The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed up to $24 million to establish a Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) at the University of Chicago's independent research organization, NORC. The RTAC is a new award under the portfolio of USAID's Higher Education Solutions Network program, and will run from 2018 until 2022.

Makerere University was on 9th November 2012 chosen in a groundbreaking partnership; the Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN), together with six other top American Universities. Implemented at Makerere University through the ResilientAfrica Network (RAN), the partnership was designed to develop innovative solutions to global development challenges.

According to the press release published on USAID's website on 2nd August 2018, under the RTAC consortium, RAN will join ten other institutions to “build a global network of university researchers to provide USAID with rapid-response, on-demand research expertise.”

Click here to access the full press release