UNESCO’s contribution to the

implementation of the AU/CPA for

science and technology

10 May 2010, BamakoWest Africa Regional workshop on STI policy

Dr Shamila Nair-BedouelleChef of Section, AU/CPA Implementation

Division for Science Policies and Sustainable Development, Natural Sciences Sector,

s.nair-bedouelle@unesco.org

Consolidated Plan of ActionAU Summit, Jan 2007

The Plan is built on three interrelated conceptual pillars:

•capacity building

•knowledge production, and

•technological innovation

Addis Declaration on S&T and Scientific Research for Development, called upon

UNESCO to assist in implementation of the CPA

UNESCO – African Union

Strategic Partnership for STI

• UNESCO leads UN S&T Cluster for the Support of AU/NEPAD Plan of Action

• UNESCO represents UN within the African Cluster for S&T

• UNESCO is a member of AMCOST Steering Committee (May 2008)

• Members of the S&T Cluster include UNESCO, UNECA, WIPO, UNIDO, UNCTAD, FAO, UNEP, ILO, WHO, UNDP, UNU-MERIT, IAEA

• Science and Technology play a vital role for addressing Africa’s most pressing needs (MDG’s, Food Security, Energy, Industries, etc.)

• Increased efforts by African Communities (AU, Ministers and Scientists) to harness S&T for Development– 2009 AU Summit endorsed the African Science,

Technology and Innovation Observatory

S&T and Africa’s DevelopmentS&T and Africa’s Development

UN Regional Development Efforts1999

•UN Secretary-General’s reform agenda

•Coherence of activities of UN agencies

•Regional consultation meetings (5 regions)

•5th Regional Consultation, May 2003 established« UN Science and Technology Cluster »

•UNESCO as Convener and UNECA as Vice Convener

UN S&T Cluster Established: 2003Members: 13 UN Agencies

ActivitiesWork closely with AU/NEPAD’s Plan of Action in Science

Assist in preparation of First AMCOST 2003, Second and Third

Contribution and support to the CPA

Align Agency activities in support of the CPA

Report of the UN S&T ClusterReport of the UN S&T Cluster Achievements, Results and Impacts

Challenges and ConstraintsLessons Learned and the Way Forward

1010thth UN RCM, Chair-Deputy Secretary General, UN UN RCM, Chair-Deputy Secretary General, UNAddis Ababa, November, 2009Addis Ababa, November, 2009

Accountability-StructuralSystemic Issues

• 4th Cluster, 4 Sept 2009, Geneva • Participation of AU/NEPAD and Chair of

AMCOST• All Agencies participation in ACST: Abuja 2008

Bujumbura 2009• UNESCO participation in AMCOST Steering

Committee/BureauAbuja 2008Bujumbura 2009

Accountability-StructuralSystemic Issues

• Secretariat: Coordinator, UNESCO, Paris

• Cluster web site @UNESCO

• AU/NEPAD and RECs invited to regional meetings of Cluster members

• Need framework for overall monitoring/evaluation of on-going S&T capacity-building activities

Coordination/CollaborationCoordination/Collaboration

Challenges and ConstraintsChallenges and Constraints • Coordination of diversity of actors in S&T

development in Africa • Need for synergies, collaboration and

communication between CPA implementers and facilitators

• Harmonization in implementation of evidence based policy making

• Harmonization of data collection and analyses- R&D indicator surveys led by AU/NEPAD

Challenges and ConstraintsChallenges and Constraints

Identification of joint “inter-agency” activities- mandates- programming cycle - funding - reporting

Mainstreaming joint activities in Science, Technology and Innovation into

ONE UN and UNDAF priorities

•African Innovation Endowment Fund, follow up to SwA, 2008, UNECA-June 2010

•Harmonization of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy reviews, « holistic » reviews (IP, innovation), UNESCO

•« Evaluation of the CPA- 5 years on »- proposed by outgoing AMCOST-Chair, UNECA, UNESCO, WIPO, UNIDO

•»STI and its contribution to the MDG’s » UNESCO/UNECA/AMCOST/AUC

« unlocking the potential of science, technology and innovation to achieve the MDGs in Rwanda » Jan 2010

Way forwardIdentification of joint “inter-agency” initiatives

UNESCO – African Union

Strategic Partnership for STI

African Cluster for Science & Technology ACST

•UNECA - Vice Chair

•UNESCO – Rapporteur

AFRICAN UNION

African Cluster for Science & Technology

• Established at AMCOST III, May 2008

“provide a single forum for coordination of activities that

contribute to implementation of the CPA”

CPA Science Policy Programmesrequests

•Creating institutional & policy arrangements to mobilize and share their resources to conduct science and generate technological innovations

•Building a critical mass of science policy advisors to African governments and the policy sector

•Build and disseminate information and experiences on science, technology and innovation policies

Promoting Innovation• UNIDO establishing  university chairs of innovation in African universities,

and implementing the « Africa Technology and Innovation Initiative » (CAMI)

• UNECA launched the African Science, Technology and Innovation Endowment Funds and the Development of the African Innovation Framework (African Ministers of Finance)

• Strengthening links between science and business: UNESCO’s University-Industry-Science Partnership The African Science to Business Challenge, UNECATechnology Parks and Incubators in Africa”, UNIDO, UNESCO UNU-MERIT GLOBELICS program: building competence in

innovation, how to measure “innovation”

• WIPO-Technical advice for national IP audits; IP and technology management; IP patent drafting; IP and knowledge transfer

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy

• UNEP support to African Ministerial Council on the Environment, African Environmental Outlook for Policymakers

• To date 20 African countries have made requests to UNESCO for assistance with the review / reformulation of their STI policy via governments and Heads of StateUNESCO implemented in collaboration with AUC and

AU/NEPAD and planned joint activities with UNIDO,WIPO, UNECA and UNU-MERIT

UNESCO’s Plan of ActionGC 2007, UNESCO’s 194 MS

Africa Group = 54MS

Capacity building in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy

Enhancing Science & Technology Education

The African Virtual Campus

CPA Science Policy Programmesrequests

•Creating institutional & policy arrangements to mobilize and share their resources to conduct science and generate technological innovations

•Building a critical mass of science policy advisors to African governments and the policy sector

•Build and disseminate information and experiences on science, technology and innovation policies

Governance of Science: role of Parliament

The need for closer co-operation among policy-makers, parliamentarians, scientists, journalists, industry (public and private) and civil society;

The setting-up of parliamentary science committees in Africa

A first Parliamentary Science Forum took place in Brazzaville March 2008

East Africa, Mombasa April 2009 (Mombasa Declaration)

STI policy, STI statistics and indicators training workshop

(UNESCO, UIS, AU/NEPAD)

-SADC, Botswana,22-26 Sept 2008

- East and North Africa, Kenya, 30March- 4 April 2009

- West Africa, Gabon, 15-20 June 2009

STI policy, STI statistics and indicators training workshop

(UNESCO, UIS, AU/NEPAD)

Chair, AMCOST, Kenya

Conclusion

UNESCO- instrument of international cooperation

Strategic partners in Africa- AU-UNECA International peace and development

can thrive through collaboration and dialogue

Maximize science as a cultural value