Changing the course of EU-Africa science cooperation

We are building a collection of case-studies and articles exploring issues, trends and impacts in development sciences research, with opinion and analysis from leading researchers, policy-makers and developing country partners.

December 2009

Changing the course of EU-Africa science cooperation

Scientific cooperation between Europe and Africa should be based on mutual strengths instead of the donor-recipient relationships that prevailed in the past.

Convened by the Kenyan Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, the conference was aimed at both developing understanding of, and debating recommendations for, improving bi-regional science and technology cooperation between Africa and Europe.

Over two days of intensive discussion, a number of key points emerged:

• A need for cooperation between European and African parties to function on the basis of mutual strengths, instead of the donor-recipient relationships that have historically characterised cooperative engagement. The recent growth in African economies is evidence that these strengths are prevalent and on the rise.
   
• S&T strategies must relate to national issues.
   
• Communication of research excellence must improve in Africa in order for its benefits to be reaped at the regional level. Thus, steps need to be taken by programme owners at the national and community level in Africa and Europe to ensure that research results are disseminated widely. Researchers too must take responsibility for communicating their work.
   
• The AU Commission should partner with the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST) to support a dedicated advisory structure for the AU Member States to assist in bilateral activities with the EU.
   
• EU research funding must become far more strategic by addressing the needs of the locality for which it is intended.
   
• S&T should be integrated in to poverty reduction strategies.
   
• There was agreement to enhance the role of 'infomediaries' — organisations who act as channels of communication between the research and policymaking communities.
   
• National Research and Education Networks should be created.
   
• Policy-makers must become champions of science.
   
• Bridging payments were suggested as a possible solution to the protracted, and in the case of African researchers, often debilitating period it takes to secure funds from the EU.

CAAST-Net is a four-year joint Africa-Europe platform dedicated to advancing bi-regional cooperation in science and technology.

It is based on the notion that capacity in science and technology is an essential pre-requisite to economic competitiveness, sustainable development and poverty reduction. Financed by the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), it seeks to advance international cooperation between Europe and Africa for mutual benefit.

The conference in Mombasa was the first for CAAST-Net and the recommendations will be used to inform policy-makers within African Union and European Union commissions.

Image source: Wellcome Library, London