ABOUT Alphonsus Neba

Alphonsus is the Program Director for the Catalyze Impact Initiative via Africa-led Implementation Research Platforms within the Research and Related Capacity Strengthening program (RRCS).

He has extensive expertise and experience in research and innovation program design, implementation, and oversight; research leadership capacity building; research networks design and governance; intellectual property and technology transfer management; gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion (GEDI); and research funding and grants management.

Alphonsus holds a Ph.D. (Science) and MSc (Environmental Biotechnology) degree from Rhodes University in South Africa, a Master’s degree (Information Science) from the University of Ibadan, and a BSc (Microbiology) from the University of Lagos. He is completing an MBA at Nexford University, USA, in May this year. He also holds certificates in Innovation Policy from the World Bank Institute, Intellectual Property from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and Innovation Readiness and Converting Technology to Wealth from the University of Texas at Austin.

He has held several senior-level roles across the continent, with the most recent being Deputy Director of Programs and Head of Program (Leadership in African Research Networks and Capacity Development) at the Science for Africa Foundation. He previously worked as Program Manager (DELTAS Africa) and Deputy Director of Programs at the African Academy of Sciences, Assistant Director (Technology Transfer and Research Commercialization), and Acting Assistant Director (Funding and Grants Administration) at the University of Botswana.