AU 9 TH PRIVATE SECTOR FORUM

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1 AU 9 TH PRIVATE SECTOR FORUM Building Africa s Capacity in Science & Technology and Creating Enabling Environment for Techpreneurship What are the capacity imperatives? 13 November 2017, Pretoria, South Africa Dr. Robert Nantchouang Senior Knowledge Management Expert The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) The African Capacity Building Foundation Fondation pour le Renforcement des Capacités en Afrique Securing Africa s future through capacity development Assurer l'avenir de l'afrique en renforçant les capacités

2 1. State of education and STI in Africa: What are the capacity gaps?

3 Building capacity requires an holistic approach capacity The Africa Capacity Flagship Report (ACR) In 2011, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) launched the inaugural Africa Capacity Report (ACR) as a flagship publication, with the objectives of measuring and examining capacity in relation to the development agenda in African countries by focusing on the key determinants and components of capacity for development. The ACI (Africa Capacity Index) is the Report s primary index, and the signature trademark of the ACI Report, which is published annually. Four dimension of capacity development were defined through four clusters: Clusters Cluster 1: Conditions that must be in place to make transformational change and development possible Cluster 2: Assessment of the extent to which countries are prepared to deliver results and outcomes Cluster 3: Refers to tangible outputs that encourage development Cluster 4: Desired changes in the human condition

4 More efforts needed towards capacity in Africa. Overall, capacity, in its various dimensions, is still a problem for the continent - not just in the area of science, technology and innovation In 2017, on a scale 0-100, ACI ranges from 71.6 for Morocco (High) to 33.1 for the Central African Republic (Low) No countries have so far ranked in the coveted Very High bracket. Nine countries are in the High bracket and two in the Low bracket. No countries ranked in the Very Low bracket Source: Africa Capacity Report 2017

5 Most important, Africa is in dire need of implementation capacity Source: Africa Capacity Report 2017 Medium Figure 1:Pattern of capacity dimensions Very Low Low High Very High Cluster 1 Policy environment Cluster 2 Processes for implementation Five years down the road, a constant message comes out from pattern of capacity: In Africa, policies are yet to translate into concrete results. Africa is in dire need of implementation capacity Cluster 3 Development results at county level Cluster 4 Capacity development outcomes

6 Notable efforts in putting in place strategies for STI The African Union STISA-2024 Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 Mission is to Accelerate Africa s transition to an innovation-led, Knowledge-based Economy. This will be achieved by: Improving STI readiness in Africa in terms of infrastructure, professional and technical competence, and entrepreneurial capacity; and Implementing specific policies and programs in science, technology and innovation that address societal needs in a holistic and sustainable way. Stisa-2024 will foster social transformation and economic competitiveness, through human capital development, innovation, value addition, industrialisation and entrepreneurship.

7 Notable efforts in putting in place strategies for STI Countries have strategies to promote STI Figure 2: Strategies for STI [CATEGORY NAME] [PERCENTAG E] Promotion of STI is part of National Development Plans 28% Source The country does not have a Strategy for the promotion of STI 7% However, such efforts are yet to translate into concrete STI results

8 State of education and STI in Africa: What are the capacity gaps? Paltry investments Figure 3. R&D expenditures (% of GDP) World top ten investors in R&D (% of GDP) in 2015 Israel 4.27 Republic of Korea 4.23 Japan 3.28 Sweden 3.26 Austria 3.07 Denmark 3.01 Finland 2.90 Germany 2.88 United States of America 2.79 Belgium 2.46 The current average of African spending on research and development (R&D) stands at about 0.5 percent below the 1% of GDP pledged in 1980 and again in Highest in Africa is Kenya (0.79) Source: UNESCO 2015 Institute for Statistics (Accessed )

9 Figure 4: Technologically readiness and innovation State of education and STI in Africa: What are the capacity gaps? Technological readiness and Innovation Africa is not yet technologically ready On a scale 1-7, sub-saharan African countries range from a minimum of 1.9 (Chad) to a maximum of 4.7 (South Africa) (Switzerland scores 6.41) Serious efforts on Innovation needed in Africa On a scale 1-7, sub-saharan African countries range from a minimum of 2.3 (Mauritania) to a maximum of 3.8 (South Africa) (Switzerland scores 5.80) Source: The Global Competitiveness Report

10 State of education and STI in Africa: What are the capacity gaps? Shortage of researchers Figure 5. R&D researchers in selected countries (per million people) Shortage of researchers has impeded STI capacity development in some African countries In sub-saharan Africa, maximum is observed in Madagascar, with 385 researchers per million people. China reaches 1,000 researchers per million people. Source: Africa Capacity Report 2017

11 State of education and STI in Africa: What are the capacity gaps? Shortage of knowledge production Figure 6. Overall number of articles for Africa and comparator regions, While research outputs is growing at around 89% in regions like East Asia & the Pacific as well as Europe and Central Asia, it is almost stagnant in Africa particularly in sub- Saharan region at close to 20,000 Source: World Development Indicators, 2016

12 State of education and STI in Africa: What are the capacity gaps? What do African students study? Table 1: Areas of studies Majority of African students study Education, Humanities, Arts, Social Science, Business and Law Education, Humanities and Arts Social Science, Business and Law Science Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction Agriculture Health and Welfare Services Other Only 4% study Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction in Africa Only 2% study Agriculture in Africa even though agriculture contributes large part of its GDP Only 5% study Health and Welfare in Africa Sub- Saharan Africa North Africa 26% 44% 22% 51% 12% (3% ICT) 8% (1% ICT) 4% 2% 5% 0% 7% 10% 1% 6% 1% 1% Asia 23% 30% 6% 20% 4% 9% 4% 4% Latin America 23% 38% 7% 9% 2% 13% 3% 5% OECD 25% 37% 10% (3% ICT) 11% 2% 11% 4% 1% Source: ACBF, African Critical Technical Skills: Key Capacity Dimensions Needed for the First 10 Years of Agenda 2063

13 State of education and STI in Africa: What are the capacity gaps? Relatively very few graduates in CTS areas There 90% of African universities focus more on non-cts degrees There is a significant shortfall of African graduates in CTS areas in the continent: 12,999 Should Universities share the blame as they contribute to low production of CTS professionals? Figure 7: Number of Annual Graduates produced in CTS areas Source: Africa Capacity Report Africa (18 Countries) Malaysia Korea Republic

14 Table 2: Summary of current and projected CTS gaps CTS Medical doctors and specialists Researchers in STEMrelated areas Veterinarians Engineers Current situation in Africa versus international norms, emerging economies in other continents, and developed/ OECD countries Africa 0.307: per 1,000 population; International norm: 2.5 per 1,000 population. Africa 0.307: per 1,000 population; (Canada, UK, and US) ratio: 7.31 per 1,000 population. Africa: 79 per million population; International norm: 1,081 researchers per million population Africa: 2.31 per million population; International norm: between 200 and 400 (average 300) per million population. Africa: average 1,029 engineers; Brazil: 3.75 engineers per 1,000 population. Quantity surveyors Africa: average 508; Hong Kong: 2,551; Agricultural scientists and Africa: 70 researchers per million population; researchers India: 130 researchers per million population; State of education and STI in Africa: What are the capacity gaps? Serious gaps in critical technical skills Ideal number of CTS specialists based on comparison in the previous column Estimated current number of CTS specialists Current gap Projection in ,915, ,035 2,557,563 3,250,000 8,525, ,035 8,167,172 9,503,000 1,260,704 92,133 1,168,571 1,405, ,872 2, , ,000 4,364,667 55,601 4,309,065 4,865, ,559 27, , , ,611 81,637 69, ,000 Urban and regional planners Mining specialists/ engineers Geologists Africa: 1.95 planners per 100,000 population; UK: planners per 100,000 population. Africa: ratio of mining specialists per million; US: ratio of 20.7 per million. Africa: geologists per million population; Canada: geologists per million population. 438,856 22, , ,190 24,156 15,066 9,090 26, ,665 20, , ,583 Source: ACBF, African Critical Technical Skills: Key Capacity Dimensions Needed for the First 10 Years of Agenda 2063

15 ETHIOPIA STATE OF EDUCATION AND STI IN AFRICA: SOME ENCOURAGING EFFORTS Evidence from country case studies (ACR 2017) Despite the slow start to its STI policies, the government has given much emphasis to developing STI, including the 2006 and 2012 National STI Policies STI initiatives include laws and policies. This includes the new strategy of scientific research ( ) and the creation of the National Support Fund for Scientific Research and Technological Development. Figure 8: Ethiopia s R&D expenditures NIGERIA Major developments were a new science university and more polytechnics. The science university is the Nelson Mandela Institute of Science and Technology RWANDA Rwanda s Vision 2020 recognizes the role of STI in transforming its socioeconomic landscape from an agrarian economy into a knowledge-based one, and achieving socioeconomic transformation TANZANIA ZIMBABWE STI is seen as one of the principle means to achieve the Tanzania National Development Vision 2025, transforming from a least developed country (with a low productivity agricultural economy) to a middle-income country (with semi-industrialized economy) by Strong commitment from Government: Zimbabwe has developed several STI initiatives, including the development of centers of learning and R&D at numerous research institutions. In the policy, the government commits to making a budgetary allocation of at least 1% of GDP for expenditure on R&D and focusing at least 60% of university education on S&T skills development.

16 3. MOVING FORWARD

17 MOVING FORWARD The demographic dividend Figure 8: Africa s youth bulge From the year 2020 onward, African youth will constitute a vital force that can be drawn upon for leading and owning Africa s vision. Source: UN DESA Cited by ACBF, African Critical Technical Skills: Key Capacity Dimensions Needed for the First 10 Years of Agenda 2063 Africa s youth bulge presents a phenomenal potential given the advanced uptake of technology and improved education standards amongst youth These considerations constitute a strong case for equipping African youth with the necessary critical and technical skills, including those of the highest levels of the technological sophistication

18 MOVING FORWARD Mapping the list of professional skill areas needed to achieve Agenda 2063 The ACBF survey on Critical Technical Skills (CTS) has proposed an indicative identified list of 106 professional skills areas needed to achieve Agenda Copy of the Report and other knowledge documents can be downloaded on ACBF Virtual Library at Table 3: Indicative list of professional skills areas to achieve Agenda 2063 Source: ACBF, African Critical Technical Skills: Key Capacity Dimensions Needed for the First 10 Years of Agenda

19 Table 3: Indicative list of professional skills areas to achieve Agenda 2063

20 Table 3: Indicative list of professional skills areas to achieve Agenda 2063

21 Table 3: Indicative list of professional skills areas to achieve Agenda 2063

22 4. RECOMMENDATIONS: KEY ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS What can be done?

23 Key roles: The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) As per its status of AU Specialized Agency for capacity development in Africa, ACBF is to play a coordination role for building the requisite STI capacities on the continent, in line with its Strategy Service Line 1, Investment in capacity development initiatives and fund management. Service Line 2 Providing Knowledge Services Service Line 3 Provide Capacity Development Advisory Services. Service Line 4 Promoting innovation in capacity development in development Service Line 5 Mobilizing and leveraging resources for capacity development

24 Key roles: Governments (1) Keep the ship steady, ensure predictable, stable funding in line with commitments. Foster enabling environments for the business sector to support responsible, inclusive and sustainable business. Leverage tax revenues & incentives, including considering tax benefits for businesses investing in higher education. Facilitate mobility on the continent between business and academics. Support and participate in structured dialogues. (1) As recommended by the Task Team tasked with organizing the Summit of the Committee of 10 Heads of State and Governments, Championing Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa during their meting in Malawi, from October 2017

25 Key roles: Private Sector (1) Invest financially in high potential research projects and infrastructure projects. Support and engage in dialogue platforms that explore the benefits of collaboration. Invest time and expertise by serving on advisory boards or science business innovation councils. Collaborate to create opportunities that promote real world engagement. Invest in loans & bursaries through financial contributions and offering mentoring opportunities. (1) As recommended by the Task Team tasked with organizing the Summit of the Committee of 10 Heads of State and Governments, Championing Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa during their meting in Malawi, from October 2017

26 Thanks for your attention Merci pour votre attention The African Capacity Building Foundation Fondation pour le Renforcement des Capacités en Afrique Securing Africa s future through capacity development Assurer l'avenir de l'afrique en renforçant les capacités 26