High-level Meeting & Workshop on Environmental and Scientific Open Data for Sustainable Development Goals in Developing Countries. Madagascar, 4-6 December 2017

1. Supporting Scientific Research for the Sustainable
Development Goals in Africa
Daniel Nyanganyura
International Workshopon Environmental and Scientific Open Data for Sustainable Development Goals
in DevelopingCountries
Antananarivo, Madagascar, 5 – 6 September 2017

2. About the International Council for Science (ICSU)
 International NGO
 Membership:
• 31 Union members
• 122 National members - 142
countries (Africa 27)
• 22 Associate members (Africa 2)
Strengthening International Science
for the Benefit of Society
Mission:

3. 3
ICSU Strategic Plan
International
Research
Collaboration
Science and
Policy
Universality of
Science
 Identify and address major issues of
importance to science and society.
 Facilitate interaction amongst
scientists across all disciplines and
from all countries.
 Promote participation of scientists -
regardless of race, citizenship,
language, political stance, or gender—in
the international scientific endeavour.
 Provide independent, authoritative advice to stimulate constructive
dialogue between the scientific community and governments, civil
society, and the private sector.

4. Roles of ICSU Regional Office for Africa in ICSU Plan
 Ensure that the voice of African scientists influences the
international science agenda
 Scientists from Africa are fully involved in international
research programmes and activities of the ICSU family and
its partners
 Show African scientists as visible players in SETI for
sustainable development in Africa (& their success stories)
 Ensure that science is integrated into international policy
development and that relevant policies take into account both
scientific knowledge and the needs of science.

5. Africa’s Challenges

6. A map of the world with the areas of countries reshaped in
proportion to their scientific growth
James Wilsdon – Physics World October 2008
Scientific Research in Africa

7. ICSU ROA Science Programmes
Science Plans (2006-8) - guided by the continent's priorities,
and with consideration of the MDGs and the AU/NEPAD
Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action
Revised Science Plans (2016-17) – SDGs, STISA2024, Agenda
2030 in Africa, Agenda 2063, International Science Initiatives
7

8. 8
1. Science Plans
Science Activities
• Capacity building and networking essential part of all the projects
developed from the four science plans
• Implementers: African Scientists, Consortia, Steering Committee,
Unions & NMs (SDGs realization)
Implementation of ICSU ROA Science Plans

9. 9
2. ICSU Grants programme
• Three grants of up to 300,000 € each (100,000 € per annum) -
at least two ICSU Member Unions, competitive and peer-
reviewed
• Leading Integrated Research for Agenda 2030 in Africa
(LIRA2030) ICSU, NASAC and ISSC – 10 research projects at
90 kEuro/project over 2 years – early career scientists in Africa
(female/ inter-disciplinarity/social sciences)
– Call 1 (2016); Call 2 (2017)
• ICSU ROA small grants programme – an idea

10. 3. Database Project
- Develop dynamic databases
• African scientists (within and outside Africa) - national,
continental, and international
• Academic/research institutions on the continent
- Form research networks to support these activities
Need collaboration to build these databases and establish
databases in Africa to harmonise activities at all levels

11. Can interactions be a key driver in
the implementation of the SDGs?
• Some goals and targets have
conflictual relationships; progress in
one area may come at the expense of
progress in others.
• Understanding potential synergies and
trade-offs is critical for efficient and
coherent implementation and
monitoring
Access the report at:
http://bit.ly/sdg-interactions-guide
4. A Guide to SDG Interactions:
from Science to Implementation

12. 3. ICSU ROA Book Project
Objectives
 To showcase African success stories on issues of
scientific research and its development to serve the
society
 To show African scientists as visible players in SETI
for sustainable development of the continent

13. ICSU ROA Book Published

14. Books in the Pipe Line
• African Indigenous Medical Knowledge & Human Health
• Food and Nutrition Security in Africa
• Nanotechnology
• Africa Climate Variability and Change
• Energy Technology and Utilisation in Africa: Challenges
and Successes

15. 6. Science for Policy Programme
 ICSU ROA works at intersection of science & policy, to
ensure that science is integrated into policy development;
that relevant policies take into account both scientific
knowledge and the needs of science; promotes dialogue
and shared understanding between the scientific
community, policy makers & society more broadly
– SADC Ministerial Committee S&T
– post 2015 agenda (S&T major group)
– Science Advice to Government - International Network for
Government Science Advice – INGSA Africa Chapter

16. Thank You
For more information and up-dates, visit
ICSU ROA website: www.icsu.org/regions/roa
ICSU global website: www.icsu.org
ICSU ROAP Website: www.icsu.org/regions/roap
ICSU ROLAC Website: www.icsu.org/regions/rolac
Email: d.nyanganyura@icsu-africa.org