CSIR-STEPRI

Science and Technology Policy Research Institute

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Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), GHANA

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana is represented in the CEA-FIRST consortium by the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI). CSIR-STEPRI is one of the thirteen (13) institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Ghana. The primary mission of CSIR-STEPRI is to provide the research support necessary for the formulation and implementation of science, technology and innovation (STI) policies and programmes for socio-economic development.

CSIR-STEPRI’s Research Programmes are pursued in six broad areas:

  1. Emerging Technologies (e.g. Biotechnology, Nanotechnology etc.) Policy Studies
  2. Existing STI including Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Policy Studies
  3. Technology Assessment, Management and impact evaluation Studies
  4. Agriculture and Environment Policy Studies
  5. Studies on industry and services (e.g. mining, manufacturing, financial services, food services, health services)
  6. Promotion of STI and its application

 

CSIR-STEPRI is strategically positioned in the policy space with highly qualified and motivated multi-disciplinary staff with backgrounds in Social Sciences, Life sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Economics, Business Management, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Economics, Communication, Development Studies, Leadership and Enterprise Governance. The multi and interdisciplinary capabilities enable CSIR-STEPRI to undertake multidisciplinary research which is guided by its core values i.e. Teamwork, Hard Work and Excellence (T. H. E). CSIR-STEPRI has effectively designed, coordinated, and implemented several research and intervention projects including those in collaboration with other institutions. The institute recently coordinated and led the revision of Ghana’s STI policy. CSIR-STEPRI has been involved in the implementation of EU-funded projects such as CAAST-Net, CAAST-Net Plus, LeapAgri and LEAP4FSSNA. It is also currently participating in the EU funded StEPPFoS and FS4Africa projects.

 

Activities

CSIR-STEPRI contributes to the project mainly through Work Packages WP3 and WP5 and will lead the development of an engagement strategy with policy makers as well as a position paper on the compliance of national policies with the FNSSA Roadmap. CSIR-STEPRI is also supporting Task 1.5 (Development of Gender and youth specific strategies), Task 4.2 (FNSSA Partnership & IRC MEL Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting) and Task 6.1 (Coordination of the Implementation of IRC Secretariat functions).

 

People

Dr. Rose Omari is a Principal Research Scientist and Deputy Director of CSIR-STEPRI. She has dynamic expertise in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating multidisciplinary research and interventions particularly in food and nutritional sciences while integrating social science perspectives. She worked as a long-term consultant assisting FARA, under the Building Nutritious Food Basket Project, in coordinating policy engagement and advocacy at regional and sub-regional levels for increased investment in biofortification to reduce micronutrient deficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa. She has successfully led several projects as a Principal Investigator including Developing a National Policy and Technical Regulation for Aflatoxin Control in Food and Feed, Assessment of enablers and barriers to women’s participation in engineering and STI research, Enhancing farmers’ uptake of digital technologies, and Effects of women’s time use on household nutrition

Mavis Akuffobea-Essilfie (f) Dr. Mavis Akuffobea-Essilfie is an accomplished sociologist and gender specialist with extensive experience in research, policy development, and advocacy, particularly in the areas of gender equity, climate resilience, and agricultural innovation in Ghana. Currently serving as a Senior Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI), She has led numerous gender-focused projects, including collaborations with international organisations such as the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Swedish Research Council, and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). Her work often emphasises empowering women, addressing gender inequalities, and promoting sustainable development through policy and community engagement.

 

Diana Amoni Ntewusu (f), Research Scientist at CSIR-STEPRI, Ghana. She has a wide range of experience focusing on the areas of sociology of health, illness and healthcare as well as health services administration.

Ibrahim Kwame Asante is a Research Scientist at CSIR-STEPRI with over 15 years’ experience in coordinating, facilitating and managing international projects. He is a Stakeholder Engagement Expert with enormous international experience including a broader understanding of the European-African relationship as well as other international relations. Some of the projects he has worked on include but not limited to; a) Long-term European-African Partnership for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (LEAP4FNSSA, b) CONNECT Ghana Project: conducted a study in mainstreaming biodiversity into the heart of government decisions [Sponsored by GEF], c) Developing a National Policy and Technical Regulation for Aflatoxin Control in Food and Feed [Sponsored by AGRA].

Fati Saaka (f), Assistant Research Scientistt at CSIR-STEPRI, Ghana with over 5 years’ experience in gender studies, climate change and development.