From Africa Recovery, Vol.12#4 (April 1999), page 30

Africa already has excellent scientists, but it needs many more, says UNESCO Director-General Frederico Mayor.

UNESCO pushes for science in Africa

African governments urged to set minimum target for spending on technology

By Peter Mwaura

Africa needs to develop indigenous science and technology (S&T) and build a critical mass of scientists and technicians to exploit its natural resources, said UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor at a meeting on the development of S&T in Africa held in New York on 9 February.

Having a core of "relevant scientists" able to make the best choices of available technology, based on the needs of their countries and not on other criteria, is critical for the long-term economic development of the continent, he said. Citing the example of his own country -- Spain -- which depended on "other peoples' science" until it made a conscious decision to develop its own S&T, he said Africa can also do it if its decision makers decide to make the development of S&T a priority.

The UNESCO Director-General was speaking at a panel discussion which also included Mr. Nitin Desai, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Mr. Alieu Sallah, UNDP Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa, and Ms. Lalla Ben Barka, Deputy Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Mr. Mayor urged African governments to set, over the next five to eight years, a minimum target of spending 0.4% of their GNP on S&T. This would be in addition to the proposal made in Nairobi in 1995 for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to spend 3 per cent of its funding in Africa on the development of S&T. He suggested that African governments should also seek "a contribution" to S&T development from multinational companies doing business in Africa.

He pointed out that there already exist in Africa "excellent teams" in a variety of scientific fields, including biochemistry and chemistry, microbiology, oceanography and entomology. The numerous projects in Africa he cited include the 20 chairs in science that UNESCO has established at African universities and the African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions that supports regional cooperation in research and development (R&D). He also said that he would like to have UNESCO assist in setting up "at least one centre" in Africa for providing advice and assessment of patents.

Mr. Mayor said one of the greatest problems facing the development of S&T in Africa is the brain drain -- the loss of Africa's most gifted and capable scientists to developed countries. An estimated 30,000 Africans holding Ph.D. degrees are living outside the continent, he said.

He suggested courses of short duration, rather than long courses for students going to study abroad, as one way of minimizing the possibility of a brain drain.

A culture of science

Mr. Desai said in a message he read on behalf of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan (see box, next page) that the age of globalization offers a unique opportunity to reverse the course of the brain drain. Noting that the acquisition and advancement of knowledge is a more powerful weapon in a nation's arsenal than any missile or mine, he regretted, however, that the knowledge gap between the North and South is widening and "education often seems the last priority, leading too many third world students to leave for the West to acquire knowledge and education."

He said that Africa needs to take advantage of S&T to add value to its commodities, which have declined in price on the world markets. By helping Africa develop the necessary knowledge and expertise, he said "we can ensure that Africa itself will reap the benefits of its vast wealth."

"No one but Africans themselves can create the enabling environment for investment and economic growth. As the world increasingly adapts to the information age, it is clear S&T will become ever more important to every country's growth and prosperity," he added.

Mr. Desai said the people of Africa, even at village level, have already embraced a culture of S&T and there are many Africans eager to help develop their continent. S&T can change the whole psychology of development and "shift the focus from decline to an attitude of growth and expansion," he stated. "It can create a sense of self-confidence and self-respect that is vital for growth." The international system, he concluded, should provide support for "genuine development" of S&T in Africa.

Eradicating poverty

Mr. Sallah stressed the importance of S&T in alleviating poverty in a continent in which 200 million people are projected to be "income poor" by 2000. "Poverty eradication must include the acquisition and development of technology that would increase the productivity and revenues of rural communities," he urged.

Noting that S&T is "vital for Africa" and plays "a pivotal role in any development process," Ms. Barka emphasized the need to strengthen Africa's human resources. ECA, she said, has helped to establish 30 research institutions, which have allowed for the training of personnel in key sectors. It is important for Africa to develop its own human resources in S&T, she said, and not be dependent on expertise from outside.

Other highlights of the meeting included the following statements:

-- Africa will be unable to rise above its current level of poverty without pursuing manufacturing more purposefully. Doing that will necessarily require greater focus on industrial research and development (R&D).

-- The S&T capacity of nearly all African states has steadily declined since the "boom years" after independence.

-- Africa has only 20,000 scientists and engineers, or 0.36 per cent of the world total, according to a 1992 study.

-- Parts of Africa have only one scientist or engineer for about every 10,000 people, compared to 20-50 in Japan, the United States and Europe.

-- Africa produces only about 0.8 per cent of total world scientific publications.

-- Africa's world share of patents is close to zero.

-- Government spending for R&D is among the lowest in the world -- about 0.2 per cent of gross national product.

[Back to index] [To Volume12#4 -- full graphics]

Material from this article may be freely reproduced, with attribution to "Africa Recovery, United Nations".
We would appreciate a copy of the reproduction.

Africa Recovery
Room S-931
United Nations
New York, NY 10017 USA

Tel: (212) 963-6857
Fax: (212) 963-4556
Email: africa_recovery@un.org

Website: www.africarecovery.org
Contact us by email: africa_recovery@un.org