SHAUKAT ABDULRAZAK

The annual conference on the state of Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa – Implication for achieving the MDGs took place in Cairo last month and official launch of the African Manifesto for Science and Technology and Innovation.

The manifesto was prepared by the African Technology and Policy Studies Network (ATPS) under the auspices of the Science, Ethics and Technological responsibilities in Developing and Emerging Countries project.

In my opinion the manifesto is indeed an endeavour towards self-rule in STI in Africa. For long, we have argued that STI agenda in Africa is being set by others — and forced on us.

Here is an opportunity for us to embrace a road map set out by Africans, in Africa, for Africa. It is common knowledge that Africa remains amongst the poorest and most economically marginalised continent.

The manifesto envisions a new renaissance in Africa, a new world order in which there is self and democratic governance of STI in Africa for African development. It sets out three core actions required to achieve this vision, namely restoration of confidence in African STI and African expert by Africans; concerted public and private investment in building sustainable STI infrastructure; and adoption of proactive policies to fully embedded African STI in African societies.

Interestingly the Manifesto was launched after receiving highlights of Unesco Science report 2010, a session that I chaired.

The sleeping giant

Fascinated by the spectacular rise of China by using the economic boom to increase spending on Research and Development it raised its own allocation from 1.07 in 2002 to 1.54 per cent of GDP in 2008 and plans to take it up to 2.5 per cent GDP by 2020.

China now counts more researchers than any country in the world with about 1,100 per million populations — higher than the world average of 1,081.

Is Africa making progress?

Well, the report states we have increased the national academies of science to 16, and we have 14 African countries asking Unesco for assistance with science policy review.

However, there have beenmore concerns than achievements including the fact that no record of share of GDP has been devoted to R&D and that since the Consolidated Plan of Action adopted by the Ministers in 2005, little progress has been recorded.

The Manifesto gives hope on the new vision on STI for Africans development including the socialisation of STI in Africa. Fact is that STI underpin every one of the MDGs, and is the only option for effective response to the complex challenges facing the sleeping giant — Africa.

It echoes the approaches on capacity building, utilisation and public engagement in ST, youth and gender engagement, knowledge circulation, collaboration, and regional integration. The system thinking is underscored.

Above all, I was fascinated to hear that innovation does not just happen in the disciplinary silo, but in interactions amongst the key actors in an innovation system; including policy makers, private sectors, science experts and civil society — a quadruple helix.

The Manifesto will have a major impact if we can restore confidence in African STI. We must acknowledge the fact that the world is not about to slow down just because Africa is behind.

We must rather empower ourselves to catch up, and can do this through acquiring knowledge in STI. It is only technology and innovations that will allow Africa to do more with less for more.

Thought into practice

We need grooming for leadership in STI and produce transformational leadership that is aware where the world is going. Above all, we need to acquire a leapfrog approach to be visible and have impact in development.

It is often argued that we are on track, but we have to move fast to avoid being overtaken by those behind us.

In my opinion, consolidated effort is required to remain competitive and increase productivity in various countries in Africa, and is vital that we put the good thoughts into practice — implement them.

Prof Abdulrazak is Secretary/CEO, National Council for Science and Technology, Kenya.

sabdulrazak@yahoo.com