Building Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity in Rwanda

Building Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity in Rwanda
Author: Alfred J. Watkins
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2008
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0821373579

Even a subsistence agricultural economy such as Rwanda needs to develop science, technology and innovation (STI) capacity if it hopes to solve such everyday, practical problems as providing energy and clean drinking water to rural villages, and competing in the global economy by producing and selling higher value goods and services. This book provides new insights into the capacity building process and shows that STI capacity building is not a luxury activity suitable primarily for wealthy countries but an absolute necessity for poor countries that hope to become richer.

Building Science, Technology and Innovation Systems in Africa

Building Science, Technology and Innovation Systems in Africa
Author: Abdelkader DJEFL
Publisher: Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd
Total Pages: 329
Release: 2010-06-30
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 1912234238

The book discusses the policies and strategies for Science and Technology (S&T) and Innovation capability building put up by Maghreb states (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco) in the last three decades. The application of structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) in recent years, the opening up of their economies and liberalisation of trade have confronted firms with largely innovation-based competition and the attempt to reduce this impact are far from effective, particularly in the face of the era of knowledge economy and sustainability requirements. The work is articulated around three major themes: the difficult path to S&T capacity building, the attempts to put up National Systems of Innovation (NSI) and the prospects for a more innovation driven growth at the territorial level, notably through intermediate institutions and science and technology poles. While pointing out the difficulties of building NSI, the book examines how the context of an innovation- driven competition put local firms, especially SMEs, in a difficult position. It notes that universities, which are prone to internal politics and rent-seeking, are not producing the necessary human capital. The knowledge economy era challenges raise some hopes for better access to innovation and knowledge assets in the world while at the territorial level, new innovation dynamics are taking place. Based on extensive research and consultancy work done on the analysis of policies in the Maghreb, the book also raises the issue of the neighborhood of the European Union, and argues that unless Europe integrates the Maghreb in a real neighborhood Innovation System, the prospects for innovation take -off in the region are limited.

Science, Technology and Innovation Policies for Inclusive Growth in Africa

Science, Technology and Innovation Policies for Inclusive Growth in Africa
Author: Reuben A. Alabi
Publisher: LIT Verlag Münster
Total Pages: 598
Release: 2018
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3643910428

The volume analyses how to make Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policies relevant for inclusive growth strategies in Africa.The base for a transformative STI policy is to link the STI policies to Africa's economic transformation policies. In a first part the general issues of introducing effective STI policies are presented. In a second part country case studies highlight the new approach. Cases such as Sudan and Nigeria are analysed, as these two countries have a long history of STI development; because of different history, size and structure they need to move in different directions towards a coherent STI policy for inclusive growth.

What Do Science, Technology, and Innovation Mean from Africa?

What Do Science, Technology, and Innovation Mean from Africa?
Author: Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2017-06-16
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0262533901

Explorations of science, technology, and innovation in Africa not as the product of “technology transfer” from elsewhere but as the working of African knowledge. In the STI literature, Africa has often been regarded as a recipient of science, technology, and innovation rather than a maker of them. In this book, scholars from a range of disciplines show that STI in Africa is not merely the product of “technology transfer” from elsewhere but the working of African knowledge. Their contributions focus on African ways of looking, meaning-making, and creating. The chapter authors see Africans as intellectual agents whose perspectives constitute authoritative knowledge and whose strategic deployment of both endogenous and inbound things represents an African-centered notion of STI. “Things do not (always) mean the same from everywhere,” observes Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga, the volume's editor. Western, colonialist definitions of STI are not universalizable. The contributors discuss topics that include the trivialization of indigenous knowledge under colonialism; the creative labor of chimurenga, the transformation of everyday surroundings into military infrastructure; the role of enslaved Africans in America as innovators and synthesizers; the African ethos of “fixing”; the constitutive appropriation that makes mobile technologies African; and an African innovation strategy that builds on domestic capacities. The contributions describe an Africa that is creative, technological, and scientific, showing that African STI is the latest iteration of a long process of accumulative, multicultural knowledge production. Contributors Geri Augusto, Shadreck Chirikure, Chux Daniels, Ron Eglash, Ellen Foster, Garrick E. Louis, D. A. Masolo, Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga, Neda Nazemi, Toluwalogo Odumosu, Katrien Pype, Scott Remer

Social and Technological Innovation in Africa

Social and Technological Innovation in Africa
Author: Solomon Nwaka
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 207
Release: 2021-07-16
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9811601550

This book examines the landscape of sustained investment in research and innovation in Africa, which are critical for development. This cutting-edge analysis is based on empirical evidence and the author’s experience in managing health and related innovations on the continent and globally. It concludes, for the first time, that African innovation is largely driven by the principles of Social, rather than Technological innovation. The significance of this finding and the need to optimize, scale and sustain this dominant innovation is addressed in various chapters that analyze the status, challenges and opportunities. Particularly, the financing, collaboration and coordination patterns for these activities on the continent show a fragmented ecosystem that is largely dependent on external donors and aid. The importance of supportive policies, leadership and venture mechanisms that incentivizes public and private entities to innovate is further exemplified by the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. The book proposes mechanism to address identified challenges.

Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development

Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development
Author: Sieglinde Snapp
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 396
Release: 2011-09-02
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0080919774

Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development is a comprehensive source for developing sustainable farming systems. With the inclusion of research theory and examples using the principles of cropping system design, students will gain a unique understanding of the technical, biological, ecological, economic, and sociological aspects of farming systems science for rural livelihoods. Editors Snapp and Pound provide a much-needed synthetic overview of the emerging area of agroecology applications to transforming farming systems and supporting rural innovation. A companion website for training and teaching features learning modules, student exercises, case studies, illustrative power point presentations, and reference links. The wide range of subjects, integrated references, and companion website, make this core reading for courses in international agricultural systems and management, sustainable agricultural management, and cropping systems. - Coverage provides students with an enhanced understanding of how research can be harnessed for sustainable agriculture - Incorporates social, biological, chemical, and geographical aspects important to agroecology - Addresses social and development issues related to farming systems - Companion Website for training and teaching: learning modules, student exercises, case studies, illustrative power point presentations, and reference links

Innovation systems

Innovation systems
Author: Francis, J. (ed)
Publisher: CTA
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2016-12-31
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9290815612

The result of an expert consultation, this publication examines ‘innovations systems’ – a concept suggested as underpinning industrial development – as a strategy for agricultural development. Innovation systems approaches conceptualise change as a long-term, socially-embedded process, and recognise the important role policy plays in shaping the parameters within which decisions are made. Providing a collection of papers and commentaries from the world’s top scholars and practitioners, this book looks at the strengths – but also the weaknesses and challenges –

Building Scientific Capacity for Development

Building Scientific Capacity for Development
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 132
Release: 2012-10-26
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780215049636

The UK has benefitted from having strong scientific advice available to Ministers and developing nations would see a huge benefit from being able to draw on strong home-grown institutions to inform policy decisions. A previous report by the Science and Technology Committee had criticised the Government for not paying enough attention to building the science base of developing nations. While concerns remain, MPs considered that the Department for International Development had made improvements in using a more robust evidence base and developing its own in-house expertise. An important feature raised in this report is that there had to be more attention paid to ensuring that scientists, especially those trained through UK support, were facilitated in staying in their home country and utilising the skills they had acquired. More support was needed to permit scientists from developing nations to build and develop their early career within in their native country. Only then could programmes to build scientific capacity eventually become self-sustaining. UK science benefits from collaborations in developing nations and through building connections with growing economies of the world but the MPs found that current funding streams actively discourage the participation of UK scientists. The MPs recommended that exercises such as the Research Excellence Framework recognise the contribution made by these scientists beyond their publication record.

Assessment of RUFORUM member universities in Kenya

Assessment of RUFORUM member universities in Kenya
Author: Mose, Lawrence
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 10
Release: 2018-11-29
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Credible quantitative and qualitative information on existing capacities in agricultural higher education agencies in Africa are important for decisionmakers at national, regional, and international levels. Decisionmakers require data and indicators for strategic planning, policy formulation, setting priorities and benchmarks, measuring progress toward benchmarks, and identifying capacity gaps. Decisionmakers need a better understanding of the specifics of existing staffing and student capacities in the higher education sector, as well as in the wider agricultural innovation systems in Africa south of the Sahara. Access to such information will result in better policies addressing capacity issues in agricultural higher education, research, extension, and other areas. The existence of such information, however, remains extremely limited.