COMMUNIQUÉ ON STRENGTHENING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONCAPACITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
By
The Delegates of the Expert Consultative Workshop hosted by the African
Technology Policy Studies (ATPS)
29th – 30th May 2011, Naivasha, Kenya
PreambleWe, the delegates of the ATPS Phase VII Strategic Planning Expert
Consultative workshop, comprising selected policy researchers andpolicymakers drawn from African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations
Agencies (UN), National Government Offices, and international partners fromAfrica, North America, Europe, India, Australia, New Zealand, and theCaribbean, convened in Naivasha, Kenya 29 – 30, May 2012 to review the stateof Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy research, policymaking,and implementation in Africa and identify priorities for sustainable
development in Africa in the coming decade, 2013 - 2022.
The expert consultation workshop was organised by the African Technology
Policy Studies Network (ATPS) as part of its Phase VII Strategic planning
process in response to the recommendations of the first Africa Forum on STI
hosted by the Republic of Kenya and co-organized by African Development
Bank (AfDB), African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations EconomicCommission for Africa (UNECA), United Nations Educational, Scientific, andCultural Organization (UNESCO) and Association for the Development ofEducation in Africa (ADEA), 1-3 April 2012. The conference called for Africancountries to among other things, design policies and programs to implement
strategies to support inclusive growth, employment opportunities, andsustainable development in Africa.
As the leading African Centre of Excellence in STI capacity strengthening since
its inception in 1994, the ATPS convened the experts to prioritise the key
thematic and non-thematic areas for capacity strengthening in STI policy
research, policymaking and implementation within the next decade. Thepriorities are to guide the strategic priorities of the ATPS in its Phase VII
activities, 2013 - 2022 and guide ATPS in forging partnerships to effectively
strengthen STI capacity for sustainable development in Africa.
The expert workshop noted that:Page 1 of 4 The important role for science, technology and innovation in fosteringsocio-economic development has been recognized by African Heads ofStates in their various declarations including the Lagos Plan of Action,
the African Union/New Partnership for Africa's Development(AU/NEPAD) Consolidated Plan of Action and policies of the Regional
Economic Communities (RECs) and Member States; Whereas there are pockets of success in application of science,technology and innovation including the mobile telephony andtelecommunications, among other factors, which contributed to thesustained economic growth in the continent during the past decade, thecontinent generally lags behind in skills and competencies required to
fully reap the benefits afforded by science, technology and innovation forits development; While this failure to harness science, technology and innovation can beattributed to many factors, key amongst these is the lack of skills andcapacities in the area of STI to guide and foster an African development
agenda, inadequate implementation of STI policies and programmes, andlimited political commitment.
And recognising that the ATPS has;
 Continued to play key roles in strengthening capacities of AfricanResearchers, Policymakers, Private Sector Actors and the Civil Society toaddress African policy research needs since its inception;
 Significantly contributed to shaping and mainstreaming the African STI
agenda in policy dialogues both within the continent and globally; Provides a diverse and effective network of Institutions, Scholars,Policymakers, Private Sector Actors and Civil Society within and outside
Africa actively working on STI capacity strengthening for sustainable
development in Africa;
Therefore hereby: Requests the African Union Commission (AUC) and its member States toconsider adopting the ATPS as its implementing institution in the relevant
areas of Science, Technology and Innovation capacity strengthening forsustainable development in Africa;

Page 2 of 4 Encourages the European Commission (EC) and its member States toconsider adopting the ATPS as its implementing institution in the relevant
areas of Science, Technology and Innovation capacity strengthening forsustainable development in Africa; Encourages African Member States and other Development Partners to
support and partner with the ATPS in the implementation of its strategic
priorities. We are unanimously convinced and attest to the fact that theATPS provides a formidable independent network within the African
continent that has been driving this agenda successfully and efficiently.
Proactive support to strengthen this function will go a long way inaddressing the STI capacity gaps on the continent; Urges ATPS to develop greater cooperation with United Nations agencies
that have hitherto worked with ATPS on ad hoc consultancy basis and toexplore avenues for formalizing relations with these agencies inimplementing their Science, Technology and Innovation capacity
strengthening programs for sustainable development in Africa; Encourages the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), Association ofAfrican Universities (AAU), Academy of Sciences for the Developing
World (ASDW), and their counterparts in the developed and emerging
countries to strengthen cooperation and partnerships with the ATPS inmainstreaming STI capacity strengthening in their program
implementation;
 Encourages the multiple STI stakeholders in Africa and beyond tosupport and engage with the ATPS in their Science, Technology andInnovation policy research, policy making, and policy implementation
processes on the continent to leverage the vast expertise and experiences
within the Network; and Applauds the new initiatives to establish ATPS Diaspora chapters inNorth America and the United Kingdom to provide platforms for
Africans and friends of Africa living outside the continent to effectively
participate in the STI capacity strengthening agenda for sustainable
development in Africa. We encourage the establishment of Diaspora
chapters in other developed and emerging countries including
Australasia, the Caribbean and Small Island States, India, China, SouthAmerica, and other European countries.
On behalf of all the delegates, ATPS members and stakeholders, we mandate
the African Technology Policy Studies Network Management to pursue thePage 3 of 4

formal strengthening of cooperation with the African Union Commission, theAfrican Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST), theRegional Economic Communities (RECs), the African Development Bank(AfDB), the United Nations Agencies, and other key players listed above, forfurther discussions and consideration of these recommendations.
Signed on this 30th day of May 2012
Enclosed: Delegate List (Click to Download)

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