Africa tackles sustainability issues by investing in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)

Africa tackles sustainability issues by investing in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)

In a bid to boost sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa, the European Commission has teamed up with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to concoct innovative Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policies tailored for the region's unique challenges. The JRC devised a framework for crafting STI roadmaps that aim to stir economic growth, enhance social welfare, and safeguard the environment across the continent.

This methodology unfolds in a collaborative, evidence-driven approach, taking into account local circumstances and stakeholders' perspectives. The JRC's framework gathers key players, addressing each nation's needs and sustainability issues head-on.

The JRC's work is encapsulated in the report titled 'Propelling Sustainable Development in Africa', which acts as a blueprint for creating various country-specific publications. The report underscores the significance of capacity building, institutional strengthening, and international cooperation, and provides guidance to policymakers, international organizations, and practitioners on implementing and personalizing the JRC's methodology in diverse contexts.

Five countries partook in this initiative: Gambia, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, and Seychelles.

• Gambia dedicates its efforts to fortifying food self-sufficiency via STI investments in various food value chains.
• Mauritius concentrates on innovation to diminish non-communicable diseases (NCDs), focusing on prevention and treatment strategies.
• Namibia aims to bolster resilience among rural communities against climate change, with a particular emphasis on the water-food-energy nexus and the role of indigenous knowledge.
• Rwanda is committed to transforming food systems to improve food security and embrace emerging technologies.
• Seychelles focuses on enhancing energy efficiency and encouraging the adoption of renewable energy through innovation within the investment and industrial sectors.

The report underscores key findings from the participating countries' experiences, paving the way for effective STI policy roadmaps. These insights inform the following principles:

• Tailor the approach to country-specific challenges and opportunities.
• Engage stakeholders to establish a shared vision and promote inclusive governance.
• Invest in STI data to track progress and inform policy decisions.
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning to share best practices and tackle common challenges.

The approach can be implemented via several methods, such as:

• Challenge-oriented: addresses real problems with scientific proof and normative considerations.
• Participatory: involves stakeholders for political commitment, local ownership, and consensus on STI investments.
• Systems: aligns STI support systematically, encouraging policy coordination across multiple levels.
• Place-based: develops tailored solutions for local issues, with detailed data for comprehensive analysis, with a particular emphasis on Africa.
• Capacity building: stimulates collective capacity building, policy experimentation, and mutual learning.

By applying these techniques, policymakers can forge and execute STI policies that spur economic growth, improve lives, and uphold the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 'Propelling Sustainable Development in Africa' report ends with a call to action, urging continued cooperation and support in the design and execution of STI roadmaps for the advancement of the SDGs. Representatives of African nations, international STI specialists, and relevant organizations were invited to a workshop held in Pretoria, South Africa, in October 2024 to discuss this call to action.

National policymakers, the European Commission, and international organizations and investors were asked to:

• Engage local stakeholders, with STI partnerships focusing on sustainability.
• Align policies with national strategies and SDGs, and tailor investments to regional needs.
• Continue dialogues on STI's role in sustainable development.
• Promote synergies in EU cooperation.
• Adopt a challenge-oriented approach to sustainability.
• Pilot STI for SDGs frameworks.
• Collaborate with entities like the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD).
• Explore innovative financing for STI initiatives.

1. The JRC's framework for STI roadmaps, as detailed in the report 'Propelling Sustainable Development in Africa', emphasizes the importance of capacity building and institutional strengthening to create effective policies that foster economic growth, improve social welfare, and safeguard the environment.
2. Gambia, one of the participating countries in this initiative, focuses on using Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) investments to strengthen its food value chains and work towards food self-sufficiency.
3. Rwanda, another participant, is committed to transforming its food systems via STI, with a goal of improving food security and embracing emerging technologies.
4. Mauritius is concentrating on innovation to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs), focusing on prevention and treatment strategies.
5. Namibia aims to increase resilience among rural communities against climate change, with a particular emphasis on the water-food-energy nexus and the role of indigenous knowledge.
6. Seychelles is focusing on enhancing energy efficiency and encouraging the adoption of renewable energy through innovation within the investment and industrial sectors.
7. The 'Propelling Sustainable Development in Africa' report calls for continued cooperation and support in designing and executing STI roadmaps, with a particular emphasis on engaging local stakeholders, aligning policies with national strategies and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and adopting a challenge-oriented approach to sustainability.

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