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Executive Secretaries' interactive dialogue with the Second CommitteeFostering Knowledge and Innovation for Development in a Globalizing World: Regional Perspectives Presentation
by
Mr. Abdoulie Janneh,
UN Under-Secretary-General and
Executive Secretary of ECA Chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to start by expressing my gratitude for the choice of our topic today. Our dialogue this year on, " Fostering knowledge and Innovation for Development in a Globalizing World: Regional Perspectives ", is a timely and critical intervention. Consequently, my presentation entitled Nurturing alliances for regional and interregional cooperation in science and technology is guided by: First, the Secretary General's Report on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for economic development. Second, the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document that pointed to the role of S&T in accomplishing Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Third, the Implementation Plan of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) that spelt out the importance of science-based decision-making. Lastly, the Two World Summits on the Information Society that called for the use of ICTs at national, regional and international levels to improve collaboration in science, technology and higher education. Given this background, my presentation outlined as follows: STI Development and Economic Growth Development of STI in a Globalization Context STI in Africa Nurturing Alliances Challenges and Lessons Learnt The way forward STI Development and Economic Growth Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) support all pillars of the Economy and the proven significance of STI for economic and industrial growth and employment is well documented. The area has been given a greater boost by being singled out in WSIS and WSSD processes as well as the outcome document and the Secretary General's report. More recently a number of reports (by the World Bank, UN Commission for Science and Technology for Development etc) acknowledge that STI important for development, sustainable development in particular. STI is also the basis for creating and building Knowledge Economies and underpins many activities driven by ICTs. Development of STI in a Globalization Context Globalization and the growing culture of interconnection, interdependency and inter-cooperation are important elements for developing STI within the framework of the various global commitments that have been made and achieving such objectives most certainly calls for strategic alliances across the board. In the case of Africa , there is an urgent need to strengthen alliances for STI investment at all levels to assist our member States build economies that are increasingly based on know-how. This should indeed be one of many strategies for poverty-reduction, employment-generation and contribute towards economic growth. Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in Africa By nurturing alliances the ultimate goal should be to reinforce national capacities, build viable and credible institutions whilst linking countries to the regional, interregional and global levels for enhanced cooperation in this area, cross-fertilisation of ideas and fostering technology transfers. Chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen With respect to meeting global challenges and nurturing regional and interregional cooperation, the Africa region especially comes to mind. Given the enormous resources required for STI investments, the continent needs to optimise and maximise opportunities offered by global, interregional and regional alliances for developing STI capacities and capabilities. Currently, few countries in Africa have the minimum number of scientists that may be required for the functioning of a scientific discipline. It is also recognized that African countries need to make significant investments (such as funding Research and Development) to make science and technology pay the deserved and required economic dividends. The few countries that are doing this stand out significantly. Furthermore, there is a concentration of disciplinary research on the African continent. South Africa appears to be producing above 70% of the continent's research in space science and psychology and above 50% of the continent's research in education, economic sciences and neurosciences. Egypt is producing above 40% of Africa's research in chemistry, and material sciences and just below forty percent of research in engineering, and Nigeria is the main producer of agricultural research. Yet we are all aware that in medicine, agriculture, education, and industry, advances in human knowledge have driven improvements in the quality of human life. The twenty-first century offers the promise of even greater and accelerated progress as digital technologies drive down the costs of creation, reproduction, distribution, and consumption of knowledge. Chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, As the role of knowledge in promoting human progress grows in importance, so does the question of who has access to that knowledge. It is clear that African countries need to strengthen mechanisms to broaden access to knowledge and information, and above all, new critical knowledge is needed in all areas . Responses to the STI Challenge: Role of ECA in context of repositioning Chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen In recognising the many challenges in meeting global and regional commitments in STI, the recent repositioning exercise in ECA that has just been completed led to the creation of the ICTs, Science & Technology Division (ISTD) aimed at: Using ICTs, Geographic Information, Science and Technology by member States as a tool for economic growth and sustainable development in member States; Facilitating new competitive environments for the emerging Knowledge Economy through ECA's programme the African Information Society Initiative (AISI); Increasing science, technology and innovation in development activities; Supporting Knowledge Management activities both within ECA and in member States. The division's objectives include developing action-oriented policies and strategies, including placing universities at the centre of local development and improving science education, stimulating entrepreneurial activities and focusing on areas of under-funded applicable research for development. ISTD like all of ECA's divisions will contribute towards strengthening regional integration in support of the African Union vision and priorities, and meeting Africa 's special needs and emerging global challenges. Meeting these challenges consequently require maximising on the benefits and opportunities offered by global, interregional and regional alliances, as well as nurturing them to fulfil our development mandate in Africa . Chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, the following examples illustrate how this is being done. Nurturing Alliances At the global level for instance, both phases of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) highlighted the importance of benchmarking and measuring progress toward the Information Society, calling upon countries and international organisations to allocate appropriate resources for the provision of ICT statistics. In response, the key stakeholders joined forces to create a global Partnership for Measuring ICT for Development', of which ECA is an active member. Furthermore, the United Nations Geographic Information Working Group reporting to the UN Chief Executive Board (CEB) and comprised of some 30 UN agencies and funds with ECA being a member is addressing common issues of geospatial data within the UN system. A major, current initiative of UNGIWG is towards the development and roll-out of a UN Spatial Data Infrastructure (UNSDI), very much in line with and complementing ECA's work in promoting SDI with African member States. Experience shows that working collaboratively with the UN family in this area is absolutely necessary for us in Africa . Led by UNESCO, ECA is an active member of the African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI. An interregional alliance led by ESCWA, involving all the five UN Regional Commissions is underway aimed at e stablishing global/regional knowledge networks for community development and ICTs. Priority areas include employment, education, gender and health whereby ICT access centres will be transformed into smart knowledge hubs regularly accessed by beneficiaries to gain, share and organize knowledge relevant to particular communities. Chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen In Africa, ECA is promoting and facilitating a number of networks and alliances that compliment the ECA repositioning exercise in Africa including: Supporting Academia Research Networks; Promoting R&D in Higher Education Institutes and among Africa 's academic and scientific communities. Strengthening Geographic Information centres of excellence and supporting the Africa GIS initiative; Cooperating and collaborating through the UN Science and Technology Cluster at the sub- regional and regional levels as well as working with the NEPAD S&T Cluster; Developing the African Virtual Library and Information Network (AVLIN) a network of Internet-based information and knowledge resources and services linking African research institutions and specialized networks. The Commission hosts the secretariat for other active alliances that are support STI initiatives in Africa . These include the Partnership for ICT in Africa (PICTA), aimed at harmonising donor interventions in this field and through the Electronic Policy Resource Network (ePOL-NET), an initiative by Canada in partnership with a number of bilateral agencies, ECA is the African regional node. Challenges and Lessons Learnt Despite these efforts, some challenges and lessons learnt include: Unattractive working conditions that oblige Africans to leave greener pastures, further increasing the continent's brain drain. The severe crisis facing many higher education institutions and R&D centers as well as the absence of physical infrastructure & limited access to ICTs, etc. Limited capacities (including human and institutional limitations) to develop adapt and exploit STI solutions that respond to economic and social needs. Need for greater political will and commitment in harnessing STI for development. There is room for more effective UN-wide collaboration in STI building on existing initiatives already underway. Way Forward Chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen The roadmap for nurturing alliances for regional and interregional cooperation is based on a tripartite collaboration of ECA, the African Union (including the Regional Economic Communities the RECs) and the African Development Bank (ADB) to collectively meet Africa 's development challenges. The examples given demonstrate that a concerted and harmonized approach to African STI activities through harnessing the resources of the UN family as well as leveraging resources from our external partners can yield tremendous results. Through this partnership matrix a great deal can be accomplished in the areas of capacity building, institutional strengthening and placing STI at the heart of the development agenda enabling scientific and technological knowledge and skills benefit societies and economies. This is an issue that has come to stay and we must work together to make it beneficial for us all. I thank you for your attention.
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