Daily Development speaks to Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of NEPAD,  on how he is working to move Africa to a knowledge-based economy.

DD: Transforming Africa is a big task—is it achievable?  

Our goal is to improve the well-being of the citizens of Africa. And it’s happening now.

There are several major signs. The African economy has grown between 5% and 6% in the past 10 years.

More students are graduating and going to college. It is a healthier continent with fewer people dying from infectious diseases like AIDS, TB and malaria.

Politically it united through the African Union and strong integration efforts are being done through regional economic bodies.

What we need now is to continue to innovate but also make sure that everyone is benefiting from this on-going transformation. We have to be careful that we reduce the gap between people who benefit and people who are being left behind. Africa is still the most unequal region of the world and with the highest proportion of youth in its population.

DD: Recently you shared a report on transitioning to a knowledge-based economy. Is this the future of Africa?

Africa is becoming more self-reliant especially in many of the traditional sectors like agriculture.

Agricultural development will fundamentally depend on empowering small scale farmers through innovation and knowledge.

We know that science, technology and innovation are areas in which Africa can and needs to excel. These knowledge-based sectors can boost economic growth.

A key challenge facing us now is finding concrete ways to link science, technology and innovation to poverty reduction, job creation for young people and sustainable livelihoods.

At NEPAD we have been asking how we can build capacity and competencies to innovate. And to really understand this we have to be able to measure the contributions of these areas so that countries can formulate good policies and practices.

DD: Sometimes it seems that less glamorous issues like “measuring” are the most important but get the least amount of attention.

It’s true that when you start to talk about “indicators and methodologies” and issues like “institutional capacity” some eyes glaze over, but these are the areas that give us the platform to innovate.

The African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) initiative was launched six years ago and the first phase implemented in 19 countries. The idea is to improve the quality of science, technology and innovation policies at national, regional and continental levels. We are looking for ways countries can encourage research and development.

Data is coming in and the quality of the data is getting better. Already we have seen countries like Kenya increase its national target for R&D to 2% of GDP which is a big increase from 0.48%.  South Africa has introduced a system of incentives such as a tax rebate to encourage private sector investment in R&D and best practices are flourishing throughout the continent.

I am hopeful that African entrepreneurship and sound policies will be a winning combination.

DD: You hold a fifth degree black belt in Taekwondo and brought the sport to your home country. One of the tenants is “Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control and Indomitable spirit”. You seem to embody this philosophy. 

First let me say that I am a third degree black belt, the fifth degree was honorary but I am proud that we have been able to introduce Taekwondo to Niger.

I believe that if in your heart you put people first—that you cannot lose. It is only when we start to think outside a people-centred approach that cracks appear and solutions are lost.

Source: http://www.dailydevelopment.org/blog/knowledge-based-africa#sthash.sJjkSvxL.dpuf

DD: Transforming Africa is a big task—is it achievable?  

Our goal is to improve the well-being of the citizens of Africa. And it’s happening now.

There are several major signs. The African economy has grown between 5% and 6% in the past 10 years.

More students are graduating and going to college. It is a healthier continent with fewer people dying from infectious diseases like AIDS, TB and malaria.

Politically it united through the African Union and strong integration efforts are being done through regional economic bodies.

What we need now is to continue to innovate but also make sure that everyone is benefiting from this on-going transformation. We have to be careful that we reduce the gap between people who benefit and people who are being left behind. Africa is still the most unequal region of the world and with the highest proportion of youth in its population.

DD: Recently you shared a report on transitioning to a knowledge-based economy. Is this the future of Africa?

Africa is becoming more self-reliant especially in many of the traditional sectors like agriculture.

Agricultural development will fundamentally depend on empowering small scale farmers through innovation and knowledge.

We know that science, technology and innovation are areas in which Africa can and needs to excel. These knowledge-based sectors can boost economic growth.

A key challenge facing us now is finding concrete ways to link science, technology and innovation to poverty reduction, job creation for young people and sustainable livelihoods.

At NEPAD we have been asking how we can build capacity and competencies to innovate. And to really understand this we have to be able to measure the contributions of these areas so that countries can formulate good policies and practices.

DD: Sometimes it seems that less glamorous issues like “measuring” are the most important but get the least amount of attention.

It’s true that when you start to talk about “indicators and methodologies” and issues like “institutional capacity” some eyes glaze over, but these are the areas that give us the platform to innovate.

The African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) initiative was launched six years ago and the first phase implemented in 19 countries. The idea is to improve the quality of science, technology and innovation policies at national, regional and continental levels. We are looking for ways countries can encourage research and development.

Data is coming in and the quality of the data is getting better. Already we have seen countries like Kenya increase its national target for R&D to 2% of GDP which is a big increase from 0.48%.  South Africa has introduced a system of incentives such as a tax rebate to encourage private sector investment in R&D and best practices are flourishing throughout the continent.

I am hopeful that African entrepreneurship and sound policies will be a winning combination.

DD: You hold a fifth degree black belt in Taekwondo and brought the sport to your home country. One of the tenants is “Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control and Indomitable spirit”. You seem to embody this philosophy. 

First let me say that I am a third degree black belt, the fifth degree was honorary but I am proud that we have been able to introduce Taekwondo to Niger.

I believe that if in your heart you put people first—that you cannot lose. It is only when we start to think outside a people-centred approach that cracks appear and solutions are lost.
- See more at: http://www.dailydevelopment.org/blog/knowledge-based-africa#sthash.sJjkSvxL.dpuf

DD: Transforming Africa is a big task—is it achievable?  

Our goal is to improve the well-being of the citizens of Africa. And it’s happening now.

There are several major signs. The African economy has grown between 5% and 6% in the past 10 years.

More students are graduating and going to college. It is a healthier continent with fewer people dying from infectious diseases like AIDS, TB and malaria.

Politically it united through the African Union and strong integration efforts are being done through regional economic bodies.

What we need now is to continue to innovate but also make sure that everyone is benefiting from this on-going transformation. We have to be careful that we reduce the gap between people who benefit and people who are being left behind. Africa is still the most unequal region of the world and with the highest proportion of youth in its population.

DD: Recently you shared a report on transitioning to a knowledge-based economy. Is this the future of Africa?

Africa is becoming more self-reliant especially in many of the traditional sectors like agriculture.

Agricultural development will fundamentally depend on empowering small scale farmers through innovation and knowledge.

We know that science, technology and innovation are areas in which Africa can and needs to excel. These knowledge-based sectors can boost economic growth.

A key challenge facing us now is finding concrete ways to link science, technology and innovation to poverty reduction, job creation for young people and sustainable livelihoods.

At NEPAD we have been asking how we can build capacity and competencies to innovate. And to really understand this we have to be able to measure the contributions of these areas so that countries can formulate good policies and practices.

DD: Sometimes it seems that less glamorous issues like “measuring” are the most important but get the least amount of attention.

It’s true that when you start to talk about “indicators and methodologies” and issues like “institutional capacity” some eyes glaze over, but these are the areas that give us the platform to innovate.

The African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) initiative was launched six years ago and the first phase implemented in 19 countries. The idea is to improve the quality of science, technology and innovation policies at national, regional and continental levels. We are looking for ways countries can encourage research and development.

Data is coming in and the quality of the data is getting better. Already we have seen countries like Kenya increase its national target for R&D to 2% of GDP which is a big increase from 0.48%.  South Africa has introduced a system of incentives such as a tax rebate to encourage private sector investment in R&D and best practices are flourishing throughout the continent.

I am hopeful that African entrepreneurship and sound policies will be a winning combination.

DD: You hold a fifth degree black belt in Taekwondo and brought the sport to your home country. One of the tenants is “Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control and Indomitable spirit”. You seem to embody this philosophy. 

First let me say that I am a third degree black belt, the fifth degree was honorary but I am proud that we have been able to introduce Taekwondo to Niger.

I believe that if in your heart you put people first—that you cannot lose. It is only when we start to think outside a people-centred approach that cracks appear and solutions are lost.
- See more at: http://www.dailydevelopment.org/blog/knowledge-based-africa#sthash.sJjkSvxL.dpuf