The Future of Interdisciplinary Policy Research in Africa: A Case Study of the Transport Sector

The interaction between transport and social welfare is one of the most complex problems in Africa. It is a challenge of intertwined disciplinary issues of science — both social and natural sciences. It begs interdisciplinarity. This paper explores the future of interdisciplinarity in research on the continent through two lenses. First, through a rendering of drivers and agencies of research on the continent. Secondly, by presenting an analysis of the process of policymaking in the transport sector. Development of research in 16 countries of East, Central, and West Africa is traced back to pre-independence. An emerging model of research on the continent is presented. The model identifies weak linkages between private firms and public research institutions as the hindrance to the growth of interdisciplinarity on the continent. As regards transport policymaking, six regional policy initiatives were considered. This strand of the enquiry identifies the absence of local research entities in the policy process as the main obstacle to interdisciplinarity; the local research entities would in turn require strong private sector participation for vibrant interdisciplinary research. The paper concludes that interdisciplinarity will come to bear. It could be through a natural process of evolution, or through discrete action by donors, local political actors and universities.