Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of research collaborations between UK universities and stakeholders in Africa on the level of UK influence in that continent.

We have a strong record of collaboration in science and technology with a history of using our scientific strengths, world-renowned finance and tech sectors, and global partnerships to uncover solutions to global challenges. We have witnessed first-hand the effectiveness of scientific collaboration during the covid-19 pandemic and how transparency can open diplomatic dialogue and accelerate solutions to our shared problems. We have decades of partnership with Africa's leading universities and science institutions including the Science Foundation for Africa with support to 14 consortia with 75 institutions across 36 countries in Africa including countries in the Sahel. These research partnerships can help to open doors to more complex diplomatic conversations on issues like freedom and democracy, and LGBT rights.