Regional Scientific Initiatives in Africa

Source: "Africa Analysis: Federal or regional science policy?" Linda Nordling, SciDev.Net, 24 November 2008.

Tensions between the African Union (AU) science secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the science office of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in Pretoria, South Africa, apparently came to a head in Mombasa, Kenya, at the African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST). It was decided that the AU would take the lead on policymaking while NEPAD would be responsible for implementation. Next month the AMCOST bureau meets in Abuja, Nigeria (3–5 December) and , a new science policy 'cluster' will gather on December second to create a 'calendar' of African science programmes for 2009.