PRESS RELEASE
ATPS’s publications are mostly available as free PDF files. You will need to download and install the latest version of Adobe® Reader® to view these files
Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for Enhancing Youth Employability, Entrepreneurship, and Job Creation in West Africa
EVENT PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release, 29th April 2024
Kigali, Rwanda
Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for Enhancing Youth Employability, Entrepreneurship, and Job Creation in West Africa
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and Afreximbank, organized a Stakeholder Engagement and Dissemination Workshop on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as a means for enhancing youth employability, entrepreneurship, and job creation in Eastern Africa on 29 April 2024, in Kigali, Rwanda at the Marriott Kigali. This event marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to use STI as a means to enhance youth employability, entrepreneurship, and job creation in Africa.
The workshop is set to achieve multifaceted objectives, including the dissemination of key findings on STI policy for youth development, fostering dynamic dialogue on innovation among stakeholders, discussing the next steps for funding youth-driven innovation, and developing recommendations for STI-driven youth solutions to address pressing societal challenges in Africa in the areas of agriculture, environment and climate change, health, energy, transport, and industry among others.
The research project that reviewed the policy and institutional landscape for technological innovation development in Africa with a view to enhance youth employability, entrepreneurship, and job creation has been ongoing since 2021 across eight African countries namely Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Immediate outputs include country specific Policy Briefs that have been tailored to addressing specific country needs with respect to enhancing youth employability, entrepreneurship, and job creation in the respective countries.
The Policy Briefs showcased some policy recommendations that can sustain youth employment through technological innovation development, deployment, and commercialization. They also serve as invaluable resources for policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders alike, offering actionable recommendations and strategies for leveraging STI to address youth unemployment and foster economic growth. By distilling complex research findings into accessible formats, these briefs facilitate evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation.
The Policy Briefs provides the following important information:
- An in-depth understanding of the STI policy and institutional landscape in the selected countries.
- Insights into the critical role of STI in youth development, employability, and entrepreneurship.
- Identification of challenges and barriers hindering youth participation in STI initiatives.
- Recommendations for policy interventions and investment strategies to promote youth-led innovation and job creation.
These Policy Briefs are instrumental in shaping the discourse around STI and youth empowerment, paving the way for transformative change across the continent. As such, they represent a vital step towards mainstreaming youth in STI policies, fostering innovation ecosystems, and unlocking the full potential of Africa’s burgeoning youth population.
To access these Policy Briefs and learn more about the projects, please visit the ATPS website at: https://atpsnet.org/technopolicy–briefs/. Stay tuned for further updates on this landmark project and dissemination workshop, as we continue our mission to harness STI as a means for sustainable development in Africa.
For further information, please contact Prof. Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director, African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) at: executivedirector@atpsnet.org or call +254 020 2714092 and visit our website at: https://atpsnet.org/
—ENDS—
ATPS Retains the 1st Top Science and Technology Policy Think Tank in Africa (10th globally) According to a 2021 Global Report
Dr. Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director, African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS)
The 2020 edition of the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report was officially released on 28 January 2021 marking 15 years of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP). The program aims to examine the evolving role and character of public policy research organizations. Over the last 30 years, TTCSP has developed and led a series of global initiatives that have helped bridge the gap between knowledge and policy in critical policy areas such as international peace and security, globalization and governance, international economics, environmental issues, information and society, poverty alleviation and healthcare and global health. The report seeks to showcase the role played by think tanks in governments and civil societies with the sole aim of improving their capacity as well as performance. A total of 11,175 think tanks were catalogued and ranked in 2020 by expert panels comprising of members from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
Once again, the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) has retained its top position as the 1st Top Science and Technology Policy Think Tank in Africa and 10th globally. According to the report, this category is dedicated to the leading science and technology institutions within the global community. The top think tanks in this category provide superior innovative research and strategic analyses on topics ranging from innovation and telecommunications to energy, climate, and life sciences. These think tanks excel in research, analysis, and public engagement on a wide range of policy issues with the aim of advancing debate, facilitating cooperation between relevant actors, maintaining public support and funding, and improving the overall quality of life in the relevant countries that they cover. ATPS ranked tops in various other categories assessed in this report (see figure 1).
ATPS remains the premier science and technology policy research think tank in Africa with over three decades of impact oriented research policy on science, technology and innovation (STI) on the continent. We have facilitated the development and implementation of several STI policies in most African countries since the ‘80s.
Details of the ranking can be found in the report at:
https://repository.upenn.edu/think_tanks/18/
Ends…
ATPS Retains the 1st Top Science and Technology Policy Think Tank in Africa (10th globally) According to a 2020 Global Report
Dr. Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director, African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS)
The 2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report was officially released on 28 January 2020 marking 14 years of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) that aims to acknowledge important contributions as well as emerging trends in think tanks worldwide. The report seeks to showcase the role played by think tanks in governments and civil societies with the sole aim of improving their capacity as well as performance. A total of 8,248 think tanks were catalogued and ranked in 2019 by expert panels comprising of members from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
The report shows that the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) has retained its top position as the 1st Top Science and Technology Policy Think Tank in Africa and 10th globally. According to the report, this category is dedicated to the leading science and technology institutions within the global community. The top think tanks in this category provide superior innovative research and strategic analyses on topics ranging from innovation and telecommunications to energy, climate, and life sciences. These think tanks excel in research, analysis, and public engagement on a wide range of policy issues with the aim of advancing debate, facilitating cooperation between relevant actors, maintaining public support and funding, and improving the overall quality of life in the relevant countries that they cover. ATPS ranked tops in 17 other categories assessed in this report (see figure 1).
ATPS remains the premier science and technology policy research think tank in Africa with over three decades of impact oriented research policy on science, technology and innovation (STI) on the continent. We have facilitated the development and implementation of several STI policies in most African countries since the ‘80s. The ATPS has been leading a major impact-oriented project on Networking Africa’s Science Granting Councils in 15 sub-Saharan African countries under the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) being funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the British Department for International Development (DFID), the National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa, and most recently the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). The initiative aims to promote social and economic development in the region through research and innovation. More details about this Initiative are available online at: https://atpsnet.org/projects/building-partnerships/
The ATPS also ranked tops in many other categories that were used to assess Think Tanks across the world. Notable among these categories are: Best Managed Think Tank; Think Tank with the Most Innovative Policy Ideas/Proposals; Best Independent Think Tank; Best Trans disciplinary Research Think Tank; Best Advocacy Campaign Think Tank; Think Tank with the Best Use of the Internet; and Think Tank with the Best institutional collaboration involving two or more Think Tanks; Best Think Tank in Domestic Health Affairs among many others.
Details of the ranking can be found in the report at:
https://repository.upenn.edu/think_tanks/17?utm_source=repository.upenn.edu%2Fthink_tanks%2F17&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages
Ends….
ATPS RANKED BEST THINK TANK NETWORK FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW ACCORDING TO A GLOBAL REPORT
The ATPS for the fourth time consecutively emerged as the Best Think Tank Network in Africa. The 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report was released by the University of Pennsylvania under the Think Tank and Civil Societies Program. ATPS was also ranked as the best transdisciplinary Research Think Tank, Top Science and Technology Think Tank, Best Use of Internet and Best Think Tank with an annual operating budget of less than $5 million USD in a year. Overall, ATPS was ranked 101 worldwide and 7th in the Africa.
Brookings Institution (USA) emerged as the top think tank in the World. Globally, ATPS emerged 5th, 10th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th as the Best Think Tank with an annual budget of less than $5 million, Top Science and Technology Think Tank, Best Transdisciplinary Research Think Tank, Best think Tank Network, Best Regional Studies Centre (Free Standing) and Best Institutional Collaboration involving two or more Think Tanks respectively.
Water and food security are the two new categories introduced in the 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index; the new categories are as a result of the slowly diminishing ecosystem which has led to drought and famine in some parts of the world. Think Tanks under this new category are expected to work with governments to come up with effective policies that will help mitigate the effects of climate change.
The number of Think Tanks in Africa is still low at 664 when compared to Europe which has 2,045 Think Tanks; Asia has 1,676, North America 1,972 and Central and South America at 979. In Africa, South Africa has 92 think tanks which is the highest followed by Kenya (57), Nigeria (52), Ghana (40) and Uganda (32). The number of thinks tanks in Africa is still low Out of these, approximately 25%-30% are fragile due to the failing hostile political and regulatory environment to NGOs, inadequate funding and underdeveloped institutional capacity of some countries. According to James McGann, Director Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program there is need to raise awareness of think tanks sustainability in Africa and more effort put in place to address inadequate funding and shortage of staff.
With these successes, the ATPS Board extends its gratitude to the entire 1,500 network members and stakeholders spread across 51 countries in 5 continents for their great support and strategic guidance. We continue to build Africa’s capabilities in science, technology and innovation policy research, policymaking and policy implementation for sustainable development.
ATPS Ranking at a Glance | |||
S/N | Relevant Criteria | ATPS Ranking Worldwide | ATPS Ranking in Africa |
1. | Best Think Tank Network | 14 | 1 |
2. | Best Transdisciplinary Research Think Tank | 10 | 1 |
3. | Top Science and Technology Think Tank | 10 | 1 |
4. | Best Use of Internet | 23 | 1 |
5. | Think Tank with annual operating budget of less than $5 million USD | 5 | 1 |
6. | Best Institutional collaboration involving two or more think tanks | 16 | 2 |
7. | Best Managed Think Tanks | 22 | 2 |
8. | Most Significant Impact on Public Policy | 30 | 2 |
9. | Best Regional Studies Centre (Free standing) | 15 | 2 |
10. | Best Advocacy Campaign | 20 | 3 |
11. | Top Global Health Policy Think Tanks | 26 | 3 |
12. | Think Tank with the most Innovative Policy ideas/proposals | 31 | 3 |
9. | Top Domestic Health Policy Think Tanks | 32 | 4 |
13. | Best Independent Think Tank | 77 | 4 |
15. | Top international development Think Tank | 46 | 4 |
16. | Top Domestic Economic Policy Think Tanks | 82 | 5 |
17. | Top Think Tanks Worldwide (US and Non-US) | 101 | 7 |
18. | Top Think Tanks in sub-Saharan Africa | N/A | 30 |
Number of Think Tanks ranked in the world 2017 7,815 | |||
Number of Think Tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa 664 | |||
Number of Think Tanks ranked in Kenya 57 | |||
For inquiries on collaboration and funding support, please contact:
Dr. Nicholas Ozor
Executive Director,
African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS),
8th Floor, The Chancery Building, Valley Road,
P.O. Box 10081- 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya,
Email: executivedirector@atpsnet.org
Telephone: +254 (0) 20-2714092; Mobile: +254 (0) 713 161 928
LANDPKS applications now available on Google Play
The Land-Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS) mobile applications are now publicly available on Google play. This comes 18 months after the design, development and testing of the first two applications: LandInfo and LandCover. These innovative mobile data collection and analysis tools support local land management and land use planning to optimize food security, land restoration, and climate change adaptation programs.
The LandInfo application allows users to enter point-specific information about soil texture, topography and easily observable soil properties. It provides free cloud storage and sharing, and allows the app to return site-specific data including temperature, rainfall, estimated amount of water the soil can store for plants, and growing season length. The LandCover application functions via the stick method in assessing vegetation cover and structure of
pastureland. The outputs of the Land cover provide important information such as percentages of bare ground and vegetation cover, which is important in rangeland health monitoring.
“ATPS has been supporting the development of the LandPKS through field work and data collection and is now looking forward to creating awareness, building the capacity of stakeholders including farmers, rural development planners, policy makers, and extension workers, and mobilizing policy supports on the use of the applications as a tool for farm decision making and land use planning,” said Dr. Nicholas Ozor the Ag. Executive Director at ATPS.
Speaking during the official launch of the LandPKS tools and public release at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) on Wednesday, 22nd April 2015, Dr. Ozor welcomed and appreciated the support of all the delegates who were drawn from the academia, civil society and policy-making institutions.
“The launch of LandPKS is a step forward in reducing food insecurity and environmental degradation challenges,” emphasized Dr. Hussein Farah the Director RCMRD. He was pleased with the good turn out of the invited delegates and as the host he officially welcomed them.
Further, Dr. Patrick Wargute the Director The Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources – Kenya, stated that the LandPKS will go a long way in land rehabilitation, climate change adaptation, enhancing food security, and in sustaining ecosystem based adaptations.
Mr. Robinson Mugo of SERVIR- Eastern and Southern Africa brought the project into perspective and informed delegates that “SERVIR is about connecting space technology and science in the village.” He further explained that, the LandPKS will globalize access to knowledge and information about land potential for governments and communities, it will also identify the knowledge and information to each type of land and soil and connect people with similar types of lands and challenges with each other.
In addition, Dr. Adam Beh from United States Department of Agriculture -Agricultural Research Service (USDA- ARS) presented the project and demonstrated how the App works. “ The LandPKS App is now available on Google play store on Android platform however with time we shall ensure that it is available on I-phone, windows and other platforms” he re-affirmed. He went further to explain that LandPKS is a knowledge engine supported by global databases and models.
The LandPKS team has developed a cloud-based, land potential knowledge system powered by geospatial datasets that allows the potential of land to be defined explicitly and dynamically for unique and constantly changing soil and climate conditions. The knowledge engine, together with mobile phone and cloud computing technologies, will also facilitate more rapid and complete integration and dissemination of local and scientific knowledge about sustainable land management.
The flow of data in the LandPKS system starts with site data that is collected from the field via mobile phone applications. The users’ input data are combined with geospatial data collected based on user location to run simulation models of potential soil productivity and erosion risk. Simulation results are used to create customized outputs that are returned to the user via the mobile application. The LandPKS strategy is efficient, easy to use and provides actionable information with modular, hierarchical (drill down to increasingly complex inputs and output) and open source, it complements and leverages related efforts like; ISCRIC, Africa soil Information Service (AfSIS), Vitalsigns, World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT), United Nations Convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD), JournalMap.Org among others.
The launch of the app marks the start of connecting knowledge and information that already exists and can be uploaded therefore allowing land owners all over the globe to use their land to the fullest potential. The represented organizations including primary partners and field collaborators consisted of; Regional centre for mapping of resources for development (RCMRD), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), united Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), , SERVIR-Eastern and Southern Africa, United Sates Department of Agriculture (USDA- ARS), Department of Resources Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources – Kenya, NASA, Ministry of agriculture livestock and fisheries- Kenya , Kenyatta University ( KU), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) among others.
For further information about this app and for collaborative opportunities, please contact:
The Executive Director,
African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS),
3rd Floor, The Chancery Building, Valley Road,
P.O. Box 10081- 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya,
Email: executivedirector@atpsnet.org
Telephone: +254 (0) 20-2714092;
Mobile: +254 (0) 713 161 928; Fax +254-20-2714028
A new development in mobile app to match land use with it’s potential
Farmers, development organizations, extension workers and national governments will soon have an opportunity to share, access and apply the best available knowledge and information to determine the agricultural productivity and erosion risk level of land at field, regional, and national scale using the new Land Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS) mobile application
Leveraging the emerging trends in mobile phone technology, the LandPKS mobile phone app allows users principally farmers to make accurate farm decisions on the potential of their land in terms of crop production; types and soil erosion risk based on soil features, and also produces knowledge for aiding decision making in sustainable land management practices. The LandPKS mobile app facilitates the integration of local and scientific information and knowledge through crowdsourcing and innovative support system that provides users with robust information with similar characteristics to their land from other places around the world to be able to make farm decisions on production. Currently, LandPKS users get information on relative productivity and erosion risk for maize and grass.
The LandPKS mobile app relies on various sources of global datasets including Digital Elevation Model (DEM) maps, derivatives (slope, curvature, aspect, and land forms), weather data (precipitation, land surface temperature, and solar radiation), wind (NCEP/NCAR reanalysis) soil data (depth, texture, toxicity, workability, rock fragment, content etc), land cover, and land use maps among other datasets. The LandPKS project has made considerable effort to partner with different organizations such as African Technology Policy Studies (ATPS), Regional Centre for Mapping of resources for Development (RCMRD), and Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT). Another supporting partner is The Africa Soil Information system (AfSIS) who is providing soil database for validating maize predictions.
The partners have been holding several fortnightly meetings to ensure that the success of the LandPKS project is fully achieved. ATPS is working with LandPKS to provide policy briefs, develop a LandPKS stakeholders mapping and communication outreach strategy where ATPS will be greatly involved in the implementation of the project.
So far, the LandPKS mobile app has progressed to providing relative grass and maize productivity estimates. However, validation, and testing of model’s confidence levels on both maize and grass are still on going. Proper predictions are determined by the understanding and accuracy of the user, light source and soil conditions (wet or dry). The LandPKS soil colour app (an important feature of the app) is still under development.
In spite of the enormous progress made with the development of the app, there remain some challenges that need to be addressed like; inadequate data availability in Africa, unwillingness of institutions to share data, as well as sparse data in arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) where the knowledge system is being piloted. Predictions are therefore relative estimates. Following several feedbacks and information input, the LandPKS mobile app inte rface and capabilities are being modified using higher resolution datasets(30m) to improve the accuracy in predictions.
In future, the app will incorporate local knowledge on working practices (indigenous knowledge), globally connect users with similar needs/problems, and improvement of the models predictive capabilities through use of artificial intelligence. This will be one development of its kind that will contribute to sustainable food production, reduction in soil erosion risk and increase income opportunities for future generations.
For inquiries on collaboration and funding support, please do kindly contact:
The Executive Director,
African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS),
3rd Floor, The Chancery Building, Valley Road,
P.O. Box 10081- 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya,
Email: executivedirector@atpsnet.org
Telephone: +254 (0) 20-2714092; Mobile: +254 (0) 713 161 928; Fax +254-20-2714028
The ATPS UK Chapter explores Opportunity for Research, Partnership and Collaboration with the ICT4D Centre, Royal Holloway University of London
The ATPS UK Chapter and Royal Holloway University of London have explored the opportunities for Research, Partnership and Collaborations as part of an initiative to foster collaboration between the ATPS and the ICT4D Centre in the University.
The ICT4D Centre is a renowned Cross Disciplinary research Centre that is based within the Geography Department at the University. The Centre was awarded the UNICEF Chair in ICT4D in 2007 and ranked 7th globally in the Science and Technology research category in the 2014 Go To Think Tank Index with the ATPS following closely at 13th globally in that category and only second in Africa.
The talk which was delivered by the Outreach and Communications Director of the ATPS UK Chapter, Mr Ambrose Nwodoh accompanied by the ATPS UK National Coordinator Martha Ugwu, was attended by a cross selection of Senior Academics and Postgraduates students from the ICT4D Centre. Notable attendees were the Head of Geography Department and a Professor of Human Geography Kate Willis, Director of the ICT4D Centre and Director of MSc Practicing Sustainable Development Dr Dorothea Kleine, Lecturer in Human/Environmental Geography, Dr Gwilym Eades to name but three.
Focus
The talk was focused on introducing the current directions of ATPS Network and its strengths as a leading global research in Africa. It served a perfect opportunity to present the ATPS Phase VII Strategic Plan 2013-2018 to the Centre with a view of collaborating in delivering on some of the key objectives. The Centre acknowledged the relevance of ATPS in global science, technology and innovation policy research, policymaking and policy implementation and the benefit of working with ATPS especially in delivering on its sustainable development agenda. Both organisations share similar objectives with great emphasis on delivering practical activities that will empower poor people in the global south.
The presentation concluded with a very interactive question and answer session that focused on clarifying issues of capacity/structure of ATPS and identifying areas for collaboration. The Centre was reassured of the structure and the extensive global network of ATPS researchers that cuts across many disciplines both within and outside Africa. The Director of the Centre thanked Ambrose and Martha for the presentation and reaffirmed her commitment in developing a collaborative framework between the ICT4D Centre and the ATPS Network. . She alluded that the Centre would sign an MOU with the ATPS once a suitable project is identified.
For all enquiries about ATPS in the UK please do contact;
The Outreach and Communications Director
59 Highgrove Road
Princes Park
Kent, ME5 7SF
UK.
Email: atps.uk@atpsnet.org
Visit ATPS website at: www.atpsnet.org
African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) again emerges as the Best Think Tank Network; Best managed Think Tank; and Best Think Tank with the most Significant Impact on Public Policy in Africa, according to a Global Survey
African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) again emerges as the Best Think Tank Network; Best managed Think Tank; and Best Think Tank with the most Significant Impact on Public Policy in Africa, according to a Global Survey
The 2014 Global Go Think Tanks and Civil Society Index released in January 2015, ranks the ATPS as the best managed Think Tank in Africa (19th globally); best Think Tank Network in Africa (14th globally); and the best Think Tank in Africa with the Most Significant Impact on Public Policy (31st globally).
In addition, the ATPS also came first in raking amongst its peers in Africa in most of the criteria relevant to its mandate and strategic priorities, including:
- Best institutional collaboration involving two or more Think Tanks (15th globally);
- Best Trans-disciplinary Research Program at a Think Tank (11th globally); and
- Think Tanks with the Best Use of the Internet (26th globally).
The ATPS came second in Africa amongst Think Tanks with the Most Innovative Policy Ideas/Proposals (28th globally); Top Think Tanks with Annual Operating Budgets of Less Than $5 Million USD (8th globally); and Best Advocacy Campaign (18th globally). Within its core mandate area of Science and Technology, the ATPS ranked 13th amongst Top Science and Technology Think Tanks globally, coming 2nd in Africa, after South Africa’s well-resourced CSIR. ATPS was ranked 44th globally and 4th in Africa amongst Top International Development Think Tanks.
ATPS Policy Paper titled “Mainstreaming Gender in the National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy of Kenya” was ranked 45th globally and 2nd in Sub Saharan Africa among the Best Policy Study/Report Produced by a Think Tank (2013-2014). This policy report is available online at: https://www.atpsnet.org/Files/pb44.pdf
Overall, the ATPS once again ranked amongst the top 100 Top Think Tanks and Civil Society Programs globally, ranking 96th globally amongst Top Think Tanks Worldwide (US and Non-U.S.) and 7th in Africa. The 2014 global go to think tank index report was produced after analysing a total of 6,681 Think Tanks in the world among which 467 are in sub-Saharan Africa. The survey is conducted by Think Tank and Civil Societies Program/University of Pennsylvania (USA). For more details on the 2014 Global Go Think Tank Index, kindly visit: http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=think_tanks.
The ATPS Board and New Management takes this opportunity to thank all its stakeholders – Donors, Partners, National Chapter Coordinators, Grantees, Members, and Staff for their various supports in achieving this enviable global/regional ranking status. We continuously solicit for your financial supports to enable us deliver on our core mandate of building Africa’s capabilities in science, technology and innovation policy research, policymaking and policy implementation for sustainable development on the continent. For inquiries on collaboration and funding support, please do kindly contact:
The Executive Director,
African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS),
3rd Floor, The Chancery Building, Valley Road,
P.O. Box 10081- 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya,
Email: executivedirector@atpsnet.org
Telephone: +254 (0) 20-2714092; Mobile: +254 (0) 713 161 928; Fax +254-20-2714028
Conference on African Women and Youth as Agents of Change through Technology and Innovation
The ATPS in collaboration with Woodrow Wilson Centre held a conference on 01 May 2013 at Woodrow Wilson Center, USA. The conference aimed to assist in the development of a growing network between current and new generations of women and youth leaders in technology and innovation.
The following is a press release for the event.Click to download
Video: Technology and Innovations in Africa, A feature on the conference by VoA
Video:Africa Transformed: How Women and Youth are Leading the Way Through Technology and Innovation
ATPS set to launch its UK Chapter
The ATPS will launch its UK Chapter on 13th September 2013 at the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA. This is the third Diaspora Chapter after USA and Australia Chapters.
The event will be marked at an international policy round table on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development in Africa: The role of Africans in the Diaspora. Amongst the lead speakers, session chairs, and discussants at the policy round table session will include, Prof. Tim Unwin, the UNESCO Chair for ICT4D and the Chair of the Commonwealth Scholarship Board. Royal Holloway, University of London; Prof. Emmanuel Ezugwu, Provost Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology, Dr (Mrs) Bola Olabisi, Director, British Female Inventor & Innovators Network (BFIIN) and member of the Steering Committee of the ATPS facilitated African Women Forum for Science and Technology (AWFST), Dr. David Doepel, Chair Africa-Australia Research Forum, Murdoch University, Western Australia – ATPS Australia Chapter Coordinator; Prof. Mark Swilling, ATPS South Africa Chapter Coordinator, Prof Bob Orskov OBE The James Hutton Institute, Scotland; Prof Chris Garforth Reading University, UK; Dr Aaron Goater UK Parliamentary office for STI; Dr Sean Butler, Head of Strategy NIAB, University of Cambridge, Prof Ian Hodge, Professor of Rural Economy, University of Cambridge, UK; Patience Kumalo, Executive Director, Qinus Integrated Management Systems UK and Prof. Kevin Urama, Executive Director, ATPS.
Prior to the launch, the ATPS-UK chapter held its first Annual General meeting on 2nd August 2013 which was presided over by Prof. Sir Brian Heap who is also an ATPS board member.
The event will be hosted by the ATPS UK Steering Committee under the leadership of the ATPS UK National Chapter Coordinator – Mrs Martha Ngozi Ugwu.
To attend the ATPS UK launching, please register at the following link http://atpsuklaunching.eventbrite.co.uk Limited spaces (120 seats) available will be allocated on first come first served bases
Mr. Ambrose Nwodoh,
ATPS UK Communications Coordinator
R.S.V.P:
Email: atps.uk@atpsnet.org
Tel: +44(0)782 551 3420, +44(0)203 667 3377
African leaders and researchers deliberate on emerging paradigms, technologies and innovations for sustainable development at the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) conference 2012
The conference is the most inclusive event held each year to discuss Africa’s Science, Technology and Innovation trends and development: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November 22, 2012
African leaders and scholars from 29 countries from Africa, Australia, Europe, United States of America, India and Africans in the Diaspora gathered in Addis Ababa from November 19 to 22 to deliberate on emerging paradigms, technologies and innovations for sustainable development in a post Rio+20 world.
Organized every year by ATPS ( www.atpsnet.org ) in collaboration with its partners, the conference was hosted at the new Africa Union Commission under the theme “Emerging Paradigms, Technologies and Innovations for Sustainable Development: Global Imperatives and African realities ”.
The conference and workshops reflected on a post-Rio+20 futures for Africa.
The optimism that the Rio+20 conference outcomes was expected to deliver greater global commitment to sustainable development and encourage countries of the global north to step up development assistance to African countries was well placed.
To make good use of the global commitments to sustainable development in Africa, African countries will need strategic transformative reforms in its Science, Technology and Innovation(STI) knowledge structures, institutions and governance structures, Agricultural and resources systems research and policy, intra-Africa cooperation, knowledge circulation and networks and development pathways that enhance transitions towards wealth creation for inclusive green growth and development on the continent.
“Without aggressive policies and commitment to build endogenous capacities on the continent, Africa will remain a knowledge consumer not a knowledge producer in the third industrial revolution,” said Prof. Kevin Urama, the Executive Director of the ATPS.
Though Africa’s scientific capacities and Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth have improved during the past decade, technological and innovation capacities remain low and the requisite institutional and governance infrastructures are only just emerging.
“Whereas there are pockets of success in application of STI including the mobile telephony and telecommunications, among other fields, which significantly contributed to the sustained economic growth in the continent during the past decade, the continent generally lags behind her peers in skills and competencies required to fully reap the benefits afforded by STI for its development,” he said.
ATPS further maintains that Africa cannot afford to remain recluse of the emerging global realities and social, economic and environmental challenges, neither should she remain a global consumer of knowledge, technologies and innovations in the new global economy.
“There is need for Africa to build home-grown technologies and innovations for sustainable development on the continent,” said Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak the Chair of the ATPS Board and Chief Executive Officer/Secretary of the Kenya’s National Council for Science and Technology.
Africa’s growth if not driven by a persified production structure essentially in manufacturing that would deliver quality jobs and raise incomes, would remain trepid, fragile and susceptible to negative shocks.
“Unfortunately, Africa’s initial attempts were not very successful. Rather than re-strategize, Africa and those advising Africa abandoned this strategy completely in spite of its being responsible for the basic industrial structure that currently exist,” said Prof. Osita Ogbu, the director of the Institute for Development Studies based at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
About the 2012 ATPS international conference and workshop: The overall purpose of the conference is to critically examine the current conditions, barriers and opportunities based on this year’s theme and to provide options for transitions to more inclusive sustainable development in Africa. It is expected that African policy makers, private sector and civil society appraised of the cons and pros of alternative development pathways and policy choices.
For more information:
Contacts:
Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, ATPS Executive Director
E-mail: executivedirector@atpsnet.org;
Tel: +254 20 271 4098/ 168/498
2012 ATPS Annual Conference to Reflect on a Post-Rio+20 Future
Representatives of African governments, international organizations and Africans in Diaspora are expected to converge in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 19-22 November 2012 to reflect on a post-Rio+20 future for Africa.;
The 2012 ATPS Annual Conference and Workshops will bring together a wide cross-section of the regional and international Science Technology and Innovation (STI) community, including senior ministers, African Union Commission (AUC), development partners, UN agencies, academia, civil society, NGOs, scientific and technical experts, the media and others.
The forum aims to follow-up on African Ministers call on Rio+20 to strengthen political will and international commitment to implementing the goals and ideals of sustainable development and urge developed countries to proactively fulfill previous commitments and pledges to support Africa’s efforts in achieving sustainable development. Under the theme: “Emerging Paradigms, Technologies and Innovations for Sustainable Development: Global Imperatives and Africa Realities”, a key focus at the event will be a close scrutiny of the linkages between a strengthened STI and sustainable development in Africa.
“We need to critically examine the current conditions, gaps and opportunities and provide policy options in STI for change-over to a more sustainable Africa,” Prof. Kevin Urama, Executive Director of ATPS asserts.
T¬he Conference will also reflect on the first Africa Forum on STI held in Nairobi from 1 – 3 April 2012 which called for African countries to, among other things, design STI policies and programs to implement strategies to support inclusive growth, employment opportunities, and sustainable development in Africa.
Global imperatives versus Africa realities
A number of global assessments on development trends and resource potentials suggest that Africa is on the move and the technical resource and productivity potentials for green growth is substantial. Huge opportunities therefore exist for homegrown development, but the STI capacities of the African countries to effectively participate in harnessing these comparative advantages remain dismal.
Though Africa’s scientific capacities and GDP have improved during the past decade, technological and innovation capacities remain low and the necessary institutional and governance infrastructures are only just emerging.
“The general feeling is that the global governance architectures be it in the socio-political, economic or environmental realms still leaves Africa disadvantaged in many ways.” Prof. Kevin Urama, ATPS Executive Director explains.
Despite the fact that there are pockets of success in application of STI including the mobile telephony and telecommunications, among other factors, which contributed to the sustained economic growth in the continent during the past decade, Africa generally lags behind to fully reap the benefits afforded by STI for its development.
“The notorious factors are lack of skills and capacities to foster an African development agenda, inadequate implementation of policies and programmes in the area of STI, and limited political commitment,” he adds.
ATPS therefore maintains that Africa cannot afford to remain recluse of the emerging global realities and social, economic and environmental challenges of climate change; neither should she remain a global consumer of knowledge, technologies and innovations in the new global economy, the architecture of which is emerging today.
For details visit the conference page at https://www.atpsnet.org/conferences/index.php
2012 ATPS Annual Conference Blog
As the 2012 ATPS Annual Conference scheduled to be held on 19th to 22nd November 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia nears, the ATPS would like to hear your views about the conference. The conference, whose theme is “Emerging Paradigms, Technologies and Innovations for Sustainable Development: Global Imperatives And African Realities” will reflect on a post-Rio+20 futures for Africa. Kindly visit the conference blog at https://www.atpsnet.org/conferences/blog/index.php and leave your comment at the end of the blog. We look forward to receiving your views.
Follow the conversation on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/atpsnet and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/atpsnetwork with the conference hashtag #ATPSAC12
ATPS-USA Policy Chatham House Strategic Planning Roundtable (Updated, to be held on 31st October 2012)
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) will host a Chatham House Round Table discussion on “Strategic Planning for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Research and Practice in Africa in a post Rio+20 World: Role of Africans in the Diaspora and Friends of Africa in the United States”, scheduled on 31 October 2012 at the Woodrow Wilson Centre for International Scholars. The event, which was originally planned for 29th October 2012 was pushed forward due to bad weather. The activity is being organized by the ATPS in collaboration with the Africa Program and Project on Leadership and Building State Capacity of the President Woodrow Wilson Centre for International Scholars, Washington DC.
The round table is designed facilitate dialogue amongst key stakeholders and development partners in the identification and prioritization of thematic and facilitative activities that will help strengthen the engagement of African in the USA in African policy dialogues and also in USA based policy dialogues on African development issues as part of the ATPS Phase VII Strategic Plan, 2013 – 2017. This was born out of on-going efforts to reverse brain drain into brain gain through effective knowledge circulation between Africa and rest of the world, as part of the implementation activities of the African Manifesto for Science, Technology and Innovation, launched in Cairo, Egypt in November 2010. Soft copies of the Manifesto can be downloaded from the ATPS website and hard copies will be made available at the meeting (cf: https://www.atpsnet.org/Files/the_african_manifesto_for_st&i.pdf ).
This marks the first implementation activity of the ATPS-USA chapter since it was officially launched at the Wilson Centre, Washington DC 0n 8th June 2012. The strategic planning dialogue will no doubt contribute to shaping the future engagement of the African Diaspora in STI policy research, policymaking and practice in Africa. Delegations to the Chatham house round table include leading STI policy research experts, policymakers, and private sector actors in Africa and the USA, and development partners, philanthropies, and foundations working on Africa. The President of the European Academies of Science Advisory Council (EASAC) who is also on the ATPS Board will also grace the occasion to share EU experiences on Africa based programs, providing multiple perspectives in the dialogue. Leading STI experts from Nigeria and Kenya, including former and serving government officials will also grace the occasion with their practical experience in engaging the Diaspora in Africa’s development struggle.
Venue: 5th Floor Conference Room, The Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Centre
One Woodrow Wilson Plaza – 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004-3027.
Contacts: Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, Executive Director, ATPS.
E-mail: executivedirector@atpset.org