Science Policy And Development In Africa

Since gaining political independence in the 1950s, science has rapidly become a prerequisite for national development within many African nations. Supported by international agencies, such as UNESCO, initiatives were taken to direct Africa on the road of scientific development, enabling contributions to world science and significant progress in many specific research areas. However, from a developmental perspective there remains the question of how science influences national development plans and strategies. How far are science policies integrated into the national development plans? What potential and challenges do science and technology pose for Africa and its prospects for wider development? Offering a comprehensive historical and empirical study of science in both colonial and post-colonial Africa, R. Sooryamoorthy brings to light the connections between science, policy and development in African nations. Focusing on understanding the widening gap in science and technology between developed and developing regions, and the integration (or lack of) with national development strategies, this study provides important insights into the potential opportunities and challenges facing Africa in the areas of science.

Over the years, there have been several publications on science and technology in South Africa. Most, if not all of them, have focused on the science and technology landscape up to the mid-eighties. The changes in the science and technology system since the democratisation of this country have thus far not been reflected on in a systemstic way. This book presents a perspective on this changing landscape by offering an encompassing conceptual framework that should remain valid even if the policy were to evolve further. This perspective is further profiled by bringing into focus the main developments that have shaped science policy in South Africa since the turn of the 20th century. The last four chapters of this book sketch this process and its outcomes to date - unstable as the picture may still be. This dynamic situation, however, does allow one to experience something of the vibrant atmosphere that characterised the transformation of the country during the 1990s. This overview of the development of science and technology is presented within the context of a multi-faceted conceptual framework (chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4). The intention of this book is to offer an overview and evaluation of the policy and system and a prognosis of future developments in the context of broader historical, theoretical and international trends.

The contributors to this volume present a broad canvas of science and technology policies as instruments of social and economic development, record the progress that has been made, and identify and analyze the problems that remain to be solved. Contributors are Aqueil Ahmad, Charles H. Davies, Thomas Owen Eisemon, John W. Forje, Jacques Gaillard, Eric L. Hyman, John E. Udo Ndebbio, Fola Osotimehin, Aaron Segal, Scott Tiffin, Paul B. Vitta, and Roland Waast.

The volume analyses major strategic and policy issues. How to make Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policies relevant for inclusive growth strategies in Africa so that socio-economic transformation strategies will take off. The first part discusses the issues of human skills development as part of STI policies, based on visions, strategic plans and country cases (for Cameroon, Nigeria and Mauritania). The second part looks at STI Policies for Economic Transformation, focussing on country case studies (for Egypt and Tunisia). A third part presents book reviews and book notes.

An inquiry into how social relations make for successful science and technology policies.

Investigates the effects of research in the field of international development.. Examines the consequences of 23 research projects funded by Canada's International Development Research Centre in developing countries. Shows how research influence public policy and decision-making and how can contribute to better governance.