Human Sciences Research Council

The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.

Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.

The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. Research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.

The HSRC’s integrated research divisions provide single points of entry – complete with a critical mass of researchers – for interdisciplinary and problem-orientated research.

The organisation is home to about 500 staff members, all dedicated to support the conducting of 150-200 research projects per year on social science and humanities research. Our dedicated professional researchers, located in four provinces, are supported by a strong physical and institutional infrastructure, including technical and support positions, deployed countrywide to enable the organisation to respond efficiently and comprehensively to research needs.

On another level, the HSRC seeks to serve as a knowledge hub to bridge the gap between research, policy and action, thereby increasing the impact of research. This role is implemented through collaboration with key constituencies, including government and other research organisations, multilateral agencies, universities, and non-governmental, donor and development organisations. These relationships are being strengthened by the fact that many of our leading researchers serve on international scientific bodies.

We have a strong footprint in other African countries through our affiliation with CODESRIA, participation in SADC and NEPAD, as well as hosting African Research Fellows in the organisation.

The HSRC is the largest research institution shaping technology debate and policy in South Africa. The HSRC has a consolidated relationship of trust and influence with various government departments and parliamentary committees, with a history of co-creating knowledge with policy makers; translating rigorous interdisciplinary research into policy evidence, recommendations and action-plans; and bringing critical humanities perspectives into mainstream policy thinking.

For more information, visit www.hsrc.ac.za