Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor delivered the keynote address at the launch of the Newton Fund and National Research Foundation (NRF) UK-SA Bilateral Research Chair initiative (SARChI).

The UK-SA Newton Fund and NRF Bilateral Chairs initiative aims to help to support South Africa’s transformation to a knowledge economy, boosting its International competitiveness and strengthening the country’s ability to produce excellence in postgraduate research and to advance the frontiers of knowledge through knowledge co-creation.

The SA launch of the UK-SA Bilateral Chairs initiative took place at the British Council’s Going Global Conference that took place from 3 - 5 May 2016 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Professor Thandi Mgwebi introducing the SARChI in Social Protection for Food Security, Professor Stephen Devereux of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK.

Group photo features in the front row: Professor Thandi Mgwebi, Director of Research at the University of the Western Cape, Minister Naledi Pandor, Dame Judith McGregor, and in the back row: DVC Frans Swanepoel (5th from left), Dr Stephen Devereux (behind Minister Pandor) and other SA-UK SARChIs, and members of the British Council.

Professor Thandi Mgwebi, Director of Research at the University of the Western Cape, introducing the SARChI in Social Protection for Food Security