November 29, 2007

Executive Secretary
Mr. Abdoulie Janneh

Welcome Address

Public Hearing
on
Science with Africa

Brussels

29th November, 2007

Chairperson, Honourable Members of the European Parliament, Excellencies, Distinguished Scientists, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I bring you greetings from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa – ECA.

It is a great honour and privilege for me to address this august gathering on behalf of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Let me also take this opportunity to thank you all present for the tremendous interest and support shown for the Science with Africa Conference which is being jointly organised by ECA and ISC in early March 2008.

This event concerns a make or break issue for Africa. The task before us is multifaceted and that we must use a variety of tools to address it comprehensively. Without a doubt, science and technology, is a vital tonic for accelerating Africa's development. The world has witnessed how advances in this innovative field have become the most forceful and enduring driver of economic growth and development. Indeed, evidence abounds that there is a strong correlation between a country's scientific and technological status and its economic performance and wealth.

It is therefore clear that for Africa to accelerate its development and achieve the MDGs, African countries have to scale-up their investments in science and technology. And, for this very reason, African Heads of State earlier this year discussed the need to prioritize science and technology for economic and social development in Africa.

Honourable Members of Parliament;

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

We in ECA in support of the African Union realize that to build Africa's scientific and technological development framework we have to overcome a number of challenges.

First is how we support a constructive dialogue between the scientific community and policy-makers as well as support an enabling policy environment?

Second, we need to work with our African countries so that they can fund and contribute to research and development, as many of our countries devote considerably lower funding to R&D due to many internal pressures.

Third, the quality of science and technology education has declined due to the absence of an enabling environment such as physical infrastructure, equipments as well as institutional and legal arrangements.

These factors outlined have limited Africa's capacities to develop, adapt and exploit science, technology and innovations solutions that will accelerate its economic and social progress.

In spite of the tremendous challenges, there is still hope if Africa could take advantage of its great potential. This would require us to:
· undertake a major Science and Technology Initiative to generate, revamp and deploy large numbers of scientists, engineers and technicians;
· establish strong linkages between technology-based industry, academia and government needs so that technologies appropriate to national needs are developed; and
· promote public-private-partnerships in modern science and technology research.

For example, a breakthrough in medical innovation to deliver affordable HIV/AIDS vaccines or cure could create a monumental developmental dividend for sub-Saharan Africa. For the poor and poor countries, much of the medical technologies that exist are making a huge difference. But such technologies are not readily accessible due to low incomes and poor state finances.

Also, access to technologies can be constrained by lack of appropriate regimes to support patents and intellectual property. For instance, Anti-Retrovirals (ARVs) drugs have generic equivalents that could be developed in Africa in line with Article 66.2 of the Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) so as to promote and encourage technology transfer in least-developed countries for a sound and viable technological base.

As a result, ECA’s Science and Technology programme is aimed at:

1. Ensuring that Science is targeted at the economy and the productive sectors - making science work for Africa’s productive sectors and ensuring synergies between industries.

2. Managing capacity-building programmes for science institutions especially capabilities in harnessing innovation.

3. Brokering partnerships such as facilitating collaborative partnerships in science and supporting joint R&D enterprises

4. Stepping up advocacy to support the role of science and innovation in decision-making and in development processes, and promoting science diplomacy.

In short we need nothing less than a Science Revolution in Africa. This will make the difference that we have for so long been searching for.

It is for this reason that I am happy to endorse and proud to be a partner in the Science with Africa conference. It is a proactive, concrete and catalytic way not only to restore and renew Science in Africa but a positive way to push for much needed transformations in our societies.

Honourable Members of the House, Distinguished Scientists, Ladies and Gentlemen I thank you for your kind attention.