Congolese Academy of Sciences Welcomes Ten New Members and Expands Their Support on National Science and Technology Policy Advisory

The UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (Technology Bank) in collaboration with the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) developed a program to support least developed countries (LDCs) to establish academies of sciences where they do not exist and support existing academies of sciences. In March 2021, the program supported the establishment of the academy of sciences in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The program also facilitated the launches of academies of sciences in Angola (December 2020), Lesotho (March 2021) and Malawi (May 2021).

Following the launch of the Congolese Academy of Sciences (ACCOS) in March 2021, ten founding members were inducted. In August 2021, the ACCOS organized the National Congress of Science and Technology (CNST) from August 11 to 13, 2021 under the theme, ‘Scientific, Technological and Industrial Research in the Democratic Republic Of Congo: Assessment and Prospects to Support Development’ involving different ministries. The objective of CNST was to formulate and contribute to the implementation of the Scientific, Technological, and Industrial Research (STIR) strategy that better responds to the inclusive and sustainable development needs of the DRC. On 8 June 2022, an induction ceremony for ten new members of the Congolese Academy of Sciences took place at Kinshasa, DRC. 

The ceremony included presentations that discussed the challenges the Democratic Republic of the Congo faced when pursuing its sustainable and judicious development, in particular on how to sustainably manage its natural resources and invest in its scientific community. The DRC has substantial untapped gold, cobalt and high-grade copper reserves that are significant assets to enable DRC’s economic prosperity. The presentation stressed that data-driven policies and implementation that ensure compliance with environmental standards and prevention of illicit exploitation are the keys to transferring natural resources to sustainable and shared prosperity. The presentation also pointed out that currently, the environmental standards are not fully applied, and data strategy is incomplete and insufficient for adequate policy planning.

This reality is complicated by the inadequate number of scientists in the DRC, as well as their underutilization. As Professor Kalulu Taba, country champion, states ‘there is not so far an appropriate channel of communication between the scientific community and decision-makers, dialogue between scientists and stakeholders should be facilitated to stimulate local processing of natural products. The ACCOS will leverage its expert knowledge and networks to help address these urgent policy needs.

The induction ceremony was chaired by Professor Muyembe JJ, President of ACCOS and the Secretary-General at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, who also represented the Minister in the ceremony. The ceremony was also joined by one honorary member, eight full members and one corresponding member as follows: two members for Physical and Applied Sciences, two members for Medical and Natural Sciences, two members for Arts and Letters and three for Humanities and Social Sciences. The corresponding member comes from the Congolese diaspora. During the ceremony, the president of NASAC, Professor Norbert Hounkonnou addressed his word of encouragement to ACCOS. He highlighted that ‘Africa without science cannot become developed’ and that ‘only science, technology and innovation can guarantee socio-economic development that is equal, inclusive and solid’.

This ceremony was rebroadcast several times by television channels in the country and drew admiration, especially from Congolese outside and inside the country.