The Climate Impacts Research Capacity and Leadership Enhancement (CIRCLE) programme is an initiative of the UK's Department for International Development (DFID). Managed by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the programme is a response to the shortage of local scientists contributing to knowledge on the impacts of climate change on local development in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, the principle aim of CIRCLE is to increase the volume of locally produced, high quality research products into the impacts of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing the research capacity of African scientists. CIRCLE adopted an innovative, dual approach to strengthening research capacity of both supporting individual academics to undertake research, while also working with their home institutions to develop better professional development systems. To this end, between 2014-2017, 97 CIRCLE Visiting Fellowships (CVF) were completed while 31 institutions participated in the CIRCLE Institutional Strengthening Programme (ISP). The CIRCLE Scientific Outputs Report indicates the success of CIRCLE in strengthening the research capacity of African scientists by presenting evidence of the scientific outputs of the alumni of CVF programme. Scientific outputs are defined as research products in three broad categories: (1) Scientific publications such as peer-reviewed journal articles, non-peer-reviewed journal articles, and book chapters; (2) Scientific communication such as conferences and other events; and (3) Non-academic communication such as with policy makers, businesses, and local communities. This report provides 6 key recommendations for future research capacity building programmes in sub-Saharan Africa: (1) Achieve a gender balanced pool of fellows; (2) Create international networks of support; (3) Include specific support funds for participants; (4) Conduct research capacity strengthening training; (5) Fund year-long research fellowships; and (6) Improve data collection processes for evidencing capacity strengthening. [This report is written in partnership with the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), Vitae, and the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich.]