Research capacity and decolonization in Sub-Saharan Africa: a bibliometric analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to bear a disproportionate global disease burden while also facing significant disparities in research productivity and impact. As such, strengthening the research capacity in SSA is an urgent priority, necessitating a multifaceted assessment of the current landscape, the role of international collaboration, and the alignment of research efforts with health needs. In this study, we conducted a macro-level bibliometric analysis to assess research capacity, thematic alignment, and structural autonomy in SSA. We found that SSA accounted for approximately 15% of the global population and 21% of the global disease burden, yet it received only 2.7% of global citations in 2021. Despite increasing the research output over time, academic impact and leadership remain limited. Higher international collaboration rates were positively associated with a higher research impact, but also with a markedly greater proportion of publications without SSA researchers in key authorship positions, indicating persistent structural dependency. Researcher autonomy in SSA was substantially lower than in other regions, though slight improvements were observed during the COVID-19 period. Meanwhile, the Burden-Adjusted Research Intensity analysis showed a disproportionate concentration of research on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, a focus that was sustained--and even intensified--in SSA during the pandemic, while many other high-burden diseases, including neglected tropical diseases, remained severely under-researched. In conclusion, this study provides quantitative evidence of persistent academic dependency and misaligned research priorities in SSA, with our analyses revealing how structural inequities in international collaborations and externally driven research agendas limit local research leadership and potentially hinder effective responses to regional health needs. Achieving a more just global research ecosystem demands active decolonization efforts centered on empowering Global South ownership, necessitating the fostering of genuinely equitable partnerships, reforming of funding mechanisms to prioritize locally led research, and sustained investment in developing the local research and leadership capacity. Key messagesO_ST_ABSWhat is already known on this topicC_ST_ABSO_LISub-Saharan Africa (SSA) bears a disproportionate share of the global disease burden but has historically lagged in research output and scientific capacity. C_LIO_LIStructural and systemic barriers have long hindered the development of robust research ecosystems in SSA. C_LI What this study addsO_LISSA faces a critical mismatch between its high disease burden and its limited capacity to generate scientific research needed to address local health challenges. C_LIO_LIHigher international collaboration in SSA is correlated with both greater citation impact and diminished local leadership. C_LIO_LIThere are persistent inequities in research in SSA in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. C_LI How this study might affect research, practice or policyO_LIOur results underscore the need to focus on structural equity, in addition to the quantity and quality, in global health research. C_LIO_LITo decolonize knowledge production, international partnerships must prioritize local leadership, long-term investment, and alignment with regional health needs. RSI and BARI offer practical tools to monitor these goals and guide policy reform. C_LIO_LIEquitable research ecosystems will require both capacity building in SSA and behavioral shifts in high-income country funders and institutions. C_LI