ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation

Science, Technology &
Innovation for Development:
Lessons from CTA
JUDITH ANN FRANCIS
SEPTEMBER , 2011 1

About CTA
CTA is a joint
institution of the ACP
Group of States (79)
and European Union
Member States and
operates under the
framework of the
Cotonou Agreement. It
is funded by the EU.
2

Some History
• 2001 - ACP Informal Working Group (IWG) on S&T
established
• 2002 – ACP/EU Cape Town Ministerial Conference on
Research and Technology for Sustainable
Development
• 2003 - CTA S&T strategies programme launched with
a focus on ST&I for agricultural and rural
development
• IWG formalized and renamed - Advisory
Committee on S&T for ACP Agricultural and Rural
Development (AC)
3

ACP Agricultural Performance
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
Southern Africa
Central Africa
West Africa
Eastern Africa
Caribbean
Pacific
0.0
1979-81 1999-01 2005
4

CTA S&T Programme
• Objective – To support the ACP region in their efforts to
harness science, technology and innovation (ST&I) for
enhanced agricultural performance, sustainable rural
development and socio-economic development.
• Purpose - ACP researchers, academics and civil society
mobilized and empowered for influencing ST&I policy and
decision-making processes and supporting related
programme implementation for agricultural and rural
development
• Approach – Through partnerships with key ACP / EU
organizations, scientists including young professionals and
policymakers, capacity building and facilitating continuous
engagement in ST&I policy processes
5

Key Activities
• Annual meeting of the Advisory Committee – ACP/EU
think tank providing leadership on key ST&I issues
• Expert face to face consultations for achieving shared
understanding on key issues and designing and
informing ST&I policies and programmes
• Strengthening intra and inter ACP/EU collaboration
and networking on ST&I for agricultural and rural
development
• Facilitating access to information and electronic
discussions on key ST&I issues
6

Facilitating Dialogue
• ACP/EU Expert Consultations (2003-2010)
– Biodiversity
– Biofuels
– Biotechnology
– Building a critical mass of scientists
– Climate change
– Dryland agriculture
– Foresighting
– Indigenous knowledge
– Innovation systems
– Innovation system performance indicators
– Livestock & Fisheries
– Nanotechnology
– Tertiary education
– Water
• AC meeting 2011 – Postharvest knowledge systems 7

ICM electronic platform
• A dedicated S&T portal - http://knowledge.cta.int/
• Lead opinion pieces by ACP and EU authors
• Monthly e-newsletter – app 4,000 subscribers
• Social media targeting young scientists
8

Building Capacity on Innovation
• Initial training of 6 ACP experts on understanding
innovation processes and applying the innovation
systems approach to analyzing the ACP
agricultural, science, technology and innovation
(ASTI) system
• Regional ASTI and national TOT workshops –
specially designed course
• Support for national case studies (>20)
• Pilot ASTI system performance indicators
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Some Thoughts / Lessons
• Science and Policy are still too divided
– Not enough science /scientists
– Too many disjointed efforts /small projects
– Too much competition for scarce resources
– Limited understanding of the complexities
– Mistrust & ethical issues
• North/south divide persists & not enough
south/south collaboration
– Ethics
– Respect
– Availability & access to resources
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Future through agriculture
‣Economic development - equity, jobs, % GDP growth
‣Social development – mobility, inclusion, education, health
‣Scientific & technological capability – local / national
‣Trade & Markets - infrastructure, standards – national
‣Ecosystem sustainability
‣Food security – national priority
‣Governance – democracy, institutions, leadership
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The Agric-Value Chain
12

Environment for innovation
Infrastructure PNG – Rice Jamaica - ginger Grenada - nutmeg Tanzania - banana Malawi - maize
Government
incentives for
innovation
Scientific / skilled
manpower
Competence of
local universities
Competence of
R&D org
Intellectual
Property Rights
Weak Weak Weak Weak Average
Weak Average Weak Weak Average
Weak Weak Weak Weak Average
Average Average Weak Very Weak Weak
Weak Weak Weak Very Weak Weak
Venture Capital Very Weak Weak Weak Very Weak Weak
Quality of ICT
services
Weak Strong Average Weak Weak
State of Power Average Strong Average Weak Weak
State of water
supply
Average Average Average Weak Weak
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Linkages in the System
Actor Linkage
Intensity
Jamaica – Ginger &
mango
Cameroon – cassava &
cocoa
Senegal - rice
Public research -
enterprise
Weak Average Average - strong
Public research –
extension/diffusion
Average Average Average - strong
University - enterprise Weak Weak - Average None - Weak
National – international
research
Weak - Average Strong Strong
Extension / diffusion –
Enterprise
Average Average Average - strong
Enterprise - enterprise Strong Strong Very strong
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Conclusion
Enabling policies, knowledge, skills, science &
technology infrastructure, financing and
innovation are essential.
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