The Wellcome Trust: Funding science in Africa's universities

This week we have launched the findings of our latest study on giving to non-UK universities by Britain’s biggest charitable foundation the Wellcome Trust.

The Wellcome Trust is an extraordinary institution. With an endowment of over £28bn, it  is one of the world’s great – and biggest - philanthropic foundations. Established in 1936 by the American-born pharmaceutical entrepreneur Sir Henry Wellcome, its charitable objects were to improve human and animal health through scientific research.  The focus of its giving today is largely unchanged from 80 years ago, however, in recent years it has expanded giving to include humanities and social sciences.

Looking at the past 10 years, Wellcome Trust funding has reached around £6.23m in disbursements, of which around 5% has been allocated to non-UK universities and higher education institutions.

According to our research, 172 universities in 55 countries has received Wellcome Trust funding over the past 10 years, totalling just under £300m.   2014-15 was the high water mark in terms of Wellcome Trust giving to non-UK universities.  £55m or 8 percent of all giving went to non-UK universities.

There are a number of notable points that our research surfaced:

First, African institutions are the largest beneficiaries of its international university giving.  This makes the Wellcome Trust really unique, compared to other very large foundations which have a very strong bias to giving to North American or European universities. 

We were amazed to discover that 37% (£108.3m) of giving went to 30 African institutions (this compares to 42 North American universities receiving £40m).  Moreover, five out of the top 10 beneficiaries are Africa universities, reflecting the significance attached, it seems, by the Wellcome Trust to funding African science and research.

Second, South African universities are favoured by the Wellcome Trust when it comes to funding African higher education.  Eight institutions in South Africa received 20% of all non-UK university giving (£58.8m), and 54% of all giving to African universities. 

Third, the University of Cape Town is the biggest African recipient, receiving £24.9m funding, reinforcing its position as the darling of African universities among the great philanthropists of the world.  The Wellcome Trust helped establish and has since funded the University’s Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa. 

Compared to the Gates Foundation, philanthropy by the Wellcome Trust to international universities is relatively modest.  But it surely must be applauded for prioritising funding for African universities over already well funded universities in Europe and North America.