Development Account Projects
Capacity-building for policymaking on the promotion and application of science and technology to meet the Millennium Development Goals
Background:
The Commission on Science and Technology for Development has stressed that science and technology are central to facilitating the achievement of all Millennium Development Goals. Developing countries are more likely to meet the Millennium Development Goals with concerted efforts to place science and technology at the centre of their development agenda. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals requires a reorientation of national development policies to focus on key sources of economic growth, including those associated with the use of new scientific and technological knowledge, and related institutional adjustments. The report of the Secretary-General on promoting the application of science and technology to meet the development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration (E/CN.16/2004/2) encourages national Governments to review and analyse their science, technology and innovation policies to ensure that they serve the needs of development effectively.
The project will address science, technology and innovation as key development issues that need to be integrated in national development strategies. It will be primarily designed for decision makers in Africa and will be carried out in partnership with prominent academic institutions, such as the Science, Technology and Innovation Program (STIP) of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. The project will also seek to partner with the regional commissions, UNDP country offices, non-governmental organizations and multilateral organizations such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South.
The project will draw on previous UNCTAD experience with science, technology, and innovation policy reviews, as well as on relevant work undertaken by regional commissions. Emphasis will be placed on knowledge-sharing and partnerships.
Objective:
To integrate science and technology into national development policies by assisting policymakers in developing countries.
Expected accomplishments:
- Increased exchange of expertise and experience among national and regional science and technology policymakers
- Implementation of recommendations, policies and practices favouring technological capacity-building and strengthening technological capabilities, innovation and competitiveness and integrating them in the overall policy framework
Implementation status:
UNCTAD received request for STIP review for Sierra Leone in January 2006. Upon approval of budget on 31 March 2006, UNCTAD decided to undertake the STIP review for Sierra Leone for the 2006 budget year as planned. UNCTAD has prepared an outline of STIP reviews for Sierra Leone and has submitted it to the national counterparts for approval to kickstart the activities.
UNCTAD also notified the Geneva-based permanent missions of African countries of the availability of funding. We have subsequently received request for STIP reviews from Mauritius (July 2006) and Mauritania (November 2006). In response to these requests, UNCTAD has prepared an outline for Mauritius, and has submitted it to the national counterparts for approval.
The starting date of the project has been postponed to February 2007.
