University

Addis Ababa University (AAU) is Ethiopia’s flagship research university and one of Africa’s oldest and most influential academic institutions. AAU maintains a distinguished history in pharmacology, microbiology, toxicology, and traditional medicine research. The university operates screening laboratories capable of evaluating antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory effects, and toxicological profiles of natural and synthetic compounds.

Within RAMDDA, AAU leads pharmacological validation and screening activities, hosting mobility scholars and supporting research that transforms isolated or synthesized compounds into biologically characterized candidates. AAU’s longstanding engagement with ethnomedicine and herbal drug research provides a rich foundation for drug discovery innovation.

UFS provides advanced chemistry and drug discovery support through broad access to modern research infrastructure, including high-end analytical and characterisation instrumentation, and established laboratory capacity across analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. UFS also maintains strong applied pathways, including a pharmaceutical R&D business unit and access to complementary campus resources such as medical faculty capabilities and drug testing facilities. UFS will lead consortium-wide impact by supporting the creation of a shared library of promising antibiotic and anticancer drug candidates, enabling joint research outputs and downstream translation.

The University of Ghana is a research-intensive institution with dedicated research and innovation support units and a strong record of participating in international research and mobility programmes. UG operates through multiple colleges and includes specialised research institutes and centres supporting learning and research (including medical and clinical research capacity). UG supports RAMDDA’s drug discovery objectives through cross-institutional collaboration, research training, and specialist technical capability (including advanced instrumentation handling and data acquisition skills within partner research groups).

ASTU is a science and technology university with a mission to advance applied sciences and engineering education and research. The university operates multiple colleges/schools and Centres of Excellence and is strengthening its research infrastructure through major investment in modern research laboratories. The Department of Applied Chemistry delivers BSc, MSc and PhD programmes with strong staff capacity and active international collaboration (including joint research and co-supervision). ASTU contributes to RAMDDA through postgraduate and staff exchange, practice-oriented curriculum development, and co-supervision of student research, alongside sending trainees to partner institutions with advanced instrumentation for specialised internships.

BIUST specializes in Engineering, Science and Technology. Within the School of Pure and Applied Sciences, the Department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences offers BSc, MSc and PhD programmes and focuses on research in natural products (medicinal plants), synthesis, bioinorganic materials, water and environment, and energy. In RAMDDA, BIUST will host postgraduate students and trainees, and collaborates with academia and research centres to provide hands-on and market-oriented experience that will strengthen practical skills. BIUST has experience in participation and in coordinating international research projects and mobility initiative

First and most established HEI in Botswana with strong postgraduate programmes and research infrastructure in chemistry and related sciences. UB hosts MSc, PhD, trainee and staff mobilities and leads RAMDDA coordination, supervision and training in physical, inorganic, organic and materials chemistry.