COMMUNIQUÉ ON STRENGTHENING LINKAGES BETWEEN POLICYRESEARCH AND POLICYMAKING FOR AFRICAN DEVELOPMENTBy
The Delegates of the 2011 African Technology Policy Studies (ATPS)International Conference and Workshops, 8TH – 9TH
November 2011, MOMBASA, KENYA

Preamble:We, the delegates comprising policy researchers, policymakers,
private sector actors (business and industry), civil society, and themedia drawn from 29 countries in Africa, Europe, North America,
the Caribbean, and Asia, met in Mombasa, Kenya 8 – 9 November
2011; for an International conference on “Strengthening Linkages
between Policy Research and Policymaking for African Development”
The conference was organised by the African Technology Policy
Studies Network (ATPS) as an implementation activity in response tothe recommendations of the African Manifesto for Science,
Technology and Innovation launched in Cairo, Egypt in 2010, and theUNESCO Science Report, 2010. Both publications demonstrated therole of STI as the engine of development globally and the fact thatAfrica still lags behind in the various indicators of progress in STIdevelopment. The need for strengthening linkages between Policy
Research, Policymaking and Policy Implementation were identified asa key challenge to the growth of STI in Africa by both reports.

This international conference organized by the African Technology
Policy Studies Network (ATPS) and its partners including the African
Population and Health Research Consortium (APHRC); the African
Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) and the Food,
Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network(FARNPAN) sought to address the weak linkages between policy
research and policymaking for African development, recognisingthat:
 “Only the mastery and unremitting application of science andtechnology can guarantee human welfare and humanhappiness” (President Kwame Nkrumah, 1993).
 This important role for science, technology and innovation in
fostering socio-economic development has been recognized by
African Heads of States in their various declarations including
the Lagos Plan of Action, the AU/NEPAD Consolidated Plan ofAction and other regional economic communities;
 Whereas there are pockets of success in application of science,technology and innovation including the mobile telephony andtelecommunications, the continent generally lags behind andhas not fully reaped the benefits afforded by science,technology and innovation for its development endeavours; While this failure to harness science, technology and innovation
can be attributed to many factors, key amongst these is thelack of appropriate policies to guide and foster an African
science, technology and innovation agenda.

In our deliberations, we have further noted the need to: Strengthen capacities of African Researchers to address African
policy needs and Policymakers to use research evidence inpolicymaking; Encourage multi-stakeholder involvement in Science,
Technology and Innovation policy research, policy making, andpolicy implementation processes;
 Foster high moral and ethical standards in research andpolicymaking, learning from existing norms in African society; Support appropriate capacity building and Mentorshipprograms for African Youths and Women to participate in STI
policy research, policymaking and policy implementation.
 Link research to economic productivity in Africa
We recommend that the African Union and its member Statesshould: Adopt and proactively support leading African institutions
engaged in policy research such as ATPS, FARNPAN, ACET,APHRC and facilitate their inputs into policy processes.
Recognizing that these institutions are already leading in thevarious key areas of need including STI capacity building for
African Development, agricultural policy research for attaining
the food security, in the economics of transformations, andpopulation and health research for African development
respectively; Create a consolidated fund for African Policy Research andDevelopment at continental and national levels, recognisingthat “he who pays the Piper dictates the tune”;
 Honour their commitment to increase their budgetary support
to research and development to the recommended one
percent (1%) of the GDP;
 Create favourable policy environment to promote private
sector engagement in science, technology and innovation for
African development; and Support existing initiatives that encourage Mentorship for
active engagement of youth and women in STI policy research,policy research and policy implementation.
 Encourage the promotion and propagation of STI in the massmedia
 Encourage the appointment of STI policy advisors for national
governments
On behalf of all the delegates and other partners, we mandate theAfrican Technology Policy Studies Network to send a delegation tothe African Union Commission for further discussions andconsideration of these recommendations.
Signed on this 9th day of November 2011
Delegates List (Click to Download)