Mucktarr M.Y Darboe is currently the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Technical Affairs and formerly the Director of STI at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology of The Gambia. A current PhD student with the Beijing Institute of Technology and formerly, a graduate of the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) of the University of Sussex in the UK. He is an experienced STI Expert with a demonstrated history of working in the public policy industry, specifically on STI policy matters at national, regional, and global levels. For the past decade, he has contributed towards the achievement of UNESCO objectives through the implementation of various projects of the Participation Programme (C/5) including but not limited to design of STEM education & STI policies, implementing the GO-SPIN & SAGA programmes.

Mr. Darboe currently facilitates Gambia’s participation in the UN Global STI4SDGs Roadmap Project (endorsed by the G20) to enhance global cooperation for a Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) envisioned in the Agenda 2030 (SDGs) with the European Union support.   

During the last decade, he has implemented other important programmes including the publication of a triennial report on the National Innovation Outlook and the strengthening of international collaboration and partnership between the Ministry and relevant STI institutions including but not limited to COMSTECH, COMSATS, AOSTI, NEPAD, UNESCO, OPCW, CTBTO, among others. Mucktarr is also the National Focal Point for the Governing Board of the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE-E), and the African Union’s Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC). In 2017, he was the team mentor of the National Robotics Team that performed tremendously at the FIRST Global Robotics Olympiad in Washington D.C.  He is currently working with local and international stakeholders to assist The Gambia in the achievement of the SDGs.

Mr. Darboe was a speaker at the 2019 World Science Forum held in Budapest, Hungary on the topic: 'Gender Equality in STI: An Ethical Issue'. Mr. Darboe was also a panelist at the UNESCO Round Table entitled, "What drives the gender gap in STI? And how do we close it” organized in the Framework of the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in 2019 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He doubles as an Expert Panel Member of the OACP PSF to develop a Research & Innovation Policy and to establish a National Innovation Agency in Lesotho and a requesting authority for the development of the National Innovation Fund of the Gambia.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mucktarr-darboe-my-24374019 Twitter: @mucktarr1

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