COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CSIR-STEPRI), GHANA

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1 COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CSIR-STEPRI), GHANA Introduction The Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI) was established as one of the thirteen research institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which has the mandate to coordinate Research and Development (R&D) in Ghana. In pursuit of its mandate the CSIR oversees scientific research institutes such as the Crops Research Institute, Animal Research Institute, Food Research Institute and the Institute of Industrial Research. CSIR-STEPRI is the main social science research institute under the CSIR (CSIR website, 2009). The vision of CSIR-STEPRI is to be an internationally acclaimed institute that facilitates the development, transfer, utilisation and management of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in accordance with the context-specific needs and priorities of Ghana. Its mission is to provide the research support necessary for the formulation and implementation of relevant STI policies and programmes aimed at creating the enabling conditions for effective scientific and technological applications in all sectors of the economy and for the advancement of society. In this connection, the specific functions are: STI policy studies, monitoring and assessment; Facilitation of the transfer, diffusion and commercialisation of technological innovations; STI acculturation and popularization; Facilitation of scientific human resource development and management; 1

2 STI advocacy. In carrying out these functions, CSIR-STEPRI collaborates and partners with relevant institutions locally and internationally. The following are some of the key collaborative projects being carried out or has been completed within the past two years. Tailoring Food Sciences To Endogenous Patterns Of Local Food Supply For Future Nutrition (TELFUN) Project The project is a PhD-based one initiated by an interdisciplinary research group based in Wageningen University and Research (WUR) of The Netherlands with three collaborating institutions in Ghana, India and Ecuador. In each of the three countries there are coordinating institutions, which implement the project with collaborating partners in the respective country. CSIR-STEPRI is the coordinating institution in Ghana with the Noguchi Institute of Medical Research, the University of Development Studies and the Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) as collaborating institutions. In Ecuador, the PREDUZA Foundation/Wageningen University, which is based in Quito is the coordinating institution and in India, the Department of Foods and Nutrition of the Haryana Agricultural University based in Hisar is the coordinating institution. In The Netherlands there are also collaborating institutions from the WUR with the Group Critical Technology Construction being the coordinating institution. CSIR-STEPRI has had a long period of collaboration with this group of social scientists dating back to 1990s. The project took off in the latter part of In agricultural sciences the concept of the (agroindustrial production) chain is often used to describe the social organization of production and consumption. A chain is characterized by vertical integration of actors, from supplying industry 2

3 to primary production, processing industry and distribution to consumers (TELFUN Project website, 2009). The TELFUN Project focuses on specific food products and local initiatives which could be used to reconnect the link between agricultural produce and local food consumption patterns, and improve the nutritional and social qualities of these products. The project looks for food products around which new social relations between producers, processors and consumers can be created at the local level. Under the Ghana component of the TELFUN project, five Ghanaian Ph.D. students are registered in the Wageningen University and Research and have been assigned work on specific themes relevant to the country s food and agricultural situation. The Ghanaian Ph.D. students at various levels of their work are drawn from the Food Research Institute, Crops Research Institute, the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research and CSIR-STEPRI. There are local supervisors of the students from Ghana and include the Director and Deputy-Director of CSIR-STEPRI supervising the three Ph.D. students in Social Sciences. The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) Review and the Formulation of Ghana s National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy The STIP Review Study was sponsored by the UNCTAD and the World Bank with the aim of reviewing the national policy framework for Science, Technology and Innovation in Ghana. CSIR-STEPRI facilitated the study, with consultants spearheading the research and preparation of reports on key sectors e.g. food processing, ICT and traditional herbal medicine. The reports have been concluded and submitted to the government for necessary action. A major outcome of the STIP review is the decision by the government to prepare a National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Science and 3

4 Technology (MEST). The ministry has adopted a broad based participatory process for the preparation of the STI Policy. Representatives of STI-interested organisations such as the research institutions, the universities, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) held discussions on the preparation of the policy at a retreat. Consultants including CSIR-STEPRI prepared the draft for further discussion. The second draft was posted on the internet and made accessible to all individuals interested in making inputs. A consultative workshop was also held with the Minister and Deputy participating fully under the chairmanship of a representative of the Presidency. Representatives from government ministries and agencies, professional associations, academia and traditional authorities participated in the consultative workshop. Further consultations will be held on the draft before adoption by government. Ghana s National STI Policy is emerging as one national policy with the most open and participatory process of formulation. Project on Climate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Assessments and Related Initiative The overall objective of the project on the assessments of climate innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana and Tanzania is to build national and international decision makers understanding of the conditions for climate innovation research, development and diffusion (RD&D) in Africa, and to provide inputs for WWF s work on catalyzing improvements in these conditions. The collaborating institutions on the study are the InnoGate Aps of Denmark, CSIR- STEPRI and the Tanzanian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture with the WWF providing funding. The assessments were implemented at two levels: 4

5 1. The ground analysis of prevailing framework conditions for enhancing national climate innovation systems in Africa i.e. the day-to-day reality and available resources for climate entrepreneurs work in each country. 2. Identification of preferred systems for technology transfer that will enable African climate innovation entrepreneurs to develop and grow. Building on these findings the assessments furthermore set out to provide (a) recommendations to policy makers, investors and entrepreneurs, and (b) enable informed decisions on approaches on how to further activities and collaborations that will strengthen the national innovation systems in Ghana and Tanzania specifically, and Africa in general. The assessment was done through the collection of qualitative data and information by interviews of about 25 key informants in the relevant institutions. A national stakeholder workshop was organized (with participation of entrepreneurs, business organizations, private investors, knowledge institutions, government authorities and NGOs/CSOs) in each country. There is much evidence in Ghana that climate change is already taking place and seriously affecting the quality of life for many people in Ghana. This calls for action from all levels of society. A follow-up action is being done on the basis of the assessment work in Ghana and Tanzania. CSIR-STEPRI is hosting Work Group Meeting on 2 nd December 2009 at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra to deliberate on African European Climate Innovation Initiative (AECII). Representatives at the meeting are the participating institutions in the climate 5

6 innovation assessment study, the Pan-African Competitiveness Forum (PACF), the Environmental Protection Agency and others. The AECII meeting in Accra would mainly formulate strategy and action plan proposals for collaboration among critical actors in Africa and Europe. Africa Science Technology Innovation Indicators (ASTII) Survey The NEPAD Office of Science and Technology based in Pretoria is conducting an ASTII Survey in about 19 African countries including Ghana. The Ghana survey is being conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology with CSIR-STEPRI serving as the Focal Point and carrying out the technical research in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service. A National Steering Committee comprising relevant institutions e.g. Ghana Statistical Service, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and NDPC meet regularly to review progress made and oversee the work of the researchers. A report has already been submitted to the NEPAD Office of Science and Technology covering the analysis made on data gathered on innovation in the country. The component dealing with R&D will be prepared presently. International Liberalization of Trade in ICT Services: Challenges for the Private Sector and Implications for the Implementation of Public Policies in West Africa (LICOM) The purpose of this project is to facilitate a better understanding of the challenges and conditions of trade liberalisation of ICT services implementation in West Africa and recommend strategies for the policy makers. As part of the project, national and regional issues for the efficient liberalisation of the private sector will be studied as well as the adoption and implementation of 6

7 international agreements in particular the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Their impact on the economy of the countries targeted, including the private sector, will also be investigated. The project is financed by the IDRC Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal and hosted by PANOS Institute also based in Dakar, with scientific support from Consortium pour la Recherche Économique et Sociale (CRES) Senegal. Countries participating in the project are Senegal, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria and CSIR-STEPRI is conducting the study in Ghana. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Project The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Project is sponsored by the World Bank and based at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The fundamental goal of CSIR-STEPRI s component of the project is the identification of enterprises needing assistance, elaboration of the nature of the assistance and the strategies for assistance. The specific activities of the project include the conduct of a survey of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector in Ghana, cluster mapping, identifying enterprises needing assistance from the project and preparing case studies on selected enterprises to guide the MSME project assistance to the enterprises. The outputs include a survey report on 200 enterprises detailing types of enterprises, locations, enterprise activities, strength and weaknesses, and CDs/ DVDs on enterprise activities in Ghana. Some of these outputs have been concluded. NKOSOO Project on Sustainable Growth of Oil Supply Industry in Ghana Environmental sustainability is one of the key elements in Science and Technology policy. With the beginning of the oil industry in Ghana, there is need to address this from the policy perspective. Nkosoo is a Ghanaian (Akan) word meaning development. In this project, the 7

8 Norwegian organisation SINTEF Technology and Society and the Technical University of Norway (in Trondheim, NTNU) are collaborating with CSIR-STEPRI in using specific models to develop capacity in selected industry-related enterprises for sustainable operations. There are several local collaborating partners in the project which is expected to be funded by NORAD (the Norwegian donor agency). These include the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the College of Engineering (KNUST) and the AGI. With some initial grant, stakeholder consultations were carried out in Ghana this year and a workshop held to finalise the project documents. The Nkosoo Project is expected to begin next year Collaboration with the Rural Enterprise Project The Rural Enterprise Project (REP) has engaged STEPRI to carry out Business Opportunities Identification Studies (BOIS) to facilitate their operations in the rural districts. REP was set up to undertake interventions to enhance the operations of micro and small enterprises in the rural districts such as food processing (e.g. extraction of edible oil, producing cassava products and meat products), metal works and service industries. The project is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the African Development Bank. REP collaborates extensively with local organisations in its operations including the District Assemblies, National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) and the trade association. The BOIS involved the studies carried out in the respective districts prior to the entry of REP to begin their support for the micro and small enterprises. From 2005 to 2007, CSIR-STEPRI conducted BOIS in a total of 37 districts. Another aspect of the BOIS, which began in October 2006, was the Technical Moderation of District Conferences of stakeholders in rural enterprises. 8

9 The conferences organised in the respective district capitals involved bringing together representatives of the different categories of rural entrepreneurs, lectures from the key institutions such as the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) and the Ghana Standard Board (GSB) and an open forum for feedback. The collaboration between REP and CSIR-STEPRI is mutually beneficial in terms of the roles and functions each establishment undertakes. REP operates effectively in their respective districts and CSIR-STEPRI makes the necessary knowledge inputs. Development of a National Biotechnology Policy for Ghana In 2004 CSIR-STEPRI led in making a submission for a competitive research grant of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) under the IDRC s Research on Knowledge Systems (RoKS) Programme. The research project proposal Towards a Systemic Approach to the Evolution of Biotechnology Policy in Ghana aimed at using participatory mechanisms for gathering inputs for the formulation of a national biotechnology policy for Ghana. It was one of the three award winning proposals from Africa and one of the nine from the world-wide proposals, which won awards out of a total of 141. A biotechnology policy could not be prepared alone by one organisation. CSIR-STEPRI identified key institutions to collaborate with locally. The collaborating partners were the Faculty of Biosciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Centre for Development Studies of University of Cape Coast (UCC). 9

10 The implementation of the project has generally been completed and the Draft National Biotechnology Policy of Ghana was submitted to the government in To arrive at the main policy output a number of activities were carried. There was the survey of biotechnology institutions and experts in the relevant institutions in Ghana. Stakeholders Consultation Workshops were organised and the proceedings prepared. A Citizens Conference, which was a central core of the project, was held from 10 th and 11 th January 2007 and the proceedings prepared. An electronic version of the proceedings was published on DVD. Under the project, there was also the publication of Biotech.Ghana as a periodic newsletter to create awareness and sensitise stakeholders to the issues of biotechnology development. This publication has been sustained since the project came to an end in 2007 with the required reports submitted to the IDRC. References CSIR website (2009) CSIR-STEPRI (2009). Annual Report Accra: CSIR-STEPRI. TELFUN Website (2009). 10