PlantBio is a grant-making initiative from the South African Department of Science and Technology. It aims to develop a strong and sustainable plant biotechnology sector in South Africa by promoting new products and services, incubating commercial programmes and new businesses, building scientific capacity and developing human resources.

PlantBio prioritises technologies aimed at alleviating poverty and improving food security — for example, biofertilisers, plant breeding, tissue culture and genetic modification. The organisation encourages collaborating institutes to build national capacities and consolidate costs.

It publishes information on how to apply for funding and hosts a useful page of links to South African biotech investors, business incubators, funding agencies and service providers.

The Scholarly Communication in Africa Programme (SCAP), funded by the International Development Research Centre in Canada works with African universities to increase the visibility of African academic research published in print and online. Based at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, the initiative explores ways of increasing the quality and output of scholarly communication through information-sharing technologies. The website hosts a blog that discusses issues surrounding the communication of research for development. It also provides information about relevant conferences, news, research and business models for publishing.

The Scholarly Communication in Africa Programme (SCAP), funded by the International Development Research Centre in Canada works with African universities to increase the visibility of African academic research published in print and online. Based at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, the initiative explores ways of increasing the quality and output of scholarly communication through information-sharing technologies. The website hosts a blog that discusses issues surrounding the communication of research for development. It also provides information about relevant conferences, news, research and business models for publishing.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems is a special focus of the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa. The NRF aims to: develop theoretical and methodological paradigms within which to understand the specific characteristics of IK; shed light on the role of IK in nation-building; develop research capacity in the field of IK in South Africa.

The Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) is a regional seasonal weather outlook prediction and application process adopted by the fourteen countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States.

The site provides access to weather forecasts and climate predictions and features weather warnings, mid-season rainfall analysis and rainfall review reports to mitigate extreme climatic conditions.

The principal aim of TWAS is to promote scientific capacity and sustainable development in the South through research as well as South–South and North–South collaborations. It was founded in 1983 by a group of Southern scientists, under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam, as an autonomous international organisation. Fellows are citizens of the South; associate fellows are citizens of the North who were born in the South or have made significant contributions to science in the South.

AARSE is a nongovernmental network of African scientists and professionals working in remote sensing and geographic information systems. It holds a biannual conference and runs regional and local seminars and workshops on how to use remote sensing for environmental studies.

The AARSE website publishes contact details of council members, news about developments in remote sensing that are relevant to Africa and a list of events among other information.

The DRFN provides research-based advice and training aimed at sustainable development policymakers in southern Africa. The organisation's areas of focus include managing rangelands and livestock, water, energy efficiency and combating land degradation and desertification. The DRFN also helps raise public awareness of deserts and desertification.

IARC's mission is to undertake research on the causes of human cancer, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific strategies for cancer control. It develops strategies at a theoretical level, however, and does not get involved in direct implementation nor contribute to the formulation of policies or legislation. The agency also does not on the whole contribute to research in to cancer treatments.

The agency publishes several key publications on epidemiology (especially of the disease in developing countries), pathology and genetics. To encourage research, the agency offers several fellowships, scholarships and training courses.

This informal network, part of the University of Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health, brings together over 100 organisations working to promote and scale up adoption of practices and technologies that improve drinking water quality for vulnerable populations.

By providing information and promoting independent research, the network aims to reduce water-related diseases by promoting water treatment and safe water storage at the household level. The website provides an overview of the network, working groups and guiding principles. It lists participating organisations and relevant events, and publishes a monthly newsletter.

UNEDRA promotes collaboration among African universities in disaster risk reduction using remote sensing and geoinformation.

It publishes online training courses, runs regional workshops and provides advice on curricula development, among other activities. Information on its activities and achievements is made available through the UNEDRA website together with a list of participating universities and contact information for organisations wishing to join the network.

After the release of the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2001, UNEP and GRID Arendal published this set of 25 graphics focused on the special challenges that Africa faces due to expected long term climate change. 

Three sections cover the evidence of change in Africa, the science driving these changes, and vulnerability to — and trends in — extreme events on the continent. The graphics also show the severity of climate impacts on fresh water, human health, and food in Africa.

WaterLex is an international organisation that aims to improve water governance using a human rights-based approach. It aims to involve people at the local level and from a range of sectors, to achieve sustainable access to water — particularly for poor and vulnerable populations. Its website hosts an Online Campus, which offers e-courses in water governance and human rights, as well as news, free-access resources, a discussion forum and information on how to sign up as a member.