African strategy for science and technology development

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UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC and SOCIAL COUNCIL

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Distr.

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1CN.1.41

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142

3 March

1912

Original: ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

AFRICAN STRATEGY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT Introduction

1. The gap between the rich :.nd the poor countries is to a large extent attributable to differenoes in technology. This fact is borne out by the experience of non_western countries which havs··seriously set out to acquire, adapt and apply tochniques derived from scientific knowledge, The importance of the contribution soience and technology can make to development has been fully recognized ·by the United Nations. A United Nations Conference on the application of science and technology for the benefit of the less devsloped areas held in Geneva in 1963~ underlined the scope of such a contribution.

Since then UNACAST has been examining the United Nations role in the foster- ing of science and technology as an instrument for development"

2. It is important to remember that in the phrase "science and technology", the key word is "technology". It is teohnology, the application of techniques, that leads to increases in production, not science, Science offers a system~

tic basis for the derivation of techn010gies but cannot. by itself. lead to increase in production,

3.

There must necessarily be a programme of traini.ng which implies a

oontinuing process of skill acquisition, ultimately establishing the ability to apply teohnology, sipes there i" no rigid time sequence in the adcpt fon of science and technology. 'I'oda,y. the techniques and skills· of both the

industr~al B~d the scientific revolutions ha~e provided a stock of tools from which all cOlll:ltries can dra;;. As a shrewd author has put it: "It took the Russians about forty years, starting with something

of

an industrial base, to achieve industrialization ••• The Chinese started with much less of an industria.l base

no.

and it looks like taking them not much over half·

the time"

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The same author adds: "Technology ·is the branch of human experience that people can earn with predictable results"; and he goes on to say: "It is technioally possible to carry out the scientifiC reYolution in Indi.a~ Africa, Sor.th-East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, within fifty years" ~/.

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The experienoes of mowy other oountries seem to suggest that simple improvements in agriculture, manufacture and other fields which ma;y not require large units of investment or oomplex techniques, can help immediately to increase pro- duotivity and raise inoome levels. Already technological terms have slipped into • the vooabulary of most African countries. This can be 'regarded as an unoonscious oonditioning of the population for life in the scientific and technologioal era.

Elements of an African strategy

5.

The main objecti ves of an African strategy for the deve lopment of science and technology should be to:

Introduce improved technologies in small- and medium-scale indUllJ;21.es in order to improve quality and productivity;

Improve arrangements rcr the tr,ansfer and adaptation of knowledge and , technology already available'in mOre developed countries;' ,

Establish or improye the necessary institutions and _t~ain personnel at the professional"technioian'and oraftsman levels,'to apply modern science and teCPnology to ,developnent ;

Mobilize the efforts of scientists and"research organizations in Africa, and direct these towards the solution of deve Iojment problems encounteredb,r African enterprise;

Promote a greater knowledge .and awareness among Governments, the science and engineering community, the general publio and especially the qrouth of,Afrioa, of their countries' need for science: and technology;

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Encourage i,ntr~Africanco-operation in the, development of .scdence and technology institutions and programmes.

6. Considerable advantage can be gained from an African programme fOr science and technology 'spread over the ,periodcovered,by the Second Development .Decades

In this wa;y national investment in scienoe ,and teohnology, 001/.1d be oonsidered along with national investment in other social and economic seotors, during the

s~e pe:dod.

1.

I f an African prog:i'amme inscienoe and technology duritlg the Second

Development Decade is to secur-e the maximum degree of implementation, individual countries must undertake to design specific projects, and programme their

implementation. Obviously, the greatest benefit is more likely to be derived frof!l projects whioh la;y the greatest long-term foundation for continued, technological deVelopment. ' The policie-s adopted by individual countries should be refl.ctlldin their project selection" which should aim at the t.Icreation and enhancement of technological capability" in the African countries.

8. Short-term and medium-term objectives should be clearly defined at country level and kept distinot from long-term objectives as far as possible . . .Tha first two will find expression in projects relating to manpower training" partioularly through attachments abroad, importation and adaptation

of

-1;eohnology,' and the mobilization of existing professional teohnologioal manpower for projeot _~

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productd.cn il.e\lign, supe:M11.sl.on Mil. operation. An important aspect of the short- and me!iium-term benEifits obtainable from the African PrOgTamme would be the creation and improvement of technological services.

9.

Short··term progTammes should deal primarily with the adaptation and applica.- tion of existing knowledge to cope with such needs as health. food and education.

10. The' objectives of long-term programmes would inclu~c institutional develop..

ment, particUlarly research and development (~), reorientation and improvement of basic education in science and technology. Wisdom dictates that in!iiv:l.dual countries should select projects for institutions they can effectively maintain out of th€>ir cwn resources on a long_term basis, and shou.Ld arrange to co-operate with neighbouring countries for the establishment and use of more complex and costly institutions.

11. A very important component of the African strategy relates to the development of Ii. mental climate f"avourable to the adoption of innovation and the attendant changes in outlook, local culture and pattern of life. This implies a det.ermined effort ... in adult ed,ucation programmes to explain the signif"icance and possibilities of the new technology. It' also assumes the existence cf support programmes to facilitate the transition to new patterns of community organization and f"unction- ing.

Objectives and policy measures for major production sectors - Food and Agriculture 12. This is an area where, without costly innovations either in funds or totally new skills, noticeable changes can be achieved. It is also the area which ensures the primary conditions for the diversification of economies. Once health

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food ~e assured , more time and resources can be devoted to the secondary and . tertiary sectors. The problems most African countries face toda;y' stem partially

from the fact thata,gricultural and forestry research has until recently been directed not to the.production of .food and the requirements of" the local Qom-"

munity, but to the promotion of export crops. Export carnangs are needed to

import commodities produced abroad and knowledge and skills not available local1,y.

13. What is required is a pattern of development which, within the limits of available resources. will proVide enough to consume locally and sufficient quantities to secure earnings f"rom abroad. Modest beginnings were made during the colonial period by the establishmont of" a network of research institutions.

14.

Quite clearly greElter emphasis must be placed on resoarch to increase the production and availabilily of food 'crops and food prOducts. Marked improvements in food production can be obtained already through tho effective !iissomination of improved f"arm practices and the introduction of" simple labour-saving tools.

15.

Deteriol'ation during stora,ge and handling accounts for the loss of" as much as a quarter of food production between harvests. Attention to this problem probably of'f'er-s the earliest prospects of" increasing food aVailability. Henoe the priority objectives for tho Afri can programme in this soctor Should be:

(i) Reduction or obViation of losses due to deterioration in stora,ge of" food crops;

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(11) Introduction of simple> improyed faXmi,ng technologies (inoluding tools)

on peasant farms; " "

(iii) Deve Iojment cf food processing on an industrial scale;

(tv) Genetic improvement of crop varieties and livestook breeds;

(v) Provision of soil and water data to faoilitate the planning of improved farming practices and the extension of cultivation to new lands;

(vi) The oonerol 01' eradication of diseases, and pests.

Ths objeotives stated in (iv). (V) and

(vi)

are 10ng6I'-term objectives.

16.

The following policy measures are propoaede

(i), Increasing resouroes _allocat~d to food production researoh;

(ii) Establishing storage research as a priority for all major food orops"

espeoial~cereals, _legumes~ roo+' crope 'and plantain;

(iii) Taking maximum advantage of opportunities for intra-regional co- operation'in disease and pest control;

(iv) RationaliBing existing agricultural research programmes in each OOuntryf and relating,them to activi~ies in other African countries;

(v) 'Inoreasing facilities 'for the training' of agrioultural technioians and for" the dissemination of information on improvements.

Industrial teohnology

17.

In indus"trial teohnology the _thr~e over-riding neec.s are: the acquisition of operative technolQ!l:rror the manUfacture of products alroady developed elseWhere,

i.e.,

import-substitution industries, the devolopment, preferably through R&D of techniques for processing locally p;roduced raw'materials; the developnenl; of local expertise in' product and plant design to free industriali.zatton from undue depend.- ence on overseas manpower.

18.

In planning fQr technOlOgy transfers, J.t is important to emphasize that·

opera.tive skills in a specific area of production can best be acquired on the job.

19.

The objectives of the industrial technolQgy sector are therefore:

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(iii)

Promotion.of early localization (or indigonization) of technioal and managerial manpower in national manufacturing enterprises;

Developing the processing of looally-produoed"raw materials to semi- finished or finished products;

Creating or reinforcing the indigenous oapability for product or plant

design. .

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To ensure the attainment of these objeotives within the African soience

and'

technology programme, it will be neoessary to _a~range for batches of locally trained engineers, technicians and craftsmen to work for "-ppropri,,,te periods in seleoted industrIell in devel.oped count:ciosj to ensure that Loca'l industries in operation or vnder- conaidera;t:'ion deVise and .operata on-the-,job training schemes, for local engineers, technicians and cz-af't amen; to promote the establishment of special ccu-sea or in':~,5.tlJi;esfer ),ndustr,ial managemerrt training to be proVided locallyj to bring universities and -tochnological.coll,eges in Africa to accePt the need to direct some :research activi:t:..es. tc~;ards.:the procecsdng of local proituch;

inclUding the develc>pnent of pilot plants which inoorporatc such procesSes. . 21. Action at governmente,l level is also noces,sary. and Governments should encourage the formation or looal engineeI'ing consulting organh,a'tions, using the serVices' of such indigenous cor•.stllti.ng., firms, wherever pos"lblc. Moreover., on large infrastructural or induHtrial projeotsusing foreign consultants because of the level and exten+. of expertise involved, Governments should ensure that local consulting organization" are also retainod to work in association with the overseas consulting organization throughout all the phases of tho project.

Natural resources d~velopment

22 •. The mainisBues for Mrican countries, as fer as natural re,sources develop- ,ment is concerned, is the acquisition of a more complete knowledge of their overall natural resources. 'rbs object is to enable them to plan their exploitation and develop the capacity to ".mdertake this on their own or ill .effective participation with foreign investors. This implies tho deve Lojmerrt of technological capability to carry out the surveys and the evaluation necessary to descl"ibe and catalogue the natural resources potential of different kinds, and the aoquisition of the technologica: knowledge ana. expertis( to parti.)ipa.e U:.JfullJ'· in exploitation ventures.

23. The objectiV3S .of the African pr-ogr-amme in this ueo-hor- shvuld be ,to:

(_1.,

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⁾

(ii)

(iii)

Incroase manpower trai.ning fer natural resourcE' s1.trVeys, 'ino:lUlting , land. surveyors and 'cartog.raphers, geologists, mineralogists, geo- .physicis~s, mining_,englneer~ of different 'ty-:;>ss fOI' mineral ores,

petroleum, coal, etc.;

Create or strengthen illstitutional,scient ific

and

tecllr.olvgical support for survey, identification and eyaluation ope:cations;

Establish, at ,least for a :Limited numberoi 'latm'al resourcca, the technologioal )a¢city for carrying out some degree of local processing, to inc!'oaee the valuG of the exported produot.

24. To attain these objecti,ies, it will be necessary to reinfoI'Ce training

programmes for land surveyors, earth scientists, geologioal and mining engineersj expand national Land survey and cartographio serVioes, at; well as geological departments, espeoially the economic geology sections; establi3h mineral research facilities, particular1,y for mineral processing such ae oz-c dressing and ben(\- ficiation treatment of u.ineral deposit; of unusua.L chemical oomposition, recovery

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26.

^The

(i)

(ii)

(iii) (iv)

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of valuable trace elements, etc.; prova si on of oceanographic research facilities, if possible, on a multinational basis to develop expertise for the future survey and exploitation of marine reso~ces of coastal nations.

Development of indigenous scientific and technological capacity

25. Clearly the top priority is the expansion. of technological capacity, '~hat is, the capacity to. utilize knowledge for production and other social ends and the 9apability of developing and adding to such knowledge in answer to eoonomlc and social demands. Of course scientific capability, i.e" training and r-esearch for fundamental knowledge must be promoted in step, but as a long-term objeotive.

object!ves, in this sector, ma;}' be sununa.ri.zed as fcllows:

Creating a spectrum of trained engineers and technologists suffioient, at least, toprov,ide national oapability in the technological services and production sectors on'which the economio life of the country rests;

Rapidly upgrading, through a carefully planned intensive programme, the existing stock of indigenous engineers, technologists and scientists, to provide personnel for industrial development;

Seouring a network of basio institutions for scientific research and scientific services relevant to the country's development perspectives;

Awakening, reinforcing and mobilizing public awareness of the possibilities of soienoe and technology as instruments for social and economic transformation.

27. The policy measures by which such a programme ooule; be implemented (and some of these should also be refleoted in oountry plans) would include a quick review of the gaps in the country's technclogical manpower, in relation to its eoonomio and government service sectors; (an approximate pioture is pt'ovided by the areas preponderanoe of imported' manpower); the institution of a programme .of short- and medium-term training attachments for existing engineers and technologists With industries and other scientific and technological research!design!

oonstruotion establishments and organizations in developed count1'ies; the establishment of the types of national institutions that can be maintained with national resources, and the utilization of opportunities provided by the African programme to strengthen these or fill the existing gaps; giving support to proposals and participating in the planDing of other necessary soientific and teohnologioal institutions more likely to be viable in a multinational context;

the establishment of high priorities for soience and technology populariza.tion and adult education schemes in government-owned mase-media, as well as the provision of subsidies for similar schemes in other national mass-media,

28. The machinery of Government in pre-independence African countries did not inolude arrangements for the promotion of science and technology, The puhlic works and other technical departments were servicing agencies rather than science and research organs. Taking into consideration the emphasis of the new governments on economic and social development, the recognition of the need to in- corporate the development of science and technology as part of government

business is obvious. During the past five years, many African Governments have become aware of this sector of national development and some are sttiving hard to provide machinery for the promotion of science and tech.~ology.

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29. For insta.nce, there are at present thirteen

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such organizations in the African region: five in East Africa, four in West Africa, two in Central Africa and two in North A:f'ri.ca. This is certainly a sign of good auguryt but much more remains to be done before the impact of a strategy- for science and technology- in Africa can oven begin to be felt. It canno'. be too often stressed that individual African Governments must make it a matter of deliberate policy to create effeotive instruments and organs within the government administraticn ',0 trans- late into practical plans and definite action, the proposals and ideas contained in this strategy documont ,

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Annexed.

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E/CN.14/ECO/42 Annex ANNEX

LIST OF GOVERNMENT POLICY-MAKING AND PLANNING ORGANS FOR SCIENCE A1ID TECHNOLOGY IN AFRICA CENTRAL AFRICA

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Carnoroun Za3!re

EAST AFRICA Tanzania Tanzania

Uganda Zambia

Republique malgache

NORTH AFRICA Egypt Sudan WEST AFRICA

Cate d'Ivoire Ghana

Nigeria Senegal

Office national de 11'1. recherche scientifique et technique

Office natienal de 11'1. recherche et du deveLcppemczrt

National Scientific Research Council

Science and Technology Investment Section, Ministry of Economic. Affairs and Developnent Plll.Il!ling

National Research Council

- National Council for Scientific Research Comit" national de la recherche scientifique at techniqUe

Ministry of Scientific Research National Council for Resea:rch

Ministbre de 11'1. recherche scientifique

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Council for Science and Technology Conseil interministeriel de la recherche

sc~ontifique et technique

African strategy for science and technology development

UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC and SOCIAL COUNCIL

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1CN.1.41

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