Background and mandate of the African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum

Background and mandate of the African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development established the collaborative Multi-Stakeholder Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum). The Science, Technology and Innovation Forum is part of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism, which was established by the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and launched by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Forum is organized by the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, and is supported by a 10-member group appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General drawn from the private sector, scientific community and civil society.

The global Multi-Stakeholder STI Forum is convened once a year to “discuss science, technology and innovation cooperation around thematic areas for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, congregating all relevant stakeholders to actively contribute in their area of expertise”, as well as “provide a venue for facilitating interaction, matchmaking and the establishment of networks between relevant stakeholders and multi-stakeholder partnerships in order to identify and examine technology needs and gaps, including with regard to scientific cooperation, innovation and capacity-building”. All these measures are expected to help facilitate the development, transfer and dissemination of relevant technologies for the Sustainable Development Goals.

The African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum was established by the Conference of Ministers. In its resolution 960 (LI) of 15 May 2018, they called on the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Union Commission and other partners, to take all steps necessary to organize on a regular basis a multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation as an input into the work of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development and the Multi-stakeholder Science, Technology and Innovation Forum for the Sustainable Development Goals.

The first African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum was held in Marrakech, Morocco, on 16 April 2019, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa. The Forum generated a number of key messages that recognized:

(a)           Inadequate hard and soft STI infrastructure as a major constraint;

(b)           Inadequate investment by African countries in STI;

(c)           The importance for countries to harness the innovative spirit of Africa’s youth;

(d)           The need for African countries to develop strong STI policies and strategies;

(e)           The promotion of Intra-African STI collaboration as essential.

It also identified cross-cutting issues and called on countries to consider (a) promoting local solutions for local challenges, (b) encouraging intra-Africa trade and competitiveness, (c) enhancing private sector participation and intellectual property protection, (d) promoting peace and security, (e) empowering youths and women, and (f) facilitating regional collaborations in STI.