By Sanjay Suri
LONDON, Jun 15 2005 (IPS)

Leading scientists from around the world are asking leaders of the G8 countries to get more scientific in their approach to the development of Africa.

”We would like to see a clear recognition of the fundamental importance of science and technology in tackling many of the problems African nations face such as securing the supply of food and fresh water, and the control of infectious diseases,” Bob Ward from the Royal Society in London told IPS.

The Royal Society founded in 1660 is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. The science academies of other G8 nations and the Network of African Science Academies joined the Royal Society in making that demand.

”The problems will not be solved with science alone but science is a fundamental part of ways of dealing with such issues,” Ward said. And while G8 nations support the scientific way to development in Africa, African nations ”must signal their investment in the future in building their scientific capacity. They must not just deal with emergencies but develop the means in the future to ward off such emergencies.”

The science academies are urging African countries to take a long-term approach. ”If some of the aid that has gone to Africa had been used to build the scientific capacity, we would be seeing a better situation today,” Ward said. ”There could for example have been a better system of fresh water distribution, and better agricultural methods.”

G8 leaders had agreed at their summit at Evian in France in 2003 on a scientific approach towards sustainable development, particularly in Africa. But progress on that decision has been patchy at best.

The science academies are not necessarily talking about cutting edge science here, Ward said. ”We are talking about the application of existing technologies. To be able to adopt these would itself be a major step forward.”

The Commission for Africa set up by the British government has already stressed the need for a scientific input into support of development in Africa. Given the support to the Commission by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, ”we get the impression we are pushing on an open door here,” Ward said. ”We are hoping to see similar commitments by other G8 leaders.”

The science academies made several recommendations to G8 leaders. Among them:

– Recognise that African countries must be able to develop, adapt and exploit scientific and technological solutions appropriate to their specific needs, otherwise they risk becoming ever more dependent on advice and assistance from the developed world.

– African countries need to have in place appropriate mechanisms and infrastructure for training and exploitation of knowledge. This will enable them to make meaningful evidence-based policy, in order adequately to address local needs and participate in the international community on science and technology issues.

– Sustainable national structures and strategies are needed to provide and maintain a source of well-trained, knowledgeable people, requiring attention at all levels of education from primary to tertiary.

– Help revitalise African universities and support the development of centres of excellence in science, engineering and technology, including African institutes of technology.

– Explicitly build development of science, technology and innovation capacity into international assistance programmes, including those for specific development sectors, and ensure that these initiatives are African-led and sensitive to social and cultural diversity.

– Encourage the transfer and sharing of scientific, technological and innovation excellence between the developed and developing worlds, as well as among developing world nations.

The academies said they recognise that ”without adequate funding, nothing will change.” They are asking G8 leaders to ontinue to keep the development of science, technology and innovation capacity on the G8 agenda in forthcoming years.

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