Communiqué on Emerging Paradigms, Technologies andInnovations for Sustainable Development: Global Imperatives
and African realities
ByDelegates of the 2012 African Technology Policy Studies
Annual Conference and Workshops Hosted by the African
Union Commission at its Headquarters, Addis Ababa,Ethiopia, 19 – 21 November 2012
Preamble:
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) convened a delegation ofMinisters, academia, private sector and civil society to deliberate on emerging
paradigms, technologies and innovations for sustainable development: globalimperatives and African realities in a post Rio+20 world. Delegates were drawn fromAfrica, Australia, Europe, United States of America and India.
The conference which was hosted by the Africa Union Commission at its headquarters in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia recognised that:•

Only the mastery and unremitting application of science and technology canguarantee human welfare, human happiness and the achievement of sustainable
development goals on the continent•

The important role for science, technology and innovation is recognized by African
Heads of States in their various declarations including the Lagos Plan of Action,
the AU/NEPAD Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA), amongst others.

•The Africa Union with the support of its development partners has made steadyprogress in mounting programs and initiatives for the implementation of the CPA.
These commendable efforts need to be strengthened and sustained throughtargeted investments in STI policy institutions and networks on the continent
including the ATPS;•Whereas African economies have recorded improvements in Gross Development
Product (GDP) growth and in the application of STI including the mobile telephonyand telecommunications, and space technology during the past decade, thePage 1 of 3

continent has not fully reaped the benefits afforded by science, technology andinnovation for inclusive sustainable development;•STI led development requires strong leadership commitment and concerted
investments in endogenous capacities at all levels: education, institutions,
governance, technology development and transfer, deployment, diffusion andregulation.

•The ATPS remains a formidable and unique network in 30 countries (27 in Africa
and 3 Diaspora chapters) building Africa’s STI capacity today for sustainable
development tomorrow.

The delegates observed that:•Africa has a comparative advantage for transitioning to a low carbon development
pathway that is inclusive, sustainable and resource efficient.

•If supported by endogenous research and capacity building, some emerging
technologies and existing sustainable development practices on the African
continent can help to improve productivity and resource efficiency for inclusive
development in Africa.

•Social innovations provide opportunities for enhancing economic growth andsocial prosperity through youth employment, entrepreneurship and value creation.

•African Universities stand to benefit from the mainstreaming trans-disciplinary
research and teaching to overcome the weak collaboration and coordination thatexist between disciplines, universities, industry, the public sector and civil society
in Africa.

•African countries are not effectively harnessing the untapped potential of thecontinent’s bulging youth and women population for development.

•Africa’s development must focus on industrialisation, wealth creation anddiversification of energy sources to include renewable energy options.

Recommendations:•Africa needs to lead its own dialogue on low carbon development and green
growth; and proactively invest in the required capacities to ensure African
ownership of the inevitable transitioning processes that are unfolding globally.

•There is a need for a shift towards trans-disciplinary teaching and research
approaches to encourage collaboration and networking across disciplines andbetween universities, the productive sectors and civil society, with specialreference to innovation-driven value addition, employment creation and inclusive
development strategies.

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•In order to harness the resource potential for productivity improvements in Africa,
urgent and significant investments is required in STI education and research tobuild endogenous capacities for appropriate technology development, diffusion,deployment and regulation.

•Harnessing the opportunities for social innovations will require a favourable policy
environment, incentive structures, innovation incubation, training and mentorshipin entrepreneurship.

•Proactive measures to harness the potentials of the youth and women in STI
policymaking and implementation are necessary pre-requisites for achieving theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.

Addressing these policy recommendations is critical to fostering self-ownership anddemocratic governance of STI which are the imperatives for sustainable development.
This is urgently needed to ensure that Africa can effectively engage in the rapidly
unfolding green growth paradigm which is likely to constitute the ‘third industrialrevolution’.
Appreciation:
Delegates expressed appreciation to the African Union Commission for its assurances ofcontinued support for ATPS as a continental think tank and resource to be harnessed forfurther development and implementation of STI policies.
Delegates further expressed appreciation to ATPS Development Partners for theircontinued support.

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