In a concerted effort to propel scientific progress and advance Africa's Agenda 2063 Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) and the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) have forged a strategic partnership. This collaboration solidified through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Prof Tom Kariuki, CEO of SFA Foundation, and Madam Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, aims to bridge existing gaps in research and development funding on the continent.
Despite notable strides in fostering science through initiatives like AUDA-NEPAD's Africa Innovation Outlook, challenges persist. African countries, on average, allocate only 0.4% of their national budgets to research and development, significantly below the global average of 1.4%-1.7%. This gap hampers the continent's ability to meet the African Union's target of allocating one percent of the gross domestic product to research and development. Africa currently contributes just 2.6% of the world’s research output, holding a mere 0.1% of global patents.
The collaboration between the SFA Foundation and AUDA-NEPAD aims to address these disparities and expedite scientific advancements. Madam Nardos Bekele-Thomas emphasized the critical role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as the "bloodline for Africa’s transformation." The partnership seeks to spark new ideas and create meaningful change to drive the realization of Agenda 2063, with focus areas including sustainable development, youth and women's empowerment, improved healthcare access, and quality education.
The SFA Foundation, a pan-African non-profit organization, will contribute to the partnership through its five-year organizational strategy, reinforcing the research ecosystem. Prof Thomas Kariuki highlighted the importance of meaningful engagements that optimize Africa’s scientific diversity, leading to the development and implementation of African-led solutions with broader impact.
To propel continental growth, the partnership will prioritize establishing systems for harnessing science, innovation, and emerging technologies. This includes mobilizing support for science, promoting science-policy engagement, and facilitating knowledge-sharing on emerging technologies. Additionally, the collaboration aims to create an enabling environment for research and development, advocating for increased government investments in science.
The joint action plan, derived from the MoU, will operationalize the objectives and guide the partnership's efforts in contributing to Africa’s sustained growth, competitiveness, and economic transformation through scientific advancements.
Article by RB Correspodent
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