Africa’s scientists are increasingly at the forefront of addressing some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to water security, pollution, and sustainable food systems. As the continent navigates these complex challenges, African research is generating innovative solutions that can shape a more sustainable future for both Africa and the world.
The African Planet Prize (APP), implemented by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) in partnership with the Frontiers Research Foundation, recognizes outstanding African led research that contributes to keeping humanity within the Earth’s planetary boundaries. Through this initiative, the Academy is helping spotlight transformative science while strengthening connections between researchers, institutions, policymakers, and industry.

In this Q&A, Dr. Rowland Opisa, Senior Programme Officer at AAS and Project Lead for the African Planet Prize, reflects on the vision behind the prize, the achievements of its inaugural cycle, and the growing role of African scientists in advancing sustainability solutions.

Dr. Rowland Opisa PhD.  is a Senior Programme Officer at AAS and Project Lead for the African Planet Prize, shares insights into the vision behind the prize, the impact of its inaugural cycle, and what lies ahead for African scientists working on sustainability solutions.

What is the African Planet Prize and why is it important?
The African Planet Prize is an initiative of the African Academy of Sciences delivered in partnership with the Frontiers Research Foundation as part of the global Frontiers Planet Prize ecosystem.
The prize shines a spotlight on Africa led scientific breakthroughs that contribute to solutions for planetary sustainability. These include research addressing climate stability, biodiversity protection, water and food security, pollution reduction, and other areas linked to the Earth’s nine planetary boundaries.

At its core, the prize recognizes that science must play a central role in securing a sustainable future for humanity. By identifying and celebrating outstanding research from across the continent, the African Planet Prize helps elevate African scientific leadership while also connecting researchers with global networks working on sustainability challenges.

What role do you play in implementing the African Planet Prize?
As the project lead for the African Planet Prize at the African Academy of Sciences, my role focuses on three main areas. The first is strategic oversight, ensuring that the programme aligns with the Academy’s mission of advancing science that transforms lives across Africa. 

The second is technical coordination, which involves guiding the scientific and operational processes of the prize, working with institutions across the continent, ensuring the integrity of the nomination and evaluation processes, and supporting the review of outstanding research submissions.

The third is programme stewardship, ensuring that the prize delivers value to researchers, institutions, and the broader sustainability ecosystem. Ultimately, our aim is to build a platform that not only recognizes excellent science but also connects African research to real-world solutions and global sustainability debates.

What were some of the highlights from the first cycle of the prize?
The inaugural cycle of the African Planet Prize has been extremely encouraging. One of the most exciting achievements has been the strong engagement from institutions across Africa. We were able to map and involve around 100 universities and research institutions across the continent, many of which are now actively contributing to research addressing planetary challenges.

Another highlight has been the enthusiasm from African researchers, particularly early career scientists. Many of them are working on cutting-edge solutions related to climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity protection, and environmental restoration.

The prize has also demonstrated the depth of African scientific talent. The research being recognized through the African Planet Prize shows that scientists across the continent are producing globally relevant knowledge that can help guide sustainable development pathways.

What lessons have emerged from the inaugural cycle?
One important lesson is that Africa’s research landscape is both dynamic and diverse, and there is enormous potential to involve even more institutions and countries.  While the first cycle focused on a limited number of participating countries as part of a pilot phase, Africa has more than fifty countries and a rapidly growing scientific community. Expanding participation will therefore be a key priority moving forward.

Another lesson relates to accessibility and inclusion. Language barriers and differences in institutional capacity sometimes affect participation, particularly across Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone regions. To address this, we are strengthening our engagement with institutions and ensuring that communication materials and calls for participation are more widely accessible.

How does the African Planet Prize support early career researchers?
Early-career researchers are central to the vision of the African Planet Prize. Many young scientists across Africa are working on innovative research but often lack opportunities for recognition and visibility at the global level. The prize helps address this by providing a platform that highlights their work and connects them with international networks.

By recognizing outstanding research and supporting dialogue between scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders, the prize helps create pathways for research to move beyond academic publications and contribute to practical solutions for society.

How does the African Planet Prize contribute to global sustainability efforts?
The African Planet Prize is part of a broader global effort to mobilize science around the planetary boundaries’ framework, which defines the environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate.

Research recognized through the prize contributes to addressing critical global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and sustainable resource management.
By elevating African research within this global conversation, the prize ensures that African perspectives, innovations, and solutions are part of shaping the future of sustainability science worldwide.

What comes next for the African Planet Prize?
The next phase of the African Planet Prize will focus on expanding participation, strengthening institutional networks, and deepening the impact of the initiative. We want to see more universities, research institutions, and scientists from across the continent engaging with the prize. We also want to strengthen the connections between research, policy, and practice so that scientific discoveries translate into meaningful societal change.

Ultimately, our vision is for the African Planet Prize to become a continental platform that showcases Africa’s scientific leadership while contributing to global solutions for planetary health.