SAYPRO – NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NRF) PARTNERSHIP

Overview of the Partnership

The SAYPRO – National Research Foundation (NRF) Partnership is envisioned as a collaborative initiative that merges the strengths of Southern Africa Youth Project (Neftaly) in youth development and skills training, with the research, innovation, and funding mandate of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.

This partnership focuses on empowering young people—particularly from disadvantaged communities—with access to research opportunities, innovation ecosystems, data literacy, and national/international knowledge production. Through shared resources, joint programming, and strategic alignment, Neftaly and NRF aim to contribute to South Africa’s knowledge economy and youth inclusion in science, technology, innovation, and policy development.

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???? Key Objectives

1. Promote Youth Participation in Research and Innovation
   • Encourage young people from historically marginalized areas to participate in research-led development.
   • Equip youth with tools and access to NRF platforms, research grants, and mentorships.
2. Support Youth-Led Community Research Initiatives
   • Through Neftaly’s community networks, facilitate locally-led studies in public health, education, employment, and social change.
   • Enable data collection, surveys, and participatory research aligned to NRF’s thematic priorities.
3. Strengthen Evidence-Based Youth Programmes
   • Use NRF research frameworks to inform Neftaly’s programme designs and policy advocacy.
   • Embed scientific monitoring and evaluation models into Neftaly’s interventions.
4. Bridge Academic Research and Practical Youth Development
   • Connect NRF-funded researchers with Neftaly youth beneficiaries to translate research findings into practical solutions.
   • Pilot innovations at grassroots levels and scale-up effective models through government and donor support.
5. Develop Skills and Human Capital for the Future
   • Create pathways for Neftaly learners to access NRF bursaries, internships, postgraduate fellowships, and research chairs.
   • Deliver training in data science, environmental research, social innovation, and academic writing.

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???? Areas of Focus

Focus Area	NRF Role	Neftaly Role
Youth Research Hubs	Provide funding and technical assistance to establish research incubators	Facilitate community mobilisation, manage hubs, and train youth
STEM Awareness	Design national science campaigns and platforms like SAASTA	Implement school-based and community STEM activation events
Digital and Data Literacy	Offer open data tools, software, and policy research access	Train youth in data collection, analysis, visualisation
Academic Bridging	Support youth access to NRF-funded universities and research centres	Provide preparatory training, career guidance and application assistance
Social Innovation Labs	Fund prototypes and research-based innovation labs	Mobilize youth entrepreneurs, design pilots, and evaluate impact

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???? Potential Collaborative Programmes

• Youth Research Fellowship Programme
  Jointly offer research scholarships and mentorship to youth aged 18–35 interested in social sciences, climate action, education reform, and innovation.
• National Youth Science and Policy Week
  Co-host annual research expos, science fairs, and policy dialogues featuring youth-led solutions and NRF-supported research.
• Community Evidence-Based Research Series
  Conduct grassroots research projects on issues such as poverty, gender equity, mental health, and employment—co-authored by youth and academics.
• SAYPRO Research Portal (Powered by NRF)
  Develop an online portal for young people to access NRF-aligned research tools, online training, e-learning modules, grant calls, and research jobs.

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???? Benefits of the Partnership

For Neftaly:

• Access to national research funding and technical expertise
• Enhanced credibility and research capacity
• Ability to influence national policy through evidence-based youth engagement

For NRF:

• Broaden reach into underrepresented communities
• Leverage Neftaly’s grassroots access and youth networks
• Contribute to inclusive transformation of the national research agenda

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????️ Implementation Considerations

• MOU or Framework Agreement: Define the legal and operational scope of cooperation
• Joint Steering Committee: Oversee program alignment, M&E, and reporting
• Community Engagement Protocols: Ensure ethical standards in research involving youth
• Funding and Resource Mobilisation: Jointly apply for local and international donor support
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Use NRF research standards and Neftaly field insights for continuous improvement

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???? Long-Term Vision

“To cultivate a generation of African youth who are not only beneficiaries of research, but also producers of knowledge, innovators of change, and leaders in scientific transformation.”

The Neftaly–NRF Partnership could ultimately serve as a national model for integrating civil society in South Africa’s science and technology development agenda, aligning well with the National Development Plan (NDP 2030) and the Decadal Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation.