154 research outputs found
Communique
The 7th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP) Meeting jointly organised by the African Union Commission (AUC), the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) and the Economic Community Central African States (ECCAS) and hosted by the Government of the Republic of Cameroon took place at the Hilton Hotel, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 23 to 25 March 2011. The 7th CAADP PP was organised under the theme: “Mutual Accountability in the formulation and implementation of country CAADP investment plans”
InfoBrief 2 : capacity strengthening of SGCs to measure economic sub-sector innovation performance in Sub-Saharan Africa
This policy brief is based on research and development (R&D) data submitted by 23 countries for the African Innovation Outlook 3 (AIO3) study, as well as current work on indicators of economic sub-sector innovation performance. R&D and innovation systems need to be better mapped to inform policymakers and decision makers. The African Innovation Outlook 3 (AIO3) results provide a first level of understanding of R&D and innovation performance at the national level. Results also show that more work needs to be done to improve the collection of quality and high coverage data.SIDANational Research Foundatio
2nd specialized technical committee meeting on education, science and technology (STC-EST 2) : draft decisions
The paper outlines draft decisions by Education and Science & Technology Ministers of Education and endorsed by African Union (AU) Member States, for further promotion of education and teacher programmes as well as development of science technology and innovation (STI) strategies
Using micro-data to understand the interactions within national research and innovation system : the case of Ethiopia
Distribution of Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) by sector of R&D performance, and by type of cost and type of R&D activity for Ethiopia are discussed in this paper. For Science Granting Councils (SGCs) to effectively manage promotion of R&D activities, micro-level indicators are essential for measuring and understanding the status of R&D performance. Micro-data provide detailed information on the characteristics of the smallest unit of enquiry within a system. GERD measures all expenditures on R&D within national borders
Assessing performance of small-scale pumped irrigation systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from a systematic review
Small-scale irrigation (SSI) has significant potential to increase crop productivity in Sub Saharan
Africa (SSA). Pumped irrigation systems are one of the technologies increasingly being used by
smallholder farmers. The aim of this study was to systematically review evidence on the
performance of SSI pumped systems, including motorized, treadle, rope and washer, solar and
wind pumps. The study revealed a lack of standardization and use of a wide range of indicators
to assess performance. Most evidence related to motorized pumps, these studies confirmed mixed
levels of performance; studies relating to other types of pumped system mostly reported a positive
impact, although the method of assessment used was critical. Studies reporting positive impacts
tended to be those that used socio-economic based factors such as yield and profitability, whereas
studies reporting mixed performance tended to be those that relied more on technically based
indicators such as pumping and irrigation system efficiency. The analysis highlights the
sensitivity of interpreting findings from different studies, and how caution should be exercised
when comparing performance within and between different types of irrigation system. The
implications for supporting policy development and identifying future research gaps are
discussed
Factors impacting on the current level of open innovation and ICT entrepreneurship in Africa
Across Africa, Innovation and ICT entrepreneurship are increasingly recognised as important enablers of national and regional socio-economic growth. However, the level of skills capacity, indigenous entrepreneurial expertise and policy support varies considerably. This research study was informed by a semi-structured, moderated focus group involving five public and four education and research stakeholders from eight African Member States. It focused on identifying factors impacting on the current level of open innovation and ICT entrepreneurship in Africa. Organised in Lilongwe, Malawi on 08 May 2015 during IST-Africa Week 2015, a purposive approach was applied to identify the nine informants based on intensity sampling. The results highlighted six main factors: a) level of political will reflected by resource prioritisation; b) alignment with national development plans and associated funding priorities; c) level of understanding of strategic benefits by ministers and senior civil servants; d) level of awareness and sensitization of the general public, e) availability of national innovation and entrepreneurial expertise; and f) willingness and capacity to cooperate with other stakeholders to achieve common goals. Future research will capture perspectives from the private, societal and international donor sectors, and create and validate potential models/methodologies to address the challenges and opportunities identified in this study
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