Africa's recent history is dotted with events that began with high hopes, lofty declarations and detailed blueprints for action. The events received enthusiastic applause but were soon forgotten — only to be resurrected at subsequent events that followed a similar trajectory of hope and disappointment.

Too many times in the past, people have done things 'for' Africa. Unfortunately, this has relegated Africa to the role of a passive bystander — no matter how benevolent the intentions may have been. There is growing consensus that progress will take place only 'with' Africa. Africans are now determined to take the lead and decide for themselves what is best for them as partners are encouraged to join their effort. Will Africa finally chart a course for sustained development? One that is designed and implemented by the people of Africa?

Although Africa is the only continent where not a single country will meet all of the eight Millennium Development Goals and more than 40 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's population (nearly 300 million people) continues to live in extreme poverty, Poverty, disease and degradation continue to plague the continent, there are reasons for hope. Africa's annual gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 3.7 percent (between 2000 and 2003) and accelerated to 5.6 percent between 2004 and 2006, spurring an unprecedented sense of hope on the continent.  Another promising trend is the fact that African leaders are embracing indigenous capacity building in science, technology and innovation as strategic elements for economic growth and social well-being. We must however not confuse aggregate economic growth with economic and social well-being. One can clearly exist without the other.

The STI Landscape

Africa’s progress in science and technology capacity building cannot be fully appreciated without examining similar efforts in the developing world. Whereas some developing countries have invested more in science, technology and innovation, others have lagged behind. This has led to another development gap. Today, a more refined categorization of countries has emerged that better reflects the relative strengths in science, technology and innovation among countries.

The countries with strong science, technology and innovation capacity number about 25. Most of them belong to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). They are financially well off and have the capacity to transfer scientific and technological knowledge into products and services that boost their economies. Countries with moderate science, technology and innovation capacity number about 90 and include some of the largest countries in the developing world — China, India and Brazil. The list also includes Argentina, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico and South Africa. Although the majority are competent in a select number of fields, their scientific infrastructure still trails behind. Their ability to bring scientific knowledge and technical know-how to the marketplace is weak, a factor that is becoming less problematic in a few countries. In February 2007, for example, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) reported that while the United States still leads the world in patent applications, Asia is rapidly catching up. China filed nearly 4000 patent applications in 2006, more than double the year before.

Some countries have weak science, technology and innovation capacity and culture. A survey conducted by TWAS has identified 80 such countries — and the majority of them are in Africa. These countries have poor teaching facilities and scant ability to transfer their knowledge and know-how into products and services that can compete in the international marketplace. Besides minimal government support for science, technology and innovation in these countries, most of their promising young scientists have migrated to other countries.

Africa and the MDGs

Expanding the reach of science, technology and innovation to countries that have been left behind is one of the most critical problems of our time. In our interconnected world, no country remains unaffected by the acute problems that plague other countries. That is the message of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that seek to address pressing problems that impede sustainable well-being, global peace and prosperity. Experts agree that the MDGs will not be met unless special attention is paid to the well-being of Africa. More than 40 percent of all Africans do not have access to safe drinking water. More than 70 percent do not have access to electricity. Twenty-five million Africans are infected with HIV. Ninety percent of the world's malaria victims reside in Africa. And more than 30 million African children go to bed hungry every night.

Reducing the gap between rich and poor countries, and ensuring that the most critical global issues are tackled with tools that only global science, technology and innovation can provide, are daunting challenges. These challenges will not be met without a critical mass of well-trained scientists in all countries.

Brain Drain and Communication

Experts estimate that more than half of the scientists educated and trained in sub-Saharan Africa’s universities have migrated to the United States. Brain drain cannot be stopped unless the most talented scientists find favourable working conditions in their homelands. Since science is a global enterprise, excellence in science depends on the ability of scientists to associate freely with their colleagues around the world. Yet, the free circulation of scientists, especially to the United States, has been severely restricted since September 11. Although security interests take precedence over scientific exchange, scientific exchange is an important instrument in the fight against ignorance, suspicion, hopelessness and terrorism. How governments in scientifically advanced countries can be persuaded to ease visa problems faced by African scientists to ensure their full participation in global science and R&D programmes is a major challenge.

The internet and other forms of electronic communication have revolutionised the way in which scientific information is distributed, reviewed, edited and published. Never before have scientists enjoyed access to such an extensive amount of current information. Never before have scientists been able to communicate so easily and directly with colleagues in other parts of the world. Never before has international scientific collaboration been so easy to plan, organise and implement. But African countries, particularly the continent's least developed countries, do not have sufficient resources to build and maintain up-to-date electronic communications systems. Broadband width is still too narrow in much of Africa, and expensive online subscription rates still prevent many African scientists from having access to the most current literature.

African Leaders Taking the Lead

At the African Union (AU) Summit, held in Addis Ababa last year, African leaders discussed regional strategies for the promotion of science and technology. They announced that 2007 would be the year of "African scientific innovation." The leaders strongly recommend that each African country should spend at least 1 percent of its GDP on science and technology. African countries that have increased their investments in science and technology include Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. Yet, there are still too few.

The president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, announced that his country has dramatically boosted expenditures on science and technology from less than 0.5 percent of GDP a few years ago to 1.6 percent today. He also says that his nation would increase investments in science and technology to 3 percent of GDP over the next five years. That would make Rwanda's investment in science and technology, percentage-wise, comparable to that of South Korea and higher than most developed countries. A nation teetering on collapse less than a decade ago and still living in the shadow of genocide has embarked on a path to science-based sustainable development.