There is an age-long relationship between research and policy development and vice versa. In recent years, research has assumed growing importance in Africa. However, this growing hunger for research has borne little policy development impact owing to lack of capacity and genuine desire to solve societal problems. Most often than not, African researchers are influenced by narrow immediate personal benefits of research without the desire to drive policy development. Similarly, most African policymakers are more mindful of acknowledging and promoting their personal interests than embracing research that benefits society. The fall out of these is the difficulty in the supply, uptake and use of quality research for policy development. This paper will discuss personal interests as the main challenge to African research and policy development and proffer suitable solutions.
Keywords: Africa, Policy Development, personal interests, research evidence
