ECOWAS Policy on Science and Technology: Difference between revisions

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In 2011, the [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) adopted a '''Policy on Science and Technology''' (ECOPOST).

== An integral part of Vision 2020 ==

ECOPOST is an essential component of the sub region's Vision 2020 Development Plan. Vision 2020 lays out a plan for better governance, faster economic and monetary unification and increased Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). It supports the planned harmonization of investment regulations in [[West Africa]] and advises pushing the establishment of a regional investment promotion agency "with vigour." Countries are being advised to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as to expose traditional agriculture to modern technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation, in order to boost production.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002354/235406e.pdf|title=West Africa. In: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030|last=Essegbey|first=George|last2=Diaby|first2=Nouhou|last3=Konte|first3=Almamy|publisher=UNESCO Publishing|year=2015|isbn=978-92-3-100129-1|___location=Paris}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=ECOWAS Policy for Science and Technology|last=ECOWAS|publisher=Economic Community of West African States|year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Vision 2020: towards a Democratic and Prosperous Society.|last=ECOWAS|publisher=Economic Community of West African States|year=2011}}</ref>

== A framework for national policies ==

ECOPOST provides a framework for member states wishing to improve or elaborate their own national policies and action plans for science, technology and innovation. Moreover, ECOPOST includes a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the policy's implementation, an aspect often overlooked.<ref name=":0" />

It does not neglect funding, rather it proposes creating a solidarity fund which would be managed by a Directorate within ECOWAS to help countries fund investment in key institutions and improve education and training; the fund would also be used to attract foreign direct investment. As of early 2015, the fund had not yet been established.<ref name=":0" />

The regional policy advocates the development of a science culture in all sectors of society, including through science popularization, the dissemination of research results in local and international journals, the commercialization of research results, greater technology transfer, intellectual property protection, stronger university–industry ties and the enhancement of traditional knowledge.<ref name=":0" />

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* establish science and innovation prizes;

* define a harmonized regional status for researchers;

* put in placeestablish a national fund for local innovators which would also help them protect their intellectual property rights;

* adapt university curricula to local industrial needs;

* develop small research and training units in key industrial fields, such as lasers, fiber optics, biotechnology, composite materials and pharmaceuticals;

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=== Investment in research and development ===

ECOWAS countries still have a long way to go to reach the [[African Union|African Union's]] target of devoting 1% of GDP to gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD). Mali comes closest (0.66% in 2010), followed by Senegal (0.54% in 2010), according to the [[UNESCO Science Report]] (2015). They are trailed by Ghana (0.38% in 2010), Nigeria and Togo (0.22% in 2007 and 2012 respectively), Burkina Faso (0.20% in 2009), [[The Gambia|Gambia]] (0.13% in 2011) and Cabo Verde (0.07% in 2007). The strong economic growth experienced by the subregion in recent years owing to the commodity boom does, of course, make it harder to improve the GERD/GDP ratio, since GDP keeps rising. Several countries have increased their commitment to research in recent years. Mali devoted just 0.25% of GDP to research and development in 2009, for instance, and Senegal has increased its own research intensity from 0.37% in 2008.<ref name=":0" />

Although the government is the main source of GERD, foreign sources contribute a sizeable chunk in Ghana (31%), Senegal (41%) and Burkina Faso (60%). Gambia receives nearly half of its GERD from private non-profit sources.<ref name=":0" />