National Research Priorities Themes

The National Research Priorities are categorized into four theme areas which are:

1. The Social Sciences and Humanities

[Understanding who we are as a nation, what we want, need and where we want to be in the future. Directing research to deliberately shape our future]

Goals

• Strengthening Zimbabwe social and economic fabric
• Strengthening national policy making processes
• Understanding our region and the world
• Intellectual property rights in Zimbabwe

2. Sustainable Environmental and Resource Management

[Improving the way we utilize our land, water, mineral and energy resources through a better understanding of human and environmental systems and the use of new production technologies, as well as aerospace and other sensing technologies]   

Goals

• Bringing together Zimbabwe’s System of Science, Technology and Innovation
• Transforming Agriculture
• Value addition to Zimbabwe’s Natural Resources
• Water as a critical resource (availability and utilisation)
• Overcoming land degradation
• Sustainable use of Zimbabwe’s ecosystem including forests and biodiversity
• Understanding and developing deep earth resources
• Responding to climate change and variability
• Developing sustainable energy resources

3. Promoting and Maintaining Good Health

[Promoting good health and well being for all Zimbabweans]

Goals

• A Healthy start to life: countering impacts of genetic, maternal, social and environmental factors which dispose infants to ill-health and reduce their well being and life potential
• Preventive health care
• Increasing access to health facilities
• Revitalising Zimbabwe’s National health delivery system

4. National Security of Zimbabwe

[Safeguarding Zimbabwe from terrorism, crime, invasive diseases and pests, strengthening our understanding of Zimbabwe’s place in the region and the world, guarding the proper exploitation of our natural resources and securing our infrastructure] 

Goals

• Protecting Zimbabwe from terrorism and crime
• Protecting Zimbabwe from invasive diseases and pests
• Guarding the beneficial utilisation of Zimbabwe’s resources
• Safeguarding critical infrastructure
• Transformational defence technologies.