BACKGROUND

The year 2020 marked the mid-term implementation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024). Noting the slow adoption of STISA-2024 in Member States, APET launched in September 2020 the “Campaign for the Enhanced Domestication of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa - STISA-2024”. This campaign aims at in-country interventions targeted at policy and decision-makers to support integrating STISA-2024 into national strategies and frameworks. Additionally, the APET White paper on harnessing innovation and emerging technologies has received valuable affirmations from our stakeholders with calls from Member States on developing a comprehensive communication and engagement strategy to support the effective harnessing of innovation and emerging technologies. The suggested approach of “response, recover, and reform” requires an effective strategy that includes capacity strengthening, stakeholder engagements and effective collaborations towards harnessing emerging technologies.

Recognising the above pertinent calls, the panel has commissioned the secretariat, in its 2021 workplan, to commence stakeholder consultations as part of the domestication campaign. This aims to provide a good opportunity for learning and exchange of knowledge, networking, experiencing diversity and building mutually beneficial relationships with a focus on emerging technologies in the 21st century.

PURPOSE AND FORMAT

In response, the national focal points and resource persons of the Calestous Juma Executive Dialogue will initiate targeted stakeholder consultations in Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria. These countries have existing in-country teams (appointed by the High Level Panel in September 2020) that support CJED activities. These meetings of no more than ten stakeholders at a seating are with policymakers in the Ministries of Education, ICT and Science and Technology.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

The campaign in Nigeria would be held from the 19th - 23rd May 2021. The schedule of meetings are as below:

1. Planning meeting with the CJED in-country team on activities for 2021 - 19th May 2021

2. Meeting with directors, policy and decision-makers from the FCT Ministry of Education  - 20th May 2021

3. Meeting with education practitioners, principals and Heads of Institutions in STI - 21st May 2021

4. Meeting with local innovators, NGOs and Entrepreneurs on STI - 22nd May 2021

5. Capacity building of the in-country CJED team on the use of online collaborative tools in capacity building and strengthening - 23rd May 2021

AUDA-NEPAD sees the future of Africa in targeting emerging successes, through three prioritised areas, which are Home Grown Solutions, Emerging Technologies and MSMEs. These priorities have received wide acclaim from stakeholders. To support and sustain this admirable vision, APET has proceeded in earnest to lay a solid foundation for senior policy and decision-makers who have strategic and leadership responsibilities in effectively harnessing innovation and emerging technologies. This event would be the first face-to-face engagement in that regard and valuable to the effective implementation of the STISA 2024 domestication campaign

The target outcomes will be:
1. Enhanced understanding and greater awareness of innovation and emerging technologies and their useful applications
2. Facilitated social acceptance of STISA 2024 and its applications in 6 priority areas towards the socio-economic development of AU Member States
3. Operationalize the national/in-country CJED platforms with the support of relevant policymakers and stakeholders
4. Introduce national policymakers to the AUDA-NEPAD STI Centre of Excellence and its offerings as a useful resource to AU Member States in STI
5. Enhanced understanding of the role of APET