Nelson Sabogal is a senior programme officer for the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. He gave a presentation at the Planet Earth Institute Roundtable on "Empowering Scientific Leadership in Africa". The presentation discussed the growing economies and reduced poverty rates in sub-Saharan Africa. It argued that scientific research in Africa must be context-specific and empower local people. The presentation also noted that two scientists from Africa, Mr. Piet Aucamp from South Africa and Prof. Ayite-Lo Nohende Ajavon from Togo, served as co-chairs of the Scientific Assessment Panel of the Montreal Protocol.

1. Nelson Sabogal
Senior Programme Officer
Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
Planet Earth Institute Roundtable
"Empowering Scientific Leadership in Africa“

2. "Empowering Scientific Leadership in Africa“
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
The important thing is not to stop questioning”
Albert Einstein

3. African Economies Make Consistent Progress
According to a World Bank report released this month, more
than 20 sub-Saharan African countries, totaling more than 400
million people, have gained middle-income status.
This year, the World Bank said:
one-third of the economies of the 49 sub-Saharan African
countries will grow at a clip of 6 percent or more
the number of people living in poverty has fallen roughly 10
percentage points over the past decade

4. From the report of the Report of the Secretary-General on
"International challenges for sustainable development:
global policy coherence and the role of the United Nations",
United Nations (A/67/274), 9 August 2012
 In developing countries, innovation is not a matter of pushing back the
frontier of global knowledge. Rather, innovation consists of facilitating the
use of existing knowledge and new technology in a domestic context.
 Research and development activities thus consist of the creation of
knowledge, but also, and perhaps more importantly, of acquisition,
adaptation, dissemination and use in local settings.

5. New approach in scientific research
 Scientific research in Africa should evaluate the current context and
contribute to change this context
 “Science and technology are just one corner stone to fight poverty,
empower people and enhance people’s dignity through life long education”
(Stigter, 2005)
 “The second corner stone therefore is an understanding of local adaptive
strategies and innovations” (Stigter, 2005)
 “New scientific research policies. Indeed “policies” are forming the third
corner stone” (Stigter, 2005)
 “The fourth corner stone are the people themselves, the producers and
workers” (Stigter, 2006)

6. Africa's technological revolution
" From the Guardian article: "West Africa's technological revolution driven by
mobile phones", by Monica Mark, 24 September 2012.
 "If you look at our history and development, the focus has
always been to find something that worked successfully
somewhere else and bring it here. That model hasn't worked,"
Longe said, in a buzzing room in downtown Lagos, where
dozens of aspiring "techpreneurs" are huddled over laptops.
"For solutions to work here, they need to be created with an
understanding of the Nigerian context and culture.”

7. Assessments for the Montreal Protocol
Panels of the Montreal Protocol
The Parties at its First Meeting, held in Helsinki in May 1989
established four review panels:
(a) Panel for Scientific Assessment;
(b) Panel for Environmental Assessment;
(c) Panel for Technical Assessment;
(d) Panel for Economic Assessment, (c) and (d) merged later
as Technology and Economic Assessment Panel.

8. Assessments for the Montreal Protocol
Their relation to the international policy process
1989- Scientific Assessment of Stratospheric Ozone: 1989
1991- Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 1991
1992 Methyl Bromide: Its Atmospheric, Science, Technology
and Economics (Assessment Supplement)
1994 Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 1994
1998 Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion
2002 and 2006 Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion
 Each scientific assessment, in 1989, in 1991, in 1994, in 1998
and 2002 and 2006 has served as a basis for the
Amendments and Adjustments to the Montreal Protocol
adopted in London (1990), Copenhagen (1992), Vienna
(1995), Montreal (1997), Beijing (1999) and Montreal (2007)

9. Two Co-Chairs of the Scientific Assessment Panel
of the Montreal Protocol from Africa
Mr. Piet Aucamp, from South Africa, Co-Chair of the
Scientific Assessment Panel from 1992 to 2000 and
Prof. Ayite-Lo Nohende Ajavon
Head Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory
FDS/Universite de Lome, Togo, Co-Chair of the Scientific
Assessment Panel from 2001

10. Thank You!!
Nelson Sabogal (Mr.)
Senior Programme Officer
Technical Assistance Branch
Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Tel: +41(0) 22 917 8212
Email: Nelson.Sabogal@unep.org