It was at the First African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology in November 2003 that countries reaffirmed their commitment to increasing public spending on R&D to at least 1% of GDP within five years. In parallel, they undertook to develop a common set of S&T indicators for integration into the African Peer Review Mechanism. They also committed to establishing an African Observatory of Science and Technology Indicators which would produce the African Innovation Outlook.
In September 2005, the African Union and its New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) adopted Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, 2006-2010. Erected on the three interrelated pillars of capacity-building, knowledge production and technological innovation, the Plan ‘articulates Africa’s common objectives and commitment to collective actions to develop and use science and technology for the socio-economic transformation of the continent and its integration into the world economy.’
The Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in January 2007 called on UNESCO to work closely with the African Union/NEPAD Secretariat to implement the Plan. Subsequently, the African Group at UNESCO requested the Director-General to prepare a plan showing how UNESCO intended to contribute to implementation of the Consolidated Plan of Action between 2008 and 2013.
The UNESCO plan of action was presented to the 58 countries which make up UNESCO’s Executive Board in September 2007 and endorsed by UNESCO’s General Conference in October of the same year. UNESCO’s plan of action comprises three flagship projects: Capacity-building in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy; Enhancing Science and Technology Education; and the African Virtual Campus.
UNESCO’s contribution to Africa’s Consolidated Plan of Action in STI policy
In terms of improving policy conditions and building mechanisms for innovation, UNESCO’s contribution to Africa’s Consolidated Plan of Action has five main thrusts:
Launch of the African Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Initiative
Assessment of the status of science and technology policy formulation
Development of common African STI indicators
Creation of an African STI Observatory
Creation of a pilot science park in an African country
Useful links
Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, 2006-2010
Read about UNESCO's Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Initiative
Science Policy
