Boosting science and technology in Africa to tap continent's bioenergy potential

No doubt it is interesting to know that sub-Saharan Africa has a large technical bioenergy potential (earlier post), and it might be good to understand that it may boost economies, alleviate poverty, reduce greenhouse gases and strengthen energy security. But exploiting the continent's bioenergy potential in an efficient and economical way requires a great number of resources that must be optimalised: from institutional capacity building, to investments in infrastructures, over technology transfers and the creation of markets, - the challenges are enormous.

It would also be unsound to stand by and see a one-way traffic develop whereby foreign knowledge, technology and capital are the main input, while Africa just 'offers' its land, labor and biomass resources to outside actors. Instead, a strategy in which local capacities are strengthened will yield much better long term results. One of the most important sectors in Africa that needs strengthening in this respect, is that of basic science and technology (S&T). Without performant S&T capacities, the continent will remain reliant on outside expertise for its development. The world may well see an African Green Revolution in the 21st century, but will it be driven by Africans themselves?

The challenges of boosting S&T in Africa
In order to make sure it will, several initiatives are underway. Today, a major congress on science and technology in Africa kicks off in Cairo, Egypt, organised by the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST) (which has a comprehensive bioenergy program). The congress builds on the earlier three-day Congress of African Scientists and Policymakers, organised by the African Union in Alexandria, Egypt, from 27-29 October. At this event, African scientists and politicians proposed a wide range of measures to boost S&T on the continent, ranging from more flexible visa laws for greater mobility of scientists, to the creation of a continent-wide scientific advisory committee.

One proposal recommended that every member set aside one per cent of the annual gross domestic product to fund science and technology programmes to aid Africa's development. To encourage the African diaspora to contribute to their homeland's scientific development, African countries should facilitate low-cost direct remittances to send funds back home, the delegates said:
bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: science :: technology :: development :: African Union ::Africa ::

The delegates put forward 50 individual suggestions, of these 10 were chosen to be submitted to a meeting of African science and technology ministers that was recently held in Cairo, Egypt. If approved, the suggestions will also be presented at the next AU summit meeting of heads of state being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2007 under the theme of science, technology and innovation.

Several speakers urged that African governments make their own commitment to increasing support for science and technology, rather than leave this to the private sector or international finance institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

"To change the face of Africa, this is the chance," said Nagia Essayed, AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology. "We might not have enough financial resources, but unless we put our own money into this, we won't get others to believe in us."

The conference drew up a declaration urging African governments to "create favourable conditions for mobility of scientists, engineers and technicians" by introducing more flexible visa laws for scientists and dedicating future summits to science, technology and innovation.

Other recommendations included strengthening intellectual property rights to encourage innovation, establishing specialised research centres for developing local technologies and upgrading science and technology education in schools.

Over 120 scientists and politicians attended the conference, from nearly all of the AU's 53 member states. The conference saw much lively debate over how to best use science and technology to alleviate the suffering of the majority of the continent's 880 million people.

Africa lags in development because it remains colonised, argued Sadeg Faris, a Libyan emigrant and chief executive officer of eVionyx, a New York-based energy company. "If you look around you in Africa, you will not find anything that was invented or developed here," says Faris. "That's because the continent is forced to sell its raw materials cheaply in order to buy expensive technologies developed in the West. It's a vicious cycle."

But mathematics professor Aderemi Kuku, a Nigerian emigrant working at Miami University in the United States, said Africa's problems had a simpler origin, namely that it was unprepared to invest enough in scientific infrastructure. "Where there's a will, there's a way," said Kuku. "But our countries have never demonstrated this will."

Boosting basic science
The African Union congress on science and technology led to today's congress held in Cairo. African scientists have urged leaders to carry out science initiatives that will improve the lives of Africa's poor, and to popularise science and technology at grass-root level.

The participants — scientists and representatives from nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) — said governments should cooperate more with NGOs to implement 'basic science' initiatives that improve the lives of Africa's poor by using science to solve everyday problems.

Fred Oladeinde, president of The Foundation for Democracy in Africa, a US-based NGO, said governments and NGOs have separate strengths, and should work together to promote science in Africa.

"Governments should not get involved in implementation, they're not efficient. And that's where NGOs should come in and leave the legislation to the politicians," he told SciDev.Net.

Delegates recommended establishing continent-wide exchange programs for students and researchers, and creating a database for science and technology experts in Africa and among the diaspora.

Other proposals included holding innovation competitions at national, regional and continental-level, and strengthening science curricula in African schools.

African Union summit on science, technology and innovation
From these two congresses, a final list of proposals will be drawn up and submitted to the landmark African Union summit meeting in January 2007 on science, technology and innovation. It is expected that at this meeting, African heads of states will unite to form a comprehensive and continent-wide strategy to promote science on the continent.

A forum, created by Scidev.net allows experts, stakeholders and ordinary readers interested in African S&T issues to debate topics they would want to see discussed at this important AU summit. The forum can be accessed here.


More information:
Congress of African Scientists and Policymakers - Alexandria, Egypt 27-29 October 2006
African Ministerial Council on Science & Technology (AMCOST)
AMCOST: Building a sustainable energy base - a look at the AMCOST bioenergy program
SciDev.net: AU congress suggests how to boost African science - November 2, 2006