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WE, the Ministers responsible for science and technology in African countries,
meeting at our inaugural conference in the framework of the New Partnership
for Africa's Development (NEPAD) from 6-7 November 2003 in Johannesburg,
South Africa;
Motivated by the solemn pledge by our Heads of State and Government in
adopting NEPAD as the socio-economic framework for regional integration,
eradication of poverty and sustainable development;
Recalling Article 3 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU),
which promotes research in all fields, particularly in science and
technology to advance the development of the continent;
Taking into account that the realization of the NEPAD goals as well
as those of supportive initiatives, such as the Millennium Development
Goals and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development is receiving considerable attention of African leaders and
Africa's development partners;
Convinced that scientific advances and technological innovations are
driving forces for economic growth and sustainable development;
Emphasizing the importance of adopting multidisciplinary approaches,
including social sciences or humanities, in research and development;
Acknowledging that the ability of our countries to create,
diffuse and utilize scientific and technical knowledge is a major
determinant of our capacity to take advantage of international trade and
effectively compete in the global economy as well as improve the quality
of life of our people;
Realizing that the gap between poor and rich countries in terms of real
income is largely accounted for by differences in the acquisition,
accumulation and utilization of science and technology;
Determined further to effectively and successfully address the challenges
of food security, environmental degradation, diseases, poor communication,
poverty eradication and Africa's marginalisation in the global economy;
Guided by the deliberations and outcome of the Regional Workshop on
"Developing a shared Platform for Science and Technology" held from 17-19
February 2003 in Johannesburg, South Africa as well as the preparatory meeting
of this conference held from 13-15 October 2003 in Nairobi, Kenya;
WE HEREBY COMMIT TO:
- Acknowledge the need for science and technology to be championed
as priority instruments of economic and social development
at the highest level of our governments;
- Emphasize
the need for science and technology policies and strategies that lead to
sustainable development and the eradication of poverty;
- Resolve and commit
to find ways and means of strengthening, individually and collectively,
science, technology and innovation systems of our countries to attain
sustainable development and integration into the global economy;
- Reaffirm
our commitment to promote within our countries scientific research and
technological innovations and their applications, particularly in the
eradication of poverty; seeking solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition,
homelessness, unemployment, lack of affordable energy and the fight against
disease, especially HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
- Establish
appropriate enabling conditions for scientific and technological
advancement of our countries and the continent;
- Establish
a Council of Ministers of Science and Technology as the policy-making and
overall governance body for science and technology in the framework of NEPAD
- Proudly acknowledge
the abundance of indigenous knowledge and technologies accumulated over
millennia in our continent, and commit to promote, protect and develop
them as crucial components of science, technology and innovation systems.
- Reaffirm
our commitment to pursue all measures possible to increase public expenditure
on research and development to at least 1 per cent of GDP per annum,
- Resolve
to develop the appropriate policy and regulatory environment, including
protection of intellectual property, to encourage private sector investment
in research and development.
- Establish
networks of centres of excellence in science and technology within
the framework of NEPAD;
- Undertake
to improve on bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the
development and application of science and technology;
- Develop
and adopt common sets of indicators to benchmark our
national and regional systems of innovation
- Resolve
to build regional consensus and strategies to address concerns
emerging with advances in new technologies, including biotechnology,
nanotechnology, and information and communications technologies;
- Establish
national and regional programmes to promote public understanding
of science and technology and their role in development;
- Undertake
to improve the quality of and enrollment in science, technology,
mathematics and engineering education;
- Ensure
coordination of science and technology matters between the
different sectors of government, and promote dialogue between
stakeholders in the science and technology community; and
- Promote
networking of departments of science and technology,
and ensure that expertise and experiences in various national
institutions is shared across the continent;
THEREFORE ADOPT the Outline of Plan of Action as the basis
for the formulation of NEPAD's Business Plan on Science and
Technology to be finalized within twelve months after this Conference.
RECOMMEND that the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation
Committee (HSGIC) consider and submit this Declaration to the Summit
of the African Union.
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