This post is the 1st in a blog series to be published in 2020 by the Secretariat on behalf of the AU High Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET) and the Calestous Juma Executive Dialogues (CJED).

The Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024) places science, technology and innovation at the epicentre of Africa’s socio-economic development and growth, and situates it as a multi-functional tool and enabler for achieving Africa’s development goals. By adopting STISA-2024, African governments aim at lifting large sections of the African population out of poverty, addressing climate change, eliminating hunger, tackling terrorism, resolving local ethnic and religious conflicts, ending corruption and bribery and ending disease outbreaks.

As Africa seeks to harness and adopt innovations and emerging technologies to achieve social and economic development, several obstacles on the continent are threatening the aspirations of STISA-2024. Some issues which need to be addressed to support the development of Africa through STI include; bridging the technological divide through access to technologies by promoting productive and absorptive capacities, sharing experiences and successes on the continent and promoting inclusive innovation within African countries. Secondly, African Union Member States are encouraged to reduce structural vulnerabilities through the financing of innovation and build a strong science culture which encourages collaboration within and between states in the area of science, technology and innovation

One thing is clear – despite the challenges the African continent is facing in adopting innovation and emerging technologies, the continent has the requisites to turn things around and capitalize on its potential to achieve STISA-2024.  To achieve STISA-2024, African Governments, including policy and decision-makers must create a strong political will and trust in the intellectual capacity of the sons and daughters of the continent, revamp STI infrastructure in African countries, enhance technical and professional competencies, take measures to curb brain drain so that the limited means of the continent are not transformed to investment in other continents, achieve the necessary critical mass of human capital needed, provide enabling environments for STI, build a strong science culture and encourage collaboration within and between states in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship.

APET members believe that Africa’s unexplored potential, fast-growing population and relatively low starting position present STISA-2024 with a solid foundation for soaring success. The continent’s future seems brighter than ever as African countries have shown interest and willingness in developing their economies through an approach driven by science, technology, and innovation.   In order for Africans to catch-up in terms of development, AU member states will need to embrace the on-going Technological Revolution, while ensuring that the net effect on the labour market and productivity is positive. This would significantly contribute to eradicating poverty and fostering economic growth in African countries.

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