGCI network.
He said Eswatini’s participation would strengthen the country’s research ecosystem while contributing to the collective voice and capacity of science granting councils across Africa.
He also assured Eswatini that it would not have to undertake the process of building its national research system alone.
“Namibia stands ready to work with Eswatini to share what we have learned, to learn from Eswatini’s own experiences, and to support the country’s aspirations for a vibrant, credible, and impactful national research and innovation system,” he said.
Leave a comment