UNESCO’s contribution to the implementation of the AU/CPA for science and technology 10 May 2010, Bamako West Africa Regional workshop on STI policy

Dr Shamila Nair-Bedouelle

Chef of Section, AU/CPA Implementation Division for Science Policies and Sustainable Development, Natural Sciences Sector,

[email protected]

Consolidated Plan of Action AU 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)

S&T and Africa’s Development

• 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

UN Regional Development Efforts 1999

•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: 2003 Members: 13 UN Agencies

Activities

Work 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

Accountability-Structural Systemic Issues Report of the UN S&T Cluster

Achievements, Results and Impacts Challenges and Constraints Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 10 th UN RCM, Chair-Deputy Secretary General, UN

Addis Ababa, November, 2009

Accountability-Structural Systemic 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/Bureau

Abuja 2008 Bujumbura 2009

Coordination/Collaboration

• 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

Challenges 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 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

Way forward Identification of joint “inter-agency” initiatives

•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

UNESCO – African Union

Strategic Partnership for STI African Cluster for Science & Technology ACST

•

UNECA - Vice Chair

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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 Programmes

requests

•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, UNECA  Technology 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 State  UNESCO implemented in collaboration with AUC and AU/NEPAD and planned joint activities with UNIDO,WIPO, UNECA and UNU-MERIT

UNESCO’s Plan of Action GC 2007, UNESCO’s 194 MS Africa Group = 54MS



Capacity building in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy



Enhancing Science & Technology Education

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The African Virtual Campus

CPA Science Policy Programmes

requests

•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