Ministers pledge 1% of GDP at Africa's first ST&I forum

Before leaving Kenya's capital, African ministers attending the first Africa forum on Science Technology and Innovation (ST&I) for youth employment, human capital development and inclusive growth in Nairobi pledged one percent of each country's gross domestic product to Research and Development (R&D), Newstimeafrica.com reports.

Various African experts -- including over 50 government ministers in charge of the ministries of science, technology and innovation, finance, planning and education - attended the three-day forum that was organised and hosted by the Kenyan government, in partnership with various African stakeholders.

In the "Nairobi Ministerial Declaration" which was published at the end of the event, the ministers pledged to increase investment in ST&I and use it as an engine for economic growth, in order to solve societal problems in areas of water, health, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), renewable energy and agriculture by strengthening scientific research in Africa. However, Kenya's minister for higher education science and technology, Prof. Margaret Kamar, was quick to point out Africa's love of conferences and lack of implementation of their outcomes

According to Newstimeafrica.com, the declaration also include the resolution that all African countries formulate national ST&I policies and integrate ST&I into national and regional sustainable development agenda at all levels. Naledi Pandor, South Africa's science and technology minister, said the continent also needed to transform its views on the value of science and technology. "It is important for our governments to identify productive researchers and not 'wild talkers', and fully support them. Infrastructure should also be put in place to for them to do their work," Pandor said.

Read the full article on www.newstimeafrica.com.