Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries - STI

Biological Weapons Convention – Ninth Review Conference - General Debate

RJANSEN3 — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 22:26:00 +0000

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Statement by Ms. Federica Irene Falomi, Economic Affairs Officer

29 November 2022, Geneva

Mr. President,

Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

Ladies and gentlemen,

First, let me thank you for inviting the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries to this important Conference and for the opportunity to share with you some perspectives on the role and work of the UN Technology Bank.

The 46 least developed countries are low-income countries suffering the most severe structural impediments to sustainable and inclusive development. The latest programmes of action for the least developed countries have recognized that eradicating poverty and removing structural impediments will remain a distant dream if these countries fail to build up national capacities in science, technology and innovation. The UN Technology Bank was established by the General Assembly to bridge this gap and strengthen the science, technology and innovation capacity of LDCs towards building sustainable development and structural economic transformation.

The Covid-19 pandemic and global economic downturn have reversed years of development gains, and with only eight years left to deliver on the SDGs, this agenda has become more important than ever before.

With the pace of technology development continuing to accelerate, the BWC remains increasingly relevant to address and prevent risks and threats that could affect countries in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world.

Scientific discoveries and technologies continue to advance and our collective ability to understand the impact of these changes and respond effectively needs to adjust accordingly, especially in the context of LDCs which are lagging far behind in technological development. Importantly, advanced developments in biological science and technology have also expanded the possibility of beneficial applications in the fields of public health, agriculture and the environment. The Covid-19 pandemic clearly showed the importance of biotechnology for the detection and treatment of novel viruses, but also exposed the unpreparedness of many countries, particularly the least developed countries. In this respect, the Ninth Review Conference comes at a timely moment to further strengthen the Convention implementation, particularly to advance cooperation and assistance to enhance least developed countries’ preparedness, as well as their access to latest developments in biotechnology through technology transfer.

Article X of the Convention presents a unique opportunity for State Parties and their development partners to advance action in this regard. Article X has direct relevance in the context of technology transfer to LDCs, which is also a key component of the UN Technology Bank’s mandate.

The UN Technology Bank has conducted Technology Needs Assessment in 14 LDCs and the evidence emerging shows that these countries attach high priority to the use of biotechnology, especially in public health and to support the technological upgrading of agricultural systems. Agriculture is a cornerstone of least developed countries’ economies, making up a significant portion of their GDP, and providing employment and livelihood to the majority of their population, which is expected to reach 1.3 billion by 2030. Unfortunately, these countries face critical challenges in increasing agricultural productivity and attaining food security. Enhanced international cooperation aimed at facilitating LDCs’ access to beneficial biotechnologies could have significant impact in increasing yields, improving food quality and safety, and enhancing crops’ resilience to climate shocks.

In recognition of this reality, the UN Technology Bank - in collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and The World Academy of Sciences - has initiated a technical cooperation programme to bridge the existing gap in technical knowledge and skills in LDCs. The central objective of the programme is to strengthen biotechnology research and regulatory capacity for the use of appropriate biotechnologies in LDCs through North-South and South-South training and capacity building. The programme has already awarded thirteen fellowships to early-career researchers.

Finally, the UN Technology Bank wishes to commend the BWC Implementation Support Unit’s efforts and Norway’s support to foster dialogue and strengthen capacity building activities under Article X through the organization of the “Conference on Promoting Beneficial Technologies”. I also wish to thank the ISU for inviting the UN Technology Bank to participate at that Conference to outline its assistance activities in science, technology and innovation, as relevant to Article X. The UN Technology Bank will further discuss with the ISU relevant partnership and capacity building activities under Article X for the coming years.

I wish to conclude by thanking you for inviting the UN Technology Bank and reaffirm the UN Technology Bank’s availability to join efforts with all partners to build the capacities of the least developed countries for the positive use of biotechnology.

I thank you.

Event recording:

Source: UN Web TV

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Harnessing science, technology and innovation to support structural transformation and LDC graduation

mbuldys — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 17:51:00 +0000

Wednesday, 01 September 2021 - 1:30pm to 2:30pm

Registration

Event: https://bit.ly/3BbVDrz

General: https://bit.ly/3icrDFz

Background

The Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) had set a target of at least half of the Least Developed Countries should qualify for graduation. Since LDC-IV, only three LDCs have graduated, (Equatorial Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu), while seven other LDCs (Angola, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nepal, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands) have met the criteria to graduate until 2026. LDCs face a significant number of challenges that concern their economic structure. Structural transformation is a central part of the economic development and enhancement of LDCs’ productive capacity and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies play a crucial role in promoting inclusive development and the achievement of the SDGs.

Objectives

STI play a crucial role in promoting inclusive development and the achievement of the SDGs. Advances in STI policies offer exponential opportunities in accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Building back better to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics will require LDCs to structurally transform their economies, build productive capacities, and develop STI policies that promote investment in STI and bridge the digital divide among countries.

The side-event will address critical issues for LDCs to structurally transform and pursue graduation through science, technology and innovation. The ministerial round table will focus on STI policy formulation, the discussants will address specific implementation approaches to be followed by an interactive discussion.

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This special session be organized as a High-level Roundtable where senior officials will present efforts to harness science, technology and innovation to build productive capacities and support inclusive and sustainable development. The objective of this High-Level Roundtable is to bring together global leaders from Bangladesh and Cambodia and the UN to highlight challenges, and identify concrete suggestions on how governments, the private sector and multilateral organisations can enable the LDCs to harness science, technology and innovation to achieve structural transformation and graduate.

Speakers

Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, ESCAP
Ms. Isabelle Durant, Acting Secretary-General, UNCTAD
H.E. Prof. Dr. Chhem Kieth Rethy, Minister Delegate attached to Prime Minister and Secretary of State of Ministery of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, Cambodia
H.E Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel, Vice-Chairman, National Planning Commission of Nepal
Ms. Tina Jabeen, Managing Director and CEO, Startup Bangladesh Limited
Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, President of TUBITAK

Moderator: Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director, UN Technology Bank

Outcomes

The High-Level Roundtable will provide an opportunity to gain political momentum from leaders on science, technology and innovation towards sustainable development and graduation of LDCs.
This event will provide a platform to showcase best practices and identify the key priorities, principles and approaches for LDCs to structurally transform their economies, build productive capacities, and develop STI policies that promote investment in STI towards graduation.
It will highlight the role that the private sector and the UN can have in building productive capacities and harnessing science, technology and innovation.

tags:

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LDC5

Graduation

STI

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Structural Transformation

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Events

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.

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Strengthening regional health industries and promoting technology transfer to enhance pandemic resilience and improve health outcomes in LDCs

mbuldys — Thu, 27 May 2021 17:21:00 +0000

Thursday, 27 May 2021 - 12:00pm to 1:30pm

PrepCom1 Corresponding theme:

"Leveraging the power of science, technology, and innovation to fight against multidimensional vulnerabilities and to achieve the SDGs"

Enhancing STI has become increasingly important as a driver of productivity growth in the era of enhanced digitization. LDCs must be put in a position to close the digital divide and overcome inequities in access to and productive use of digital technologies, otherwise they will be left behind.

Registration

Please join us via Zoom at: https://bit.ly/3wwGMG0

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the close interrelationship between health and economic activity. Many LDCs bear a disproportionate burden of disease which is a significant contribution to the poverty trap in which they find themselves. It is compounded by weak healthcare systems that are particularly fragile and vulnerable to crises.

Accessing medicines, vaccines and other health technologies of appropriate quality is a vital component of these healthcare systems and one which has been shown to be particularly susceptible to external shocks during the current pandemic. The situation relates to COVID-19 vaccines and to other priority vaccines, essential medicines, PPE and other healthcare commodities.

There is thus a need to build productive capacities for health technologies in LDCs and developing regions of the world and to shorten the value chains so that they become more regionalized and robust.

There is also the opportunity to work with the global community to explore how such capacities can contribute to a new, post-pandemic order that encourages innovation whilst enabling more equitable access to these products for citizens of developing and least developed countries.

Expected Outcomes

This session will reflect on issues highlighted by the pandemic such as disruption to supply of PPE, ARVs etc. as well as the challenges to achieving equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines given current highly constrained global supply.

It will consider the current situation with regard to local production of essential health technologies and products in LDCs and developing regions and identify the challenges that need to be overcome in order to build robust, sustainable, high-quality sources of essential health technologies and products in such jurisdictions.

It will also reflect on how technology transfer and voluntary licensing utilizing these capacities could be facilitated to accelerate access to innovative health technologies.

Speakers

Mr. Greg Perry, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), Assistant Director General.
Mr. Babatunde Omilola, African Development Bank, Public Health, Security and Nutrition Division, Manager.
Dr. Janet Byaruhanga, African Union Development Agency, Public Health Senior Programme Officer.
Ms. Xiaoping Wu, WTO, Department of Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition, Counsellor.
Dr. Charlemagne Gnoula, Burkina Faso, Bureau de Suivi du Programme Présidentiel.
Dr. Tsepo Tsekoa, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Principal Researcher.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Mr. Moshe Kao, Programme Management Officer, UN Technology Bank

Other Resources:

UNIDO: https://www.unido.org/ldc5

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UN Technology Bank, the TUBITAK and the USIMP partner to facilitate access to technology for least developed countries

mbuldys — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 17:25:00 +0000

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Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, President of TUBITAK and Mr. Joshua Setipa, UN Technology Bank’s Managing Director during the signing ceremony.

UN Technology Bank

Ankara – UN Technology Bank today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) to support the international efforts to facilitate access to technology and to improve the science, technology, and innovation (STI) capacity development for the least developed countries (LDCs). University and Industry Collaborations Centre Platform (USIMP) will also be a signatory to the MoU.

Science, technology and innovation are enablers of development, the UN Technology Bank as the focal point on STI for LDCs assists them in improving the utilization of scientific and technological solutions and promotes their integration into the global knowledge-based economy.

TUBITAK as the leading agency for management, funding, and research in Turkey; has been authorized by the Government of the Republic of Turkey to provide financial assistance if appropriate to the UN Technology Bank’s initiatives that help LDCs to technological transformation their economies to meet the goals and targets of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The MoU provides a framework for the cooperation between the UN Technology Bank, TUBITAK and USIMP in supporting the development projects and activities to promote access to technologies, including the first initiative of developing and implementing applicable models for the establishment of technology transfer offices (TTO) in the selected LDCs.

The three organisations plan to cooperate on developing awareness and educational tools to promote global technology access and explore methods to utilize the experience and expertise related to the technology’s assessment, deployment, adaptation and implementation, and related capacity building activities.

“This new collaboration between the UN Technology Bank for LDCs, TUBITAK, and USIMP will promote technology transfer and accelerate technological development through different projects in LDCs. The success of the three organizations' projects and initiatives will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals,” said Joshua Setipa, UN Technology Bank’s Managing Director.

“Through this new collaboration mechanism; the cooperation of TUBITAK and the UN Technology Bank will be strengthened, and Turkey’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals will be improved via new projects and cooperation mechanisms performed under this Memorandum of Understanding,” said Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, President of TUBITAK.

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UN Technology Bank and NASAC teamed up to support the launch of the Lesotho Academy of Science and Technology

mbuldys — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 14:43:00 +0000

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Rodger Bosch/FAO

Maseru/Gebze – UN Technology Bank and The Network of African Science Academies teamed up to support the launch of the Lesotho Academy of Science and Technology (LAST), which will play a critical role in advising on science, technology and innovation (STI) policy development and implementation to address socio-economic challenges and promote development in Lesotho. The LAST is an independent platform for contact and knowledge transfer among the private sector, public sector, civil society, academics, and government in the fields of science, technology, and innovation

Since the end of 2018, UN Technology Bank has directly implemented projects and activities in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) including establishing and supporting existing academies of sciences Academies of science promote the advancement of science and technology and provide governments with science-based policy advice.

The Lesotho Academy of Science and Technology will serve as the prime advisors of the government of Lesotho and the general public on matters pertaining to science, technology, and innovation. As an independent organization, the LAST will promote science and engineering and strengthen its influence in Lesotho. The major objectives of the Academy include providing linkages between academia and the industry and facilitating technological innovation and excellence in Lesotho.

Rt. Hon. Dr. Moeketsi Majoro, Prime Minister of Lesotho highlighted that “This science academy is going to adjudicate over disputes amongst the academia, in particular our local Scientists. As government, we pledge to support this academy in its cry for autonomy, how it elects its members and how it is led.”

The Academies of Science are also important sources of current and emerging leaders in science and advocates for STI, which can help connect their respective governments with research communities and reward outstanding contributors to STI.

“The key objective of the Technology Bank under this programme is to support Lesotho’s national technological efforts and support the reinforcement of partnerships across sectors and help Lesotho identify, access, adapt and deploy appropriate technologies to transform its economy and improve the livelihoods of Basotho,” said Joshua Setipa, Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank.

“Through the Lesotho Academy, NASAC hopes to build confidence in the lives and inspirations of the eminent scientists, who have taken the path least followed – to pursue youth towards careers in science,” emphasized Prof. Norbert Hounkonnou, President of Network of African Academies.

The LAST should affiliate with regional and continental academies of sciences as a reservoir of advice, strategic leadership, and expertise. African academies play an important role in supporting SDGs and Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024). In the first quarter of 2021, UN Technology Bank will support launching academies in Malawi, DRC, and Chad, followed by Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone. The sustainability of academies of sciences is of paramount importance to the Technology Bank, and will continue supporting existing academies to enhance their strategic planning, mobilise resources and increase the awareness about academies.

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Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries - STI

Biological Weapons Convention – Ninth Review Conference - General Debate

bwc.jpeg

Statement by Ms. Federica Irene Falomi, Economic Affairs Officer

29 November 2022, Geneva

Harnessing science, technology and innovation to support structural transformation and LDC graduation

Registration

Background

Objectives

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Speakers

Outcomes

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

Statement by Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director

29 July 2021, Turkey

Strengthening regional health industries and promoting technology transfer to enhance pandemic resilience and improve health outcomes in LDCs

Registration

Background

Expected Outcomes

Speakers

Other Resources:

UN Technology Bank, the TUBITAK and the USIMP partner to facilitate access to technology for least developed countries

un_tech_banktubitak_mou.jpeg

UN Technology Bank and NASAC teamed up to support the launch of the Lesotho Academy of Science and Technology

lesothocfaorodger_bosch.jpg

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