Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries - Network of African Academies

Expectations on the Academy Development Initiative Webinar on Role of Academies of Sciences in Africa

mbuldys — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 17:21:00 +0000

Statement by Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director

29 July 2021, Turkey

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be on this webinar and reconnect with you. Since the last time we interacted especially with the lead academies, there have been a number of developments in supporting academies of sciences in Africa.

In 2020, the Technology Bank and NASAC partnered to support LDCs to establish and support existing academies that resulted in launches of academies in Angola, Lesotho, DRC and Malawi. More are planned during this year of which the Champions are present today.

It is critical at this juncture to highlight the importance of ensuring that all newly established academies of sciences must be registered as legal entities, must maintain independence as well as be able to mobilize resources that will make them sustainable. The launch is the first of many milestones which are more challenging and require political and financial commitment.

COVID19 pandemic made 2020 unprecedented, disrupting every fiber of mankind but it was through science that a breakthrough was reached in the development of the COVID19 vaccines. It is not for me to preach to the converted that science is driver of sustainable development and is applicable in all that we do.

The purpose of this webinar as articulated in the agenda is to explore collaboration amongst the academies of sciences especially how newly established academies of sciences can be supported and mentored by leading academies. It is the view of Technology Bank and NASAC to make these webinars regular to provide a platform for engagement amongst the academies, encourage active participation and share experiences towards providing evidence-based advice to policymakers.

I take this opportunity to also articulate some ideas and recommendations that can enhance the role of academies of sciences in Africa as follows:

Facilitating engagement of policymakers with science academies in an open and inclusive manner that will ensure that evidence informs policy formulation, implementation, and review.
Create opportunities that bring scientists and policymakers together including seconding and inviting scientists into the policy making institutions like Parliaments and specific government departments through Masters and PhD fellowships.
Establish programmes that engage the scientists in the diaspora is essential for small countries like Lesotho for example. This should be coupled with the development of science policy leadership in all countries.
Strengthen cooperation between senior academies and female and young, scientists. Young academies can be effective in engaging with universities, schools, and the public. Established academies should also work with new academies by taking advantage of the bilateral cooperation between countries and some multilateral bodies like the Regional Economic Communities and the African Union.

From the perspective of the Technology Bank, we also place priority on promoting Science diplomacy and leveraging the multilateral system in the use of diplomatic actions to further scientific and technological progress as well as in providing advice to inform and support foreign policy objectives.

Science diplomacy will facilitate dialogue on the implications of rapid technological developments that can be disruptive (good and bad) to societies in order to maximize the benefits and minimize the negative consequences and threats from technological advances (e.g., AI, gene editing, synthetic biology, robotics, big data, blockchain, social media, etc.).

Science diplomacy will also accelerate progress on the global goals, especially the global environmental goals (climate, oceans, biodiversity), to safeguard the planet and help countries understand and commit to their share of global responsibilities.

Enhancing STI capacity in developing and emerging economies in the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism initiative on “STI for SDGs roadmaps” is a viable vehicle for a number of countries.

Lasty, I wish you a productive meeting and would not close without, informing you that the Fifth Conference for the Least Developed Countries will be held in January 2022 and that they First Africa Science Festival to be organized by the African Union.

I thank you.

Front Page Article:

The Launch of the Academy of Sciences in Malawi

mbuldys — Wed, 05 May 2021 17:21:00 +0000

Wednesday, 19 May 2021 - 8:45am

Registration

Please join us via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3ydAoFl

Objectives

The UN Technology Bank works to support the establishment and strengthening of Academies of Science capacities in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to play a critical role in advising governments on STI policy development and implementation to address socio-economic challenges and promote development.

In May 2021, the UN Technology Bank and The Network of African Science Academies teamed up to support the launch of the Academy of Sciences in Malawi.

The Academies of Science are important sources of current and emerging leaders in science, engineering and medicine, as well as advocates for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), and can advise and help connect their respective government and research communities.

The Academy of Sciences in Malawi is an independent organization intended to promote science and engineering and strengthen their influence in Malawi. The academy will contribute to the implementation of the Malawi 2063 – strategic and development goals, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education's Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), National Planning Commission, and the National Commission of Science and Technology.

The objectives of the Academy are:

To promote excellence in scientific research conducted by scientists who are citizens of Malawi;
To promote contacts and collaboration among scientists who are citizens of Malawi; and between them and the wider global scientific fraternity;
To strengthen the global position and role of scientific research conducted by scientists who are citizens of Malawi;
To advise the government of Malawi on scientific aspects of social and economic issues and on all matters related to science teaching, research and science education;
To provide information on science to, and build support for science with, the general public in Malawi;

Speakers

Live interventions by distinguished speakers from the Government of Malawi, Ministry of Education, the Network of African Science Academies, and the National Commission for Science and Technology.

Hon. Agnes NyaLonje, Minister of Education
Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director, UN Technology Bank for the LDCs
Prof. Norbert Hounkonnou, President of Network of African Academies
Prof. George Kanyama-Phiri, Vice Chancellor, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Dr. Thomas Munthali, Director General, National Planning Commission
Prof. Elijah Wanda, Director General, National Commission for Science and Technology
Prof. Address Malata, Vice Chancellor, Malawi University of Science and Technology
Prof. Adamson Muula, Country Coordinator, CARTA and Coordinator for the African Center of Excellence in Herbal and Family Medicine, College of Medicine
Assoc. Prof. Chomora Mikeka, Director of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Education
Dr. George Luwanda, Mzuzu University

Please note that the event time is: 19 May 2021 | 8:45 AM - 12:15 PM CAT

tags:

Network of African Academies

NASAC

Academy of Sciences

Malawi

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Events

Academies of Sciences

The Launch of Congolese Academy of Science

mbuldys — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 15:42:00 +0000

Friday, 26 March 2021 - 2:30pm

In March 2021, the UN Technology Bank and The Network of African Science Academies teamed up to support the launch of the Congolese Academy of Science.

Background:

Since 2019, the Technology Bank has conducted five regional consultations, four in Africa and one in Asia, that brought together all LDCs and setting a path for informing the work programme. In the past years, UN Technology Bank has partnered with the Network of African Academies (NASAC) to support existing academies and establish ones where they do not exist. In 2020, UN Technology Bank supported Angola (launched in Dec 2020) and in March 2021 Lesotho. Additional countries planned for 2021 include, Malawi and Chad, Cambodia, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, and the Solomon Islands.

Speakers:

Live interventions by distinguished speakers from the government of The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Network of African Science Academies, and the Congolese Academy of Sciences.

H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director, UN Technology Bank for the LDCs
Prof. Norbert Hounkonnou, President of Network of African Academies
Prof. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, President of the Congolese Academy of Sciences
Prof. Joséphine Ntumba, University of Kinshasa

Register:

The session will be hosted both physically and virtually.

Please join us via Zoom at: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/1/g27xgcx