Draft overview: Multilateral cooperation in higher education, science and research with Sub-Saharan Africa This summary, compiled by the International Bureau of the Federal German Ministry of Education and Research (IB of BMBF), drawing on inputs of the Federal German Ministry of Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), aims to give an overview of the most important initiatives of international organisations in cooperation with Sub-Saharan Africa in the fields of higher education, science and technology. It does not claim to be accurate and complete 1. The context for Science and Technology in Africa Education, research and development in Africa are coordinated and implemented on three levels: 1. Continental level: In September 2005, the African Union and its New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD) adopted Africa s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, 2006-2010. Erected on the three interrelated pillars of capacity-building, knowledge production and technological innovation, the Plan articulates Africa s common objectives and commitment to collective actions to develop and use science and technology for the socio-economic transformation of the continent and its integration into the world economy. The CPA is based on five thematic clusters. Fifteen research centres will be established for these key areas which will serve as a hub for a larger network of research institutions and universities (node). Some centres have, meanwhile, already been identified (marked blue) whilst others are still being set up. I. Biodiversity, biotechnology and indigenous knowledge 1. Establish a network of regional genetic databanks 2. Establish a platform for bioinformatics/genomics research 3. Bioscience East and Central Africa at the International Livestock Research Institute in Kenya 4. Southern African Network for Bioscience at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa 5. West African Bioscience Network at Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles in Senegal 6. North Africa Bioscience Network at the National Research Centre in Egypt 7. Establish an African databank of traditional knowledge II. Energy, water and desertification 8. Establish an African Energy Research and Innovation Network 9. Establish a continental network of centres of excellence for water 10. Establish an African Drought and Desertification Research and Innovation Network III. Materials science, production technologies, laser technology and harvest technologies 11. African Materials Research Society (2002 Senegal) 12. African Laser Centre (2002 South Africa) 1 Any comments and suggestions for improving the overview are very welcome, please address to: birgit.wirsing@dlr.de 1
13. Virtual network of centres of excellence IV. Information and communication technologies as well as space science 14. Establish a Continental Research Network on ICTs 15. Concept to establish an African Institute of Space Science in discussion V. Mathematical science 16. African Institute of Mathematical Science (2003 South Africa) serves as a hub for the African Mathematical Institutes Network 2. Regional level: The African regional economic organisations (e.g. SADC, ECOWAS, EAC) are an important link between the African Union (AU) and the African Member States. However, the low level of relevance of R&D and education in the Regional Indicative Programmes hampers the development and implementation of specific measures. 3. National level: Research and development have varying degrees of importance in the individual African states and, therefore, structures which are difficult to compare to one another. Despite this, there are a few general framework conditions: research is usually carried out at universities and in state institutions and is predominantly under-financed and, in most countries, not coordinated, or rather, not integrated in the national strategies for economic/social development. As a result, qualified scientists migrate abroad or to international institutions ( brain drain ). In September 2000, 189 UN Member States adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), setting clear, time-bound targets for making real progress on the most pressing development issues. The MDG s range from poverty eradication to global partnerships. Achieving these targets will directly affect the lives and future prospects of billions of people around the globe. The cross cutting nature of science implies there is hardly a social problem where science cannot make a contribution; hence, meeting the MDG s will require a focus on key sources of economic growth, especially those associated with the use of new scientific and technological knowledge. EU-Africa Strategy On a European level, the EU-Africa Strategy, adopted in December 2007, created, for the first time, a political framework for European-African cooperation in science and research. The strategy defines several goals: a political EU-Africa partnership which addresses questions and problems of joint interest. These include, for example, complex migration, peace and security and the environment. achieve the Millennium Development Goals in the African states by 2015 and promote peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and good governance etc. coordinated action of both sides in international forums and coordination in global matters. promote a partnership which puts people at the centre and which incorporates civil society in implementation. science and research is regarded as an important part of economic and social development and is, therefore, a key element of the strategy. Principles: Partnership of equals, African ownership and Africa taking the leading role in the implementation of development programmes. Implementation: Action plans will be launched, each with a duration of three years. The first action plan (2008 to 2010) incorporates eight partnerships also including the 8th Partnership on Science, Information Society and Space. 2
The 8th Partnership aims, in particular, to implement measures which develop Africa s capacities based on contributions from the EU (Commission and Member States). An important basis for action is the EU-AU Book of Lighthouse projects, a joint effort of the commissions, which proposes 19 priority projects which are orientated to Africa s needs. Six projects have, meanwhile, been selected for priority implementation ( early deliverables ). The six early deliverables are: Science: African Research Grants and Water and Food Security in Africa Information Society: Africa Connect and the African Internet Exchange System; Space: The African Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES-Africa) and the Implementation of the African Union Spatial Data Observatory. European Union EU Research Framework Programme The EU is bringing together its programmes in research, technological development and demonstration in fixed term research framework programmes (FP). The research framework programmes aim to strengthen the scientific and technological foundations of the Community and promote the development of its international competitiveness as well as support the EU's policies. The European initiative EDCTP (European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership) was launched in the 6th EU Research Framework Programme and aims to accelerate the development of new or improved medicines, vaccines and microbicides against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis whereby the focus is on clinical studies in phases II and III in Sub-Saharan Africa. The EU Commission is participating in the EDCTP with 200 millions euros half of the overall project budget. The other half 200 million euros are being provided nationally, by the participating countries. The contribution of 400 million euros covers a period of seven years (2004-2010) with public and private co-financing complementing the budget. With regard to participation in the EDCTP, it was possible to involve an increasing number of partners from Sub-Saharan Africa: between 2004 and 2008, the number of countries actively participating increased from 1 to 26, the participating institutions from 1 to 123, and the share of African project coordinators from 0 to 79%. The 7th Research Framework Programme (FP7) covers the period from 2007 to 2013 and has a budget of 54 billion euros. FP7 covers seven specific programmes of which cooperation has the biggest budget /total funding sum: 32.4 billion euros. The programme covers 10 key areas: Health (6.1 billion euros) Foods, agriculture, fishing and biotechnology (1.9 billion euros) Information and communication technologies (9.1 billion euros) Nanoscience, nanotechnologies, materials and production methods (3.8 billion euros) Energy (2.35 billion euros) Environment (including climate research ) (1.9 billion euros) Transport (including aviation) (4.2 billion euros) Social and business sciences and humanities (623 million euros) Space (1.4 billion euros) Security (1.4 billion euros) 3
Partners from African countries may take part in projects on all topics for which there are calls for proposals and receive funding from the EU. Furthermore, there are also measures particularly for covering the research needs of third states the so-called Specific International Cooperation Actions SICA. These require the participation of partners from third states and partly specify the target region, e.g. African Partner Countries or Mediterranean Partner Countries. SICA projects in health, environment and food security are being funded as part of the Coordinated Call for Africa (budget: 63 million euros) which was launched by the European Commission in 2009. The specific programme People aims to promote the careers of scientists. For scientists from Africa it is particularly the International Incoming Fellowships which are of interest in this programme under which experienced scientists from third states receive a grant for research work in Europe as well as funding to return to their home country. The Specific activities of international cooperation section of the specific programme Capacities provides funding for measures which support scientific and technological cooperation with various world regions e.g. in the so-called INCO-Nets. FP7 INCO-Net project CAAST-Net: CAAST Net is a network for the advancement of cooperation in science & technology between Europe and Africa, funded by the Capacities Specific Programme of the European Union s 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7). The CAAST Net consortium of partners, comprising national structures with responsibility for international cooperation in science and technology from across Sub Saharan Africa and Europe, promote cooperation on behalf of the two regions. Against the background of a global consensus that capacity in science and technology is an essential prerequisite to economic competitiveness, sustainable development and poverty reduction, CAAST Net has been developed as a high level platform to advance international cooperation between Europe and Africa for mutual benefit. Enhancing the policy dialogue among African and European stakeholders is one strategic activity of CAAST Net. European Development Fund (EDF) The European Development Fund (EDF) is the main instrument for providing Community aid for development (promoting economic, cultural and social development) in ACP states and overseas countries and territories. Based on the revised cooperation agreement with ACP states (the Cotonou Agreement) the 10th EDF was concluded for the duration of six years (2008-2013) and a budget of 22.682 billion. At the beginning of the 10 th EDF focal sectors were defined in the country programmes / country strategy papers for the duration of six years, based on the aims of the partnership agreement of Cotonou. Each individual country could choose the focal sectors. Up to now R&D plays a minor role in the country programmes compared to the sectors infrastructure, education, energy and governance. The Cotonou agreement offers possibilities for R&D related activities, e.g. within the framework of social and human development. ACP Science & Technology Programme: The intra-acp-programme provides 40 million for science & technology for the duration of six years. At African level, the new programme in specific support of the EU-Africa 8th Partnership science component will help implement Africa's S&T Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) and address gaps in programmes at national and sub-regional 4
levels on governance, agricultural development, economic growth and trade, climate change and biodiversity, environmental protection, health and education as well as using earth observation and space technologies for enhanced development policy formulation and implementation. Reinforcing research capacity will enable better complementarity with and uptake of opportunities afforded by European Research Framework Programmes. EU Programme Erasmus Mundus (since 2004) Erasmus Mundus is a higher education programme of the EU to improve the quality of higher education and promote intercultural understanding through cooperation with third states. The cooperation and mobility programme which was recently extended and given increased funding, promotes outstanding academic achievement and the attractiveness of European universities as well as cooperation with third states and offers funding, in the form of grants, for participation in joint study courses in the EU. For the period 2009-13, a budget of ca. 950 million euros has been earmarked for the programme. The programme is divided into three areas: 1. Joint master and doctoral programmes including scholarships 2. External Cooperation Window (funding of cooperation between European higher education institutions and those of certain third states) 3. Projects to enhance the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area EU programme Edulink (2008) Edulink is an EU funding programme for cooperation in higher education with the 79 ACP states. The third call for proposals was launched in March 2008, the next call for 2010 is currently being prepared. The programme aims to promote higher education cooperation in management / administration, teaching and research / technology to support capacity building and regional integration in higher education. This should take place with the aid of institutional networking and the promotion of quality higher education systems. The 2008 call had an EU budget of 16 million euros. African Union The African education ministers have committed themselves to promoting graduates and post graduates particularly in the field of S&T. The AU has initiated several projects to promote the revitalisation and strengthening of African universities and colleges. AU EU: Mwalimu Nyerere programme: The Mwalimu Nyerere grant programme of the AU (MNAUSS) offers funding for African students enrolled in a science or technology course leading to vocational qualifications at leading universities. The grants are awarded on the condition that the students work for two to five years in an African country after qualifying. In the first call, the AU funded about 50 students on bachelor degrees with the programme. As part of the five-year plan, it is planned that the MNAUSS will become part of the joint strategy of the EU and the AU. Against this background, MNAUSS will promote exchanges (mainly postgraduates) between the ACP countries. Twinning partnerships will bring together European and African universities, amongst others. The African Cluster on Science and Technology (ACST) is an ad hoc working group reporting to AMCOST on the situation, activities and proposals for future activities. Members of the Cluster are those African organisations that deal with S&T (including AUC-HRST and NEPAD/Office of Science and Technology) and the International Organisations dealing also with S&T but having 5
their specific offices in the African continent (including UNECA, UNESCO). The Cluster will become the forum where research programmes and projects may encounter synergies, avoid overlaps and conflicts, and - overall - increase transparency, visibility and reciprocal synergy. Pan African University: One of the projects of the AU in higher education involves establishing a Pan African University (PAU). PAU s aim lies in teaching and research on a postgraduate level in selected fields of science and technology (S&T) and governance. A focus lies on establishing a link between academia and economic development. PAU will promote the three main tasks with which the universities are entrusted: training/education, research, public service and involvement in the African community. It is intended that PAU will become a network of five centres of excellence (so-called hubs) with partner universities which will work closely together with research organisations and industry distributed across five regions of Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central Africa. PAU is the network between these hubs. The plan is to add to an already existing university a centre of excellence on specific topics. Every hub will have satellites; these are other universities and research institutions of the region. Besides capacity building, boosting student and staff mobility, and improving the quality of teaching and research, a focus for development cooperation lies in supporting mutual recognition of degrees of African countries and harmonisation of their higher education policy. It is planned that the financing will come from four main sources: the country in which the hub is located, the AUC and so-called privileged partners (PPs) as well as from a Fund for Higher Education which has already been set up under the aegis of UNESCO. The location of the hubs will be officially decided by the heads of state and government of the AU at the AU summit in July 2010. UNESCO In education, the Plan of Action for the Second Decade of Education for Africa, drafted by UNESCO, presents a strategy which incorporates seven thematic priorities: I. Gender Culture II. Education Management, Information Systems III. Teacher Development IV. Higher Education V. TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) VI. Curriculum and Teaching-Learning Materials VII. Quality Management This strategy is already being implemented in consensus with several countries. UNESCO as the convener of the UN S&T Cluster in Support of AU/NEPAD: Since 1999, as an important component of the UN Secretary-General s reform agenda and as urged by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), regional consultative meetings are held to improve the coherence of the activities of the various UN agencies working in the five regions of the world including in Africa. For Africa, six thematic cluster areas involving different UN agencies concerning the priority areas for NEPAD were established to serve as an operational framework to support NEPAD. The Science and Technology (S&T) Cluster was established at the Fifth Regional Consultation in May 2003, designating UNESCO as the Convener and the UN Commission for Africa (UNECA) as the Vice-Convener. The cluster engages in a mix of activities: focus on the NEPAD s Science and Technology Initiative aimed at the explicit application of S&T for industrialization and economic growth; mainstream S&T in other NEPAD initiatives by defining issues which require S&T research, analysis and capacity building; 6
better coordination of the different partners actions, and how the UN system can best respond to the call by the AU Summit of Heads of States and Governments in the implementation of the CPA and the Summit s decisions on science and technology. Members of the Cluster include: UNESCO, UNECA, UNIDO, WIPO, UNEP, UNDP, IAEA, ILO, UNCTAD, OSAA (NY), UNU MERIT, FAO, WHO African Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Initiative (ASTIPI): UNESCO has launched the African Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Initiative (ASTIPI) to build capacities in STI policy formulation and develop national STI policies for African countries. UNESCO is working with these countries to reform their science systems and assist them in elaborating and implementing strategies and programmes. To date 18 African countries have made requests to UNESCO for assistance with the review / reformulation of their STI policy via governments and Heads of State. The following support is offered: Review existing policies - jointly with governments Re-formulate national STI policies for those countries lacking STI policies Provide assistance with the monitoring and evaluation of existing and newly formulated STI policies (mid term reviews) Assist in the implementation of newly formulated and reviewed STI policies (scientific committees, science parks etc) Train STI policy specialists and analysts UNESCO science, technology and innovation policy review and formulation in African Member States: Using both national and international experts, UNESCO accompanied a number of African Member States in reviewing and (re)formulating their national policies. These include Lesotho, Congo, Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, and Ethiopia. In response to the diversity of national landscapes for R&D in Africa, individual reviews of STI policies were designed for each country to map out a specific route, which draws substantial benefits from S&T. Key features reviewed include the: current pool of S&T personnel; investment in human resources training and development; demand for knowledge by the private sector; institutional knowledge assets; enabling environment; functioning S&T infrastructures; challenges and opportunities; socio-economic features and the technological status of a nation. Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge: The Forum on Higher Education is an initiative which focuses on research in and on higher education and academic knowledge. It aims to improve our understanding of systems, structures, trends, policies and developments in higher education, research and science and knowledge with a special focus on low and middle income countries. Related fields of interest are research in agriculture and health as these are important elements of national research subjects / systems in low and middle income countries. University Twinning and Networking (UNITWIN): This programme, launched in 1992 following the UNESCO General Conference, serves as a catalyst for international university cooperation. It aims to improve research, training and programme development in higher education by setting up university networks as well as strengthening inter-university cooperation through cross-border knowledge transfers. A further goal is greater mobility of students, teaching staff and researchers. 653 UNESCO chairs and 62 UNITWIN networks have meanwhile been incorporated 7
into the programme in which 770 institutions from 126 countries are involved. The countries include, amongst others: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Côte d Ivoire etc. UNESCO s University-Industry-Science Partnership (UNISPAR) programme was launched in 1993 to improve the quality of universities in developing countries, and to encourage their involvement in the process of industrialization of their country. Sustainable solutions, whether at the global, regional or country level, require more advances in scientific knowledge, discoveries and innovations. The university-industry cooperation is vital in this process. Since 2002, UNISPAR has focused on capacity-building and technical assistance in the governance of science and technology parks: promoting stronger partnerships and linkages between universities and industry, innovation, and transfer of knowledge. African STI observatory: UNESCO in cooperation with the AUC and NEPAD envisages a feasibility study for the establishment and operation of an African STI observatory. An observatory of professional statisticians would be made responsible for providing government and other stakeholders with up-to-date information on the performance of the institutions (and firms) involved in R&D and related innovative activities. The main mission of an African STI Observatory would consist of mapping Africa wide STI capacity, producing basic indicators (statistics) on: human resources, funding of R&D activities, publications, patents, and research institutions. African Virtual Campus: In 2005 the AU and NEPAD passed the CPA for the period 2006-2010. The Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in January 2007 called on UNESCO to work closely with the African Union/NEPAD Secretariat to implement the Plan. The UNESCO s plan of action, showing how UNESCO intends to contribute to implementation of the Consolidated Plan of Action between 2008 and 2013, was endorsed by UNESCO s General Conference in October 2007. It comprises three flagship projects: 1. Capacity-building in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy; 2. Enhancing Science and Technology Education; and the 3. African Virtual Campus. The African Virtual Campus is developing a network of fully operational e-learning national centres across Africa one per country by 2012, with initial financial support from the Government of Spain. This Internet-based network will be used for large-scale student and teacher training. The African Virtual Campus will work closely with universities around the Mediterranean basin belonging to the first network founded by UNESCO and the European Commission in 2002, the Avicenna Virtual Campus. United Nations University The UNU sees itself as a strategic partner for Africa. It acts as a facilitator of dialogue, helper in the development of capacities, provider of continuing education and promoter of innovations. The UNU s Africa Strategy (Priority Africa) aims to make a contribution to implementing the goals of the New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD) as well as achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the African continent. The activities of the UNU family in and with Africa incorporate, amongst other things, multilateral research projects and workshops. Key topics and areas of action include education, environment, health, science, technology and energy, water and desertification. 8
In the future the UNU wants to offer more graduate programmes (MSc, PhD). Work is also currently taking place on a Twinning Institutes model in which the branches in industrial countries set up Twin Institutes in developing countries. A Twin Institute of UNU-FLORES (Dresden) in Mozambique and a Twin Institute of UNU-EHS (Bonn) in Indonesia are currently being planned. A two-year preliminary phase of the Twin Institute in Mozambique is being financed by the BMBF. The United Nations University has a specialist centre in Ghana, the Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, which focuses on topics such as climate, water, biodiversity and medical plants. The UNU also maintains four so-called operation units in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Namibia and Zambia. Furthermore it maintains a cooperation unit in South Africa which specialises in risk assessment methods, particularly the use of satellite and information technologies for risk and vulnerability assessment. The World Bank Global Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation: The World Bank focuses on many new challenges including: food security, clean energies, adapting to climate change, improving the health system, providing water and sanitary services, promoting prosperity as well as reducing poverty. The World Bank sees adequate and further developed technologies which are made accessible for all social classes as the key to sustainable development. A strategy was developed for each country which was especially adapted to dealing with the country's existing problems. The following steps are being taken for the STI Capacity Building: establishing Inclusive Innovation Centres and Inclusive Innovation Development Programmes, promotion of regional partnerships, establishing a Global Science Corps for the creation of human capital in developing countries, establishing technology transfer via institutions which are able to bring the technologies which are in demand directly onto the market to meet local requirements as well as an Entrepreneur-in- Residence Programme to bring entrepreneurial and business spirit as well as the relevant tools to the developing world. African Virtual University (AVU): The AVU is a project which was launched by the World Bank in 1997 to simplify and increase accessibility to quality and innovative higher education with the aid of new information and communication technologies. The AVU is funded by the African Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and currently incorporates more than 50 partner institutes in more than 27 African countries. Global Initiative on Quality Assurance Capacity (GIQAC): GIQAC is a global initiative to support quality assurance and capacity building. The initiative serves the worldwide exchange of knowledge in regional and cross-regional networks, the identification of synergies and the avoidance of a duplication of efforts. The World Bank programme is supported by the UNESCO Higher Education Division. Lifelong Learning in the Global Knowledge Economy: The programme for lifelong learning aims to support initiatives which allow students of all ages access to quality education. Lifelong learning programmes receive financial support from the World Bank in several countries. 9
African Development Bank The African Development Bank (AfDB) was founded in 1964 to promote Africa s economic and social development. The bank is regarded as the most important multilateral institution in Africa and annually allocates 2-3 billion USD in credit. The AfDB is currently focusing on centres of excellence and developing networks of smaller national institutions and distance learning facilities and modalities G-8/G-20 Resolutions regarding cooperation in science and research are set out in the Africa Action Plan of the G-8 Summit in Kananaskis in 2002. In the following year at the G-8 Summit in Evian, in 2003, under the French Chair, a G-8 Action Plan on science and technology for sustainable development was adopted. The declaration of the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, Education for Innovative Societies in the 21 st Century (2006), acknowledges the promotion of a global innovation society through the further development and coordination of the three elements of the knowledge triangle : education, research and innovation. The Declaration of L'Aquila of 2009 promises to promote research, green technologies, human capital and qualifications. In the light of increased global challenges in climate, energy, infectious diseases and food security, the G-8 heads of state and government have, in recent years, made various further, sector-specific resolutions to intensify research and development as well as develop international research and technology cooperation. In contrast to the areas of energy and the environment, there have, nevertheless, not been any regular G-8 research minister meetings until now. The first meeting of this kind only took place in 2008 under the Japanese Chair in Okinawa. The next G-8 summit of the heads of state and government was held on 25-27 June 2010 in Muskoka, Canada. Health Innovation Centres in Africa A complete section of the declaration of the G-8 heads of state and government of the L Aquila Summit in 2009 is dedicated to Africa s development and also includes improving healthcare. A consultation process followed and, in February 2010, a G-8 consultative conference in Washington for the harmonisation of the promotion of health research capacities in Sub-Saharan Africa. As a result of the consultative process, two recommendations are currently under discussion: 1. Creation of an African-led network of scientific teams and institutions to design and implement innovative solutions to reduce major risks to maternal, newborn and child health. The network would pilot interventions that have the greatest likelihood of improving pregnancy and child health outcomes, while building professional capacity and crosssectoral linkages among researchers, health care providers and policymakers in Africa. 2. Creation of a new cooperative framework to improve the systemic capacities of African governments and institutions to improve population health through research and its translational into clinical and community interventions. 10