5 May 2011: The Second Session of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)’s Committee on Development Information Science and Technology (CODIST II) took place from 2-5 May 2011, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “Innovation for Africa’s Industrial Development.”

The session concluded with the adoption of a set of recommendations that will see member States, in collaboration with UNECA and partners, improve the status of Africa’s industrial development through greater emphasis and support for innovation. CODIST II brought together decision makers, scientists, lawyers and journalists, representing African countries, national, international, regional and subregional organizations and development partners. During the session, three subcommittees – Information and Communication Technologies, Science and Technology, and Geoinformation – held discussions on current innovation strategies and industrial development plans, and made recommendations to help the African region create the requisite enabling environment to advance innovation and industrial development. The recommendations emphasize political will, as well as the development of local human resources/talents and regional integration, as key ingredients to innovation. They also emphasized the importance of geospatial science and technology and industrial technology transfer for Africa’s sustainable development, and highlighted the role of Africa’s diverse languages in helping to enhance innovation.

The recommendations made to African Governments by CODIST II include the need for these governments to: reaffirm their commitments to Science Technology Innovation (STI) and demonstrate commitments through budget allocations according to previous African Union recommendations of 1% of GDP; work very closely with the private sector and financial institutions in enforcing national systems of innovations and industrial development in Africa; and undertake capacity building activities for technology transfer and adaptation. In addition, the session also made recommendations to UNECA, calling on it to: document and disseminate African success stories on innovation and industrial development; open up a dialogue of cultures by bringing stakeholders together through one single platform with diverse voices; provide a platform and think tank of leaders and developers in the world of business, localization and social entrepreneurship; and reaffirm and commit its support to the African Regional Spatial Data Infrastructure.

The session also resulted in the launch of two initiatives: the African Inter-Parliamentary Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (AIPF-STI); and the Engineering Expertise to Improve Health Outcomes in Africa.

Speaking at the closing session, Jennifer Kargbo, UNECA Deputy Executive Secretary, underscored the importance to the African region’s development process of the concept and practice of innovation, driven by the application of information, knowledge, science and technology to all aspects of development. She added that, in today’s world, companies are focusing on product, process, design, and organizational and institutional innovations, and countries too must institute the necessary national innovation systems. Kargbo noted that putting innovation systems could help increase the continent’s ability to add value to exports and decrease dependency on primary commodities that make up about 80% of Africa’s merchandise exports. She also underscored the need to promote innovation and industrial development in rural areas, noting that, “it is in such places that innovation should be focused in demonstrating visible transformations.” [UNECA Press Release] [UNECA Deputy Executive Secretary Closing Statement]