Programme / Thematic session II./c Fostering STI systems in Africa and equitable international partnerships for environmental sustainability and social inclusion

The session will bring together experts and policymakers from across Africa and from international organizations that are working using different approaches and modalities to strengthen capacity as well as strategic international partnerships in national science, technology and innovation (STI) systems. These systems continue to play a key role in national development priorities and in countries’ ability to contribute to addressing sustainable development goals (SDGs). More generally, there is an increasing push to ensure that STI benefits from activities and results are widespread and include vulnerable or traditionally excluded members of society.

States are indeed increasingly interested in strengthening their STI systems with a clear view to not only enhancing their impact and competitiveness, but also ensuring that they are more inclusive in terms of who is involved and who benefits from the work. International scientific cooperation can also play a role – beyond its own scientific interest – in this strengthening of STI systems by including new forms of equitable collaboration, favoring capacity building, limiting brain drain and fostering impact-oriented approaches. There is an opportunity to draw lessons from these various ways of collaboration and to expand them in the future, focusing on the challenges, best practices and lessons learned that can contribute to the development of STI systems across the continent, and beyond, having a greater impact on the lives of all citizens.