Mozambique Technology Needs Assessment Validation

Introduction

The Technology Bank supports least developed countries (LDCs) to conduct Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), which are effective tools for identifying development challenges in LDCs that require technological solutions through targeted project design and sustainable technology transfer. TNAs provide useful guides for LDCs and stakeholders in their decision-making efforts related to technology transfer and science, technology and innovation (STI) capacity building programmes for each LDC to accelerate efforts towards achieving the targets set in their national development plans and reaching the relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

The TNA process is country-led and participatory, involving stakeholders from various sectors and thematic areas including government line ministries, youth, women, the private sector, NGOs, IOs and other development actors. One fundamental part of this process is national level validation workshops, which are held after consolidation of the TNA report to enable key stakeholders and experts to review and endorse the findings in the TNA reports. This is followed by the technology implementation planning phase that aims to catalyze implementation and put the proposed technological solutions into action.

Event proceeding

The Mozambique Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) report was validated by stakeholders on the 31^st March 2022 through a virtual workshop. The Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) provides a blueprint for the technology needs and related Science, Technology, and Innovation capacity-building programmes that each country may include as part of their national development strategies to accelerate efforts towards the implementation of the priorities contained in the Istanbul Programme of Action, as well as to promote the achievement of relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The main objectives of the TNA are to:

• Provide critical insights into the functioning of national frameworks on science, technology, and innovation
• Identify the core areas of focus for Mozambique and specific initiatives to maximize the impact of technology as an instrument to foster structural transformation, reduce poverty and promote sustainable development
• Identify priority sectors in the country and identify and prioritize technologies that can adequately and effectively address the country’s needs in the focus sector(s)

The TNA process helps to improve the coordination among the different authorities in the country working on STI and leads to the development of the technology implementation plan to support the transfer, adaptation, and implementation of validated priority technologies.