Dr Alex Tindimubona
African SdenceandTechnology Exchange (ASTEX)
Kamp.~Uganda.
1. Itis a great honor and privilege for me to have been invited
by
the ~CA to this high level policy meeting, and to be given an opportunitytoaddress
it.This
is because Ibelieve
I am different from all previous speakers, in that I do not represent a Government or an inter..govemmental organization. On this occasion (and for the last 14 or soyears)
I represent a sector of peoplewho
are not a direct part of policy making institutions, but who are major stake holders in the process of linking S & T, economic and development policies. This is the NGO sector, and particularly the scientific andtechnologicalNGOcommunity.
2. Mr Chairman, I hope to put the case explicitly for involving . these NOD's in the broad based consultation that should be the policy making process. But first, I wish to broad consultation that should be
the policy making process. But first, I wish
tosay that NGOs area
powerful force
which
policy makers cannot afford to ignore. After all,I am informed that this meeting was made possible by the financial support of an
NOD,the Camefie Corporation of New York,
forwhich we are all grateful.
, 3. Mr Chairman, I
defineNOO broadly
to includeany
organized groupwhich
is not part of government (and whichdoes
not intend totake over government thus political parties are
excluded). Itisusually
voluntary, and usually not for profit although it can be quite entrepreneurial.It is usually in the private sector, self - governing and
may
operateany
level of the economy fromthe
grassroots to in-dividuals in the highest echelons of government. (Recently I heard a group of ministers who started an NGO toserve
theirinterests,
which Iassumed
were not being served by their governments f).Toquote
my friend Dr Ashok Jain, NGOs are situated on the whole "innovation chain" of the creation, mastery and utilization of S & T for economic development.4. In Africa, the NGD sector is a
dynamic
and growing venture, fuelled in part by the current trends of privatization, liberalization, democratization and retrenchment. Intheir
efforts to integrate S & T into economic anddevelopment
policies therefore, policymakers
will find NODs useful partners in "the following areas :5. Area 1 :
RESEARCHAND
ADVISORY SERVICES,including policy
research.(I have an example of an NGD which has
actually
developed a policy for an African government - ACTS work on intellectual/industrial property). Theboom is consultancy business in another indicator.6. Area 2 : TRAINING, EDUCATION
AND
CAPACITY BUILDlNGt (Incidentally we believe that the African Academy of Sciences was an early inventor of the termtt Capacity Building, which later literally gainedcurrency as the World Bank's multi-million dollar African Capacity Building Initiative (ACBI).7.
Area
3 : MOBILIZATION. DISSEMINATIONAND
POPULARIZATION OF S & T
AND
ITSLINK.
TO THE ECONOMY,Examples
are the technology development, popularization anddiffusion
of the energy-saving ceramic stove by KENGO ; and the powerfulenvironmental advocacy movement which has changed worlddevelopment philosophy in recent years. Another example is the concept oftt Development of a Science Culture in Africa (DESCA)~tt
now being popularized by AAS, NASO, CHI SCI and ASTEX. Mr Chairman, since I see DrPaulVittaofUNESCO here, itismy pleasure to tell this meeting that I recently won the 1992 UNESCO Swraj Paul Award for promotion of scienceandtechnology for mycontribution to the development of a science culture in Africa. I again wish to thank himfor the honor.
8. Area 4: LINKAGES. NETWORKS AND COOPERATION MECHANISMS, These are necessary for bridging the gaps between sgientists, economists (who have dominated policy making in recent years), industrialists as well as mssroots anddonor a~encies(I have a nice little example from Uganda, UMIDA, linking scientists and industrialists in themetal sector).
9. Area 5 : Last but not least, MAINTENANCE OF EX..
CELLENCE STANDARDS1 CREATION OF TECHNICAL CON-SENSUS AND BUILDING INFORMED VISIONS FOR A BEITER
FUTURE.
I refer to the NGO .. based professional peer-reviewed publications sponsorship of prizes,grants, competitions, innovationsand creativity, all referred to in the country papers from Uganda, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. (As an example, I have seen very few excellent journals coming out of government institutions and not backed by a professional NOD.The
political decision-making process may sometimesbe inimicalto the search for excellence).10. ASTEX, which I represent, operates in all the above areas.
It.
In conclusion, Mr chairman, I wish to briefly discuss how this partnership can be enhanced. Simply put, it must be based on enlightened self-interest and visionary leadership on both sides.agencies) usually have the money which NOOs need. In tum, NGOs may have the knowledt:e and/or implementation skills which govern-ments require. Innovative mechanisms can he developed for this intimate exchange to be consummated.
12. For example, the US National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of UK have been granted charters as official advisors of their respective governments. They get grants-in..aid from the treasury to independently organize themselves, and in tum are regularly commissioned, contracted and consulted to research and advise on wide-ranging issues in science, technology and the economy.
In
Africa,I believe the Kenya National Academy of Sciences also enjoys this status, and the DAD and the African Academy of Sciences appear to be moving towards a similar relationship.
13. Other, indirect methods include putting representatives ofNGOs on councils, committees and boards of policy making institutions etc.
The challenge is therefore a serious commitment and will to mobilize all forces in integrating S& T into economic and development policies.
14. With these few words, Mr Chairman, I thank you all.
THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION OF THE PROTOCOL ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY OF THE TREATY
ESTABLISHING THE AFRICAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY A.
W.
GhabrialChief, Science and Technology Section
OAU
INTRODUCTION
1. The heads of the State and Government of the Member States of the Organization of African Unity at their 27th Ordinary Summit held inAhuja, Nigeria from 3 to 5 June 1991, adopted and signed the Treaty Establishing The African Economic Community. By so doing they institutionalizedarticle II (2) of the Charter that stipulated : " To these ends, the Member States shell coordinate and harmonize their general policies, especially in the following fields :
a) Political and diplomatic cooperation;
b) Economic cooperation including transport and com-munication;
c) Educational and cultural cooperation;
d) Health, sanitation and nutritional cooperation;
e) Scientific and technical cooperation; and f) Cooperation for defence and security."
2. A number ofprotocols for specific sectors shou.ldbe drafted and adopted to be annexed to the Treaty and form part ofit. Among these protocols there is one science & technology. Up to date 24 Member States ratified the Treaty which shall only enter into force 30 days after
depositing the instruments of ratification by 2/3 of Member States of the OAU, i.e. 34 Member States.
3. The idea of the establishment of the African Economic Community originated in 1979, when the African Leaders adopted n Monrovia Declaration of Commitment
on
Guidelines and Measures for National and Collective Self-Reliance". Later in 1980 the leaders adopted the n Lagos Plan of Action " (LPA) for the economic development in Africa, which concretised the ideas and thoughts advancedinMonrovia Declaration.LPA outlined an integrated program for the economicand
social development in Africa through a number of procedures in the various sectors. The Final Act of Lagos that followed, called for the establishment of A.E.C. by the year 2000.4.
One of the main objectives of establishing the A.E.C. was to make Africa self-reliant and have self-sustaining growth and develop-ment. In view of the economic crisis which Africa is facing since 1980s either due to natural calamities or due to man-made actions, the need for uniting Africa and utilizing all of its natural and human resources became a necessity. It is to be recalled that Europe is moving towards a united Europe, and the trend in the whole world is integration, a matter that imposes in Africa not to afford to lag behind in this regard.In fact has no other alternative than to pursue economic integration.
The Sub-regional economic groupings already in existence represent a viable base and nucleus for African Economic Community.
5. Both the LPA and the Treaty identified the importance of Science& Technology in supporting the socio-economic development processinthe continent. Out of the 13chapters contained in L.P.A. an entire chapter was dedicated to' Science& Technology. (Chapter No 5).
Articles 51,52and 53 of theTreaty instituted the necessaryframework and mechanisms to be followed in the filed of Science & Technology in order to strengthen the existing facilities and build-up a strong base
where it does not exist. Article No 53 stipulates: It For the purposes of Articles 51 and 52 of this Treaty, Member States agree to cooperate in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol on Science and Technology."
6. At the international level, a UN Conference was held in Vienna on Science and Technology Development (UNCSTD) in ]979 and the participants adopted" Vienna Program of Action It (V.P.A.). Vienna program of Action set up mechanisms and modalities on ways and means to utilize science & technology for development at the interna-tional level. Considering the needs of the African Continent one can say that V..P.A. realized only part of its objectives and then much was left. As a result, itwas essential for the Third World and the African Member States in particular to take measures for exploiting their resources and to provide machinery for bilateral and / or multilateral cooperation among themselves, in order to promote collective self-reliance.
7. The DAU General Secretariat in collaboration with other relevant international regional organizations particularly RCA and lINDP are in the process of finalizing the Protocol on science &
technology in its draft form. The draft protocol will be submitted to the Permanent Steering Committee of the OAD for consideration and adoption.
GLIMPSES FROM THE DRAFT PROTOCOL :
8. As per Articles 51 & 52 of the Treaty, Member States at the national level shall :
a) strengthen scientific and technological capabilities in
required to improve the quality of life of their popula-tion, particularly that of the rural populations;
b) ensure the proper application of science and technology to the development of agriculture, transport and com-munications, industry, health and hygiene, energy, education, manpower and the conservation
of
the environment;c) reduce their dependence and promote their individual and collective technological self-reliance;
d) cooperate in the development, acquisition and
dissemi-nation of appropriate technologies; ande) strengthen existing scientific research institutions and, where they do not exist, establish new institutions.
9. Within the context of cooperation Member States shall : a) harmonize, at the Community level, their national
policies on scientific and technological research with a view to facilitating their integration into the nationaJ economic and social development plans;
b) coordinate their programs in applied research, research for development, scientific and technological services;
c)
harmonize their nationaltechnological
developmentplans by
placingspecial emphasis
onlocal technologies
as well as their regulationson
industrial propertyand
transfer of technology;d) coordinate their positions on all scientific and technical questions forming the subject of international negotia-tions;
e) carry out a permanent exchange of information and documentation and establish community data networks and data banks;
f) develop joint programs for trammg scientific and technological cadres, including the training and further training of skilled manpower;
• g) promote exchanges of researchers and specialists among Member States in order to make full use of the technical skills available within the Community; and
h) revise the educational systems in order to better adapt educational, scientific and technical training to the specific developmental needs of the african environment.
10. Member States are therefore expected to take all the necessary measures to prepare and implement joint scientific research and technological developmentprogramswith emphasis on the Biotechnol-ogy and theNuclear Sciences and Technologies.It is worth mentioning that the utilization of these branches of sciences should be geared towards the peaceful uses for development.
Modalities for the Establishment of the COIllIII!1nity :
11. Itisenvisaged that the Community is to be launched through six stagesof variable duration over a transitional period not exceeding thirty four years.Specific activities are associatedwith eachstage and
to be implemented concurrently. The first stage is estimated to be maximum five years from the date of entry into forces of this Treaty.
The goal of the first stage is to strengthen the existing regional economic communities and to establish economic communities in regions where they do not exist. Protocols to be annexed to the Treaty are to be drafted, and the Permanent Steering Committee of the CAD considers the Protocol of Science & Technology among the priority protocols to be drafted and adopted.
Science and TecbnoloKY as an Important Component for Economic Develgpmentin Mrica
12. Two factors have a direct bearing on the economic development in the Continent : The changes that took place in the world and shaped the new map of the world and the consequences of these changes in particular the democratization process sweeping the Continent. The first factor resulted in the redirection of western world assistance to parts other than africa,while the second coincided with the liberal and competitive economies. In a nutshell Africa should not expect the same flow of assistance used from the west as was the case in the past thirty years, and it should therefore equip itself to meet the challenges of 90's and beyond. Africa should be a strong economic entity and to adapt itself to the concept that "Science is knowledge" and knowledge is power. For Africa to do so, it has to acquire the scientific knowledge and its applications, i.e. the technologies. When we speak of
"Technologies", it should not necessarily mean sophisticated technologies, rather it has to be the traditional and simple technologies after adapting themto the needs of our societies.
13. When it comes to technologies, it is an established fact that Africa used and applied imported technology from other regions. The world economy is dominated by the so called knowledge-intensive
technologies, which was a result of findings of the high-level researches, and no doubt that such work was geared towards fulfilling specific and particular goals to the benefit of the industrialized world.
Now, it is high time for Africans to identify their objectives which should be implementable and tailored to meet their basic needs. For realizing this, it is imperative to give the necessary attention to capacity building by selecting, adapting, applying and developing new technologies that would contribute to solving a number of the daily pressing problems facing the various communities.
14. In order to mobilize Africans to undertake such endeavors, the brilliant sons of Africa, be its scientists or researchers who live in the diaspora should be made use of. They should be encouraged and given guarantees to come back to mother Africa and move freely to offer their services to those who are inneedof them. The research institutes and universities should become more efficient in preparing new generations dedicated for research and development, who will be able to serve their communities in due course.
15. Finally, decision makers should set up priorities in the domain
of
science & technology and accordingly draw up the implementable and practical plans and programs to be executed in this respect. Health care and food sufficiency and its technology are two main areas to be developed and examined. Other sectors which are necessary for the development ofOUTdaily life, should not be ignored, such as education, energy, agriculture, industry...etc.Science & Tecbnol01D' Politieswithin OAU :
16. Since its inception, the DAD was much concerned about the development of Science& Technology.Itis a common knowledge that OAU focused on the liberation struggle in its first era. As a result, not
sufficient focus was made on other pertinent sectors such as economic development, science & technology..etc. Now that the decolonization process is almost completed with the unfinished chapter ofIfApartheid", it is time that OAD centers on issues of bread and butter. In meeting this challenge, the DAD places the sector of science and technology among its priorities. The future of the world is dependant on the advancement of science and technology and its applications, and Africa can notafford to lag behind.
17. This does not mean that, the Secretariat of the OAD ignored the science & technology sector in the past. Beginnings were realized as projected in some efforts and achievements in the domain of science&
technology. The DAD has its sub-regional offices in Lagos, Nairobi and Yaounde through which scientific activities
and research are
continuing. Some other activities were undertaken such as holding the FirstSeminar on
Nuclear Science for Peaceand
Developmentin
Africa heldin
Kampala in March 1990. Another program to encouragethe
African Inventors/Innovators in cooperation with WIPO is an on-going exercise. Furthermore, preparations are lined up for the convening of a Biotechnology Conference to determine African Strategies in thisvery important domain.18. The OAU General Secretariat is now studying the ways and means to implementthe Agenda 21 and the outcome of Rio Conference which was held in June 1992. Within this framework, science &
technology must be adapted to our circumstances, situations and environment. In so doing, there is need to pool Africa's resources together, make use of African brains within and outside the Continent.