ECOWAS Policy on Science and Technology: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:09, 31 January 2017

Revision as of 09:10, 31 January 2017

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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) , 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 R&D in recent years. Mali devoted just 0.25% of GDP to R&D 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" />