Science and technology for African development

08 June 2005

The national science academies of the G8 nations and the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) have signed a statement on science and technology for African development warning that attempts to tackle some of Africa's most pressing problems will fail unless developed countries help to build science in Africa. 
The statement calls on world leaders, including those meeting at the G8 summit at Gleneagles in July 2005 to follow the recommendations outlined:

  • Recognise that science, technology and innovation underpin success and sustainability in all aspects of international development in Africa, including poverty alleviation and economic growth as well as in areas such as health and agriculture.
  • Recognise that investment in a countrys own science capabilities, along with development of merit-based processes and institutions, are essential to the successful use of science, technology and innovation in Africa, and are fundamental to sound policy-making, good governance and industrial development.
  • Recognise that for innovation, growth and policy-making in Africa, it is fundamental to promote and develop an environment that encourages knowledge to be produced, communicated and applied to a nations needs.
  • Help revitalise African universities and support the development of centres of excellence in science, engineering and technology, including African institutes of technology.
  • Explicitly build development of science, technology and innovation capacity into international assistance programmes, including those for specific development sectors, and ensure that these initiatives are African-led and sensitive to social and cultural diversity.
  • Encourage the transfer and sharing of scientific, technological and innovation excellence between the developed and developing worlds, as well as among developing world nations.
  • Identify explicit funds for science, technology and innovation capacity building in Africa.
  • Continue to keep the development of science, technology and innovation capacity on the G8 agenda in forthcoming years.

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