January 2015

VOLUME 2 ISBN number: 9966-41-169-0

BIG DATA BIG SCIENCE AND BIG DEVELOPMENT Time for Africa to Think Big Again

ICTs AND STRUCTURAL DEVELOPING CLOUD TRANSFORMATION IN INNOVATION COMPUTING AFRICA POST 2015? ECOSYSTEMS IN AFRICA IN AFRICA By Gunter Nooke, German Prof. Dr. Stefan Schepers, Formerly, Dr. Shiyghan Navti Chancellor’s Personal Representative Secretary General of an Independent, for Africa in the Federal Ministry Tripartite High Level Group on for Economic Cooperation and Innovation Policy Management in Development the EU

SOCIAL IMPACT ONLY THE BEST PROMOTING APPLIED INVESTMENT IN AFRICA IS GOOD ENOUGH SCIENCES, ENGINEERING FOR AFRICA AND TECHNOLOGY IN AFRICA

1 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN 2 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN Editorial

TIME FOR AFRICA TO THINK BIG AGAIN Editor in Chief Dr. Cosmas Milton Obote Ochieng It is time for africa to think big again. Editorial Assistants: Winnie Asiti conomic Diversification and Structural Trans- Millie Ocholla formation. Big Science. Advanced Technolo- Mary Muthoni gies and Knowledge Economies. Big, Inclusive Politics. Information Rich Democracy. Big Data. Moses Owidhi E Eradication of Poverty, Disease and Ignorance. Technological Revolution. Industrial Policy. Big Development. Pax Africana. Contacts: [email protected] The Pyramids, the Panama Canal, the Aswan High Dam, the Volta River Project, the Kariba Dam, the ‘Moon Landing’ are examples of large To contribute an article or opinion, or to scale, ‘big science’, ‘big development’ innova- advertise on the African Technopolitan, tions that fundamentally transformed economies, please contact: [email protected], sectors and societies. Like many advanced and emerging economies, once upon a time, Africa Published by ACTS Press Nairobi, 2015. used to think big and to act boldly in pursuit of its economic development. Africa has the exper- tise, technology and resources to solve many, if not most, of its fundamental development chal- lenges. The continent must think big again, and act big again if the Africa rising narrative is to become a permanent reality: ‘The African De- velopment Miracle.’

Technology comes in small and big packages. Development comes in incrementalist and trans- formative packages. Over the last 50 years, Af- rica has tended to focus on small technological and incrementalist development packages, often at the expense of big technological and trans- formative development packages. There is no compelling reason why Africa cannot harness ‘advanced technologies’ for transformative de- velopment outcomes.

Recent impressive development indicators aside, the continent still faces a stark reality. It has yet to structure and transform itself out of its vicious

3 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN cycle of poverty, ignorance and disease. In two separate articles, Yentyl Williams reflects on Africa’s trade relations with the EU and the US. Africa has the best possible opportunity in more than a gen- eration to achieve economic diversification and structural In ‘Only the Best is Good Enough for Africa: The Portrait transformation. It must now take the boldest, biggest, most of an African Scientist’, we profile three African scientists/ development measures to achieve this goal. Economically, this scientists of African origin who are blazing the trail in three will require a structural shift from low technology intensive different fields: sectors to high technology intensive sectors including but not • Prof. Babatunde Ogunnaike, the William L. Friend Pro- limited to: fessor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the • Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) University of Delaware and an expert in control and sys- • Biotechnologies tems theory • Materials Technologies • Dr. Tilaye Tadesse Asfaw, Ethiopian born NASA Astro- • Space Technologies physicist • Nanotechnologies • Moses Gichanga, a drones for development technology in- • Nuclear Technologies novator

Politically, this will require collective leadership and mutual Dr. Janice Golding examines the social investment land- social responsibility: Big, inclusive politics and information scape in Africa. rich democracy. Africa, despite the multiplicity of peoples, physical features and viewpoints that characterize it, is a sin- We also share highlights of our research, policy engagement gle politico-geographical-ideological entity. Its peoples share a and capacity building activities in the second half of 2014. formative history, a common geography and a common des- Finally, we share our assessment of strategic technology and tiny. It would serve them well to embrace a common mission development trends in Africa in 2015 as well as our top 12 and to uphold the timeless African principle of mutual social technology and development books for 2015. responsibility or ‘Ubuntu’ (southern Africa), ‘Amana’ (Hausa speaking West Africa), ‘Ujamaa’ (Swahili speaking eastern Af- The African Technopolitan remains open to policy and re- rica). search insights, analysis, commentary, opinions and other forms of relevant submission by scholars, policymakers, tech- Welcome to the second Issue of the African Technopolitan! In nocrats, bureaucrats and members of the public. The African the first Issue of African Technopolitan, we promised to bring Technopolitan welcomes contributions that offer constructive, you fresh, critical and independent analyses and insights from provocative and original ideas, analysis and commentary on a multidisciplinary team of scholars, policy makers, technolo- how applications of science, technology and innovation can gists, innovators, captains of industry and other thinkers on be harnessed to address Africa’s fundamental development international and African development, science, technology challenges: enhancing agricultural productivity and food se- and innovation policy. We have kept our promise. curity; sustainable energy access for all; universal clean water access; sustainable biodiversity conservation and use; climate In this Issue of the African Technopolitan, we challenge Afri- change adaptation and mitigation; industrial development; in- can countries to think big again and to act boldly to harness frastructure and human resource development. We invite sub- applications of science, technology and innovation for eco- missions of not more than 2500 words from across academic nomic and social development. disciplines and policy spheres. We are particularly interested in submissions that are multi or interdisciplinary, based on In the lead article of the Magazine - ‘Big Data, Big Sci- empirical work, advance original or alternative theories; and ence and Big Development: Time for Africa to Think challenge conventional schools of thought on contemporary Big Again – Dr. Cosmas Milton Obote Ochieng provides issues in science, technology and innovation policy research a critique of Africa’s development strategy in historical per- and practice in Africa. spective and suggests alternative development and technology policies post 2015.

Günter Nooke, the German Chancellor’s Personal Rep- resentative for Africa in the Federal Ministry for Economic Dr. Cosmas Milton Obote Ochieng Cooperation and Development, explores the potential contri- Executive Director, bution of ICTs to Africa’s economic development post 2015. African Centre for Technology Studies Prof. Dr. Stefan Schepers makes the case for a new ap- proach to economic growth, sustainability and social inclu- sion in Africa, one anchored in ‘Innovation Ecosystems’.

Prof. Goolam Mohamedbhai highlights the opportunities and challenges presented by the World Bank’s Programme on Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) in Africa.

Dr. Shiyghan Navti argues that Cloud Computing is the Next IT Innovation in Africa.

4 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN IN THIS ISSUE

6 Cover Story BIG DATA, BIG SCIENCE AND BIG DEVELOPMENT

ICTs AND STRUCTURAL DRONES FOR 20 TRANSFORMATION IN 42 AFRICA’S AFRICA POST 2015? DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPING INNOVATION PROFILE: 22 ECOSYSTEMS IN AFRICA 44 PROF. BABATUNDE AYODEJI OGUNNAIKE

PROMOTING APPLIED SCIENCES, OPPORTUNITIES AND 26 ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY 45 CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL IMPACT IN AFRICA INVESTMENT IN AFRICA

CLOUD POLICY 28 COMPUTING 47 ENGAGEMENT

DON’T MAKE OUR ACTS 30 HISTORY A FARCE! 49 RESEARCH

THE TRANS-ATLANTIC ACTS CAPACITY 32 TRADE AND INVESTMENT BUILDING PARTNERSHIP 50

FROM ETHIOPIA ACTS WELCOMES DISTINGUISHED 34 TO NASA 51 AND NON-RESIDENT RESEARCH FELLOWS

5 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN BIG DATA, BIG SCIENCE AND BIG DEVELOPMENT Time for Africa to think Big Again

Dr. Cosmas Milton Obote Ochieng Executive Director, African Centre for Technology Studies

‘In this epoch of the Great Awakening, it would be pathetic if the young economists in the underdeveloped countries got caught in the predilections of the economic thinking in the ad- vanced countries, which are hampering the scholars there in their efforts to be rational but would be almost deadening to the intellectual strivings of those in the underdeveloped coun- tries. I would, instead, wish them to have the courage to throw away large structures of meaningless, irrelevant, and sometimes blatantly inadequate doctrines and theoretical approaches and to start their thinking afresh from a study of their own needs and problems’.

Gunnar Myrdal, Nobel Prize winning economist, 1957.

66 THETHE AFRICAN AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN TECHNOPOLITAN Economic development is not an exportable or importable commodity. Its constituent parts (ideas, policy, technology, capital and arguably institutions), can be imported or exported but the thing as a whole must be put together or ‘assembled’ locally. The ‘right mix’ of institutions of state, market, laws and civil society necessary for the functioning of a stable, predictable, free and talent unleashing nation-state cannot be imported. The local or indigenous capacity to absorb or adapt new technologies and innovations must be homegrown through investments in physical, human and social capital and organizational infrastructure.

urning this ‘recipe’ into national factors in any successful develop- tic and relevant to the problems of economic development requires an ment strategy. their own countries. Raul Prebisch, overarching grand development This is the critical insight from the one of the few pioneering develop- strategy responsive to the history, ge- study of economic development in ment economists from the develop- ography and institutions of a given historical perspective. This insight ing world, used the Regional Of- Tsociety (i.e. co-evolution of mutually was central to arguments between fice of the UN for Latin America supportive technological, policy, or- the US and the UK over trade (ECLA/CEPAL) to do just that in ganizational/managerial and insti- policy (i.e. tariffs) when the US was the 1950s and 1960s – nurturing the tutional innovations). ‘industrializing’. It also central to ar- ‘structuralist school’ of development guments between the East Asian Ti- economics, a strand of which later No country ever successfully im- gers (Japan, South Korea, Singapore evolved into dependency theory. ported or exported its development and Taiwan) and the US and West- (model). Despite a number of simi- ern Europe over trade and industrial Early Development Innovation larities in the development (or more policies (infant industry protection, in Africa: Strengths and Weak- accurately, industrialization) path- export subsidies) during the indus- nesses ways of the now developed coun- trialization of the East Asian econo- At the advent of African independ- tries, each country, while mindful mies. In the history of economic ence (1960s through the 1970s), of the paths taken before, essentially thought, this insight was powerfully many African countries attempted to pioneered its own path, consistent propounded by the German His- follow the tried and tested pathway with its historical, geographical, in- torical School (Friedrich List, Bruno of ‘development innovation’. From stitutional, technological and natural Hildebrand, Gustav von Schmoller, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Senegal, resource endowments. While Britain Etienne Laspeyres, Karl Bücher, Uganda, Tanzania to Zambia, many led the way with the ‘First Industrial Adolph Wagner, Georg Friedrich African countries preoccupied them- Revolution’ nearly two hundred and Knapp, Werner Sombart and Max selves with the ‘big questions’ of de- fifty years ago, and was followed Weber) which held sway in much of velopment (‘structuralism’; how to within a few decades by Western Eu- continental Europe, and in the US eradicate poverty, disease, ignorance rope and the United States, neither until at least 1900 – well after the US – and yes, dependency). The focus Western Europe nor the US adopted had surpassed Britain economically on ‘Big Questions’ led to ‘big push’ the British industrialization or ‘de- in the 1870s. The argument contin- or a grand development strategies: velopmental model’. ues in the 20th and 21st centuries in unifying ideological, theoretical and the works of Alexander Gerschen- philosophical frameworks for de- At the time of their pursuit of in- kron, Barrington Moore, Theda velopment; bold visions of political dustrial or economic development, Skocpol, Alice Amsden, Lance Tay- democratization, economic emanci- virtually all the now developed lor, Dani Rodrik, Ha-Joon Chang, pation and social progress; massive countries rejected the premise that Joseph Stiglitz, Howard Stein and calls to popular participation that economics (of development) is gen- Thandika Mkandawire, among oth- would tax the physical and intellec- eralizable over space and time. Eco- ers. tual energies of African countries to nomic and industrial policies of all the limits. the now developed countries once While the pioneers of modern devel- challenged the universal validity of opment economics were mostly from This was not only the promise of economic theories, especially the developed countries, to their endur- African independence but its very marginalist analysis of neoclassical ing credit, many of them questioned definition. The concept of African economics with its ‘static’ framework the relevance of neoclassical and independence had always been three and pre-occupation with the nar- Keynesian economic theories for the legged: political liberation, econom- rower problems of resource alloca- analysis of the problems of under- ic independence and social progress. tion and theory of exchange. Many development. Nobel Prize winner Here is Kwame Nkrumah, the first of the now developed countries Gunnar Myrdal, quoted above, went President of Ghana, in 1957, the proceeded from the assumption that further and challenged developing year Ghana gained its independence economic development is context countries to produce a new genera- from Great Britain: ‘We shall meas- dependent, with culture, history and tion of economists who might cre- ure our progress by the improve- geography being critically important ate a body of thought more realis- ment in the health of our people.

7 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN The welfare of our people is our chief State. The State, therefore, can never become the of any person, of feudalism, of Capitalism, of pride, and it is by this that we ask to be tool of special interests, catering to the desires vested interests of one kind or another, of foreign judged’. of a minority at the expense of the needs of influence or of foreigners. We further reject ex- the majority. The State will represent all of the ploitation of material and human resources for Immediate post independent African people and will do so impartially and without the benefit of a few…we hereby re-affirm our development strategies focused on prejudice…Mutual social responsibility is an acceptance of the aims and objective…To fight eradication of poverty, ignorance dis- extension of the African family spirit to the na- relentlessly against Poverty, Ignorance, Disease, ease, colonization, apartheid, and ‘de- tion as a whole, with the hope that ultimately Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism, Imperialism pendency’ (i.e. structural bottlenecks the same spirit can be extended to ever larger ar- and Apartheid…To plan Uganda’s Economic to economic development). This was to eas. It implies a mutual responsibility by society Development in such a way that the Govern- be achieved through a combination of and its members to do with very best for each ment, through Parastatal Bodies, the Co-opera- large scale industrialization (including other with the full knowledge and understand- tive Movements, Private Companies, Individu- but not limited to import substitution ing that if society prospers its members will als in Industry, Commerce and Agriculture, will industrialization) and public provision share in that prosperity and that society can- effectively contribute to increased production to of (free) education, health and social not prosper without the full co-operation of its raise the standard of living in the Country… services. This development strategy was members. The State has an obligation to ensure To protect without discrimination based on also rooted in a foreign and trade policy equal opportunities to all its citizens, eliminate race, colour, sect or religion every person law- oriented towards decolonization and exploitation and discrimination, and provide fully living in Uganda and enable him to enjoy abolition of ‘unequal exchange’ in trade needed social services such as education, medi- the fundamental rights and freedom of the indi- between Africa and advanced econo- cal care and social security…African Socialism vidual, that is to say: Life, Liberty, Security of mies. Many African countries, whether the person and Protection of the Law; Freedom they leaned ‘East’ or ‘West’ (in the con- of Conscience, of expression and association; text of the Cold War divide), deployed Protection of Privacy of his home, property and some version of this grand development from deprivation of property without compen- strategy. In most cases, willingly or un- sation… To ensure that no citizen of Uganda willingly, this strategy came to be known Mutual social will enjoy any special privilege, status or title by as ‘African Socialism’. virtue of birth, descent or heredity’’: (Uganda responsibility is an People’s Congress, The Common Man’s Char- There were different definitions, in- extension of the ter, 1969.) terpretations and variants of African socialism (e.g. Nyerere’s Ujamaaism in African family spirit Of course, the proponents of African Tanzania; Uganda’s Common Man’s Socialism did not succeed in advancing Charter; Kaunda’s Humanism, Le- to the nation as the high minded political, economic opold Sedar Senghor’s version in Sen- and social ideals embodied in these egal and Kenya’s African Socialism). In a whole, with the documents. In the widespread betrayal the context of the Cold War, many crit- hope that ultimately and mockery of the promise of African ics were quick to see the various forms independence, and of the principles of ‘African socialism’ either as a disguise the same spirit can and ideals of African Socialism by the for, imitation of, or reaction to Soviet or first (and for that matter, subsequent) classical socialism or as clever by half be extended to ever generation(s) of African leaders that attempts to achieve some kind of non- followed, the entire immediate post alignment. Few recognized their poten- larger areas. independent development innovation tial for what their proponents claimed was thrown out with the bath water they were – and what they might as of its discredited political leadership. well could have become, if either the The practice (more than the policy) superpowers had not been determined of African socialism and development to manipulate them one way or anoth- must be politically democratic, socially respon- innovation in the immediate post-inde- er, or if their own proponents had the sible, adaptable and independent’’ (Republic of pendence period deserves severe criti- competence, commitment and fidelity Kenya, African Socialism and its Application to cism. Africans would do well to partake to diligently implement them: an Afri- Planning in Kenya, 1965). in self-flagellation on account of their can version of a social market economy collective failures to fulfill the promise or social democracy (i.e. an African ver- ‘‘We hereby commit ourselves to create in Ugan- of African independence and the devel- sion of Scandinavian capitalism or wel- da conditions of full security, justice, equality, opment innovation it spawned. Half a fare state: ‘Ubuntu’, ‘Amana’, ‘Ujamaa’, liberty and welfare for all sons and daughters century of lost opportunities later, the ‘Harambeeism’). of the Republic of Uganda and for the re- continent is virtually back to square one: alization of those goals we have adopted the talking about structural transformation; Just sample excerpts from two of the Move to the Left Strategy…We subscribe fully eradication of poverty, ignorance and founding documents of African social- to Uganda always being a Republic and have disease; unfair trade agreements; the ism: adopted this Charter so that the implementa- limits of foreign aid and a new promise ‘‘There are two African traditions which form tion of this Strategy prevents effectively any one of ‘Africa rising’. an essential basis for African Socialism – polit- person or group of persons from being masters ical democracy and mutual social responsibility. of all or a section of the people of Uganda, Once a tragedy, twice a farce. The fail- Political democracy implies that each member and ensure that all citizens of Uganda become ures of early development innovation of society is equal in his political rights and truly masters of their own destiny…We reject, in Africa should not have led to the that no individual or group will be permitted both in theory and in practice, that Uganda as wholesale dismissal of the entire enter- to exert undue influence on the policies of the a whole or any part of it should be the domain prise. Sadly, this is what happened with

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9 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN the structural adjustment programmes This is what I call ‘Big Development’. are the continent would have witnessed (SAPs) of the 1980s and 1990s. The The immediate post independent Afri- reductions in poverty very similar to wholesale dismissal of early African de- can development strategy had it right. China’s – which accounts for the bulk velopment experimentation is tragic be- Current development strategies on the of the global poverty reduction over the cause a lot of crucial lessons from that continent do not. Economic growth last two decades. experiment gets lost and the entire de- and income distribution are the keys Africa may be enjoying some of its velopment policy making in Africa risks to poverty reduction. By one estimate, highest economic growth rates in a being turned into a farce. The critical a 1% increase in incomes cuts poverty generation, but in many countries, this lessons that get lost include the follow- by 0.6% in the most unequal countries. has been accompanied by sharp rises in ing: (a) Africa can be ahead of the curve However, a 1% increase in incomes cuts income inequality. Besides having the in identifying the causes of its under- poverty by 4.3% in the most equal coun- world’s highest rate of extreme poverty, development and in devising solutions tries. African socialism had income dis- Africa is in fact the world’s second most for them; (b) the African development tribution covered. Its economic growth inequitable region after Latin America. challenge consists of ‘Big Questions (i.e. record in some countries (not all) was In 2010, six out of the 10 most unequal eradication of poverty, ignorance and hampered by its tendency to distort pric- countries in the world were in Sub-Sa- disease) which requires a big response es through excessive price controls and haran Africa. This is exacerbated by the or structural transformation or ‘Big regulations but this was a problem that politics and economics of exclusion: by Development’ – a massive, large scale could have been solved without shelv- ethnicity, region, faction, gender, class, undertaking that taxes the physical and ing many of the high minded political, disability, etc. Barring a fundamental intellectual resources of the African shift in development strategy, this is go- population to its limits; (c) ‘Big Develop- ing to make the task of poverty reduc- ment’ works - in Africa as elsewhere. tion on the continent much harder, in In identifying poverty, disease and ig- spite of all the present economic opti- norance as the fundamental challenges mism. Consider that even with these of Africa’s development, the immediate terrible income inequality figures, eco- post independent development strategy nomic growth over the last two decades was not only absolutely spot on but was has contributed to significant poverty also well ahead of the curve in develop- Besides reduction in sub-Saharan Africa. ment theory, policy and practice. having the In 2010, for the first time since 1981, It predated the UN Millennium De- less than half the population of Sub velopment Goals (MDGs) by at least world’s Saharan Africa lives in extreme poverty. four decades. We now know, from the According to the World Bank, in 2010, experience with the MDGs that with highest rate 414 million people (or 48.5 percent of sufficient attention and resources, ex- the African population) were living in treme poverty (defined as severe dep- of extreme extreme poverty across sub-Saharan Af- rivation of basic human needs, such rica (i.e. living on $1.25-a-day). In just as food, safe drinking water, sanitation poverty, Africa one decade (1999-2010), even with its facilities, health, shelter, education and income inequality levels, Sub Saharan information) can be reduced signifi- is in fact Africa witnessed a 17 percent decline cantly within 2 or 3 decades, depending in extreme poverty rate. This decline on initial country conditions, economic the world’s would almost certainly be deeper if growth and income distribution. In second most some of the larger African economies 20 years (between 1990 and 2010) the such as Nigeria Ghana, Kenya and Sen- global poverty rate was cut in half from inequitable egal as well as relatively smaller econo- 43 percent to 21 percent. This has led mies such as Zambia and Malawi would Bill Gates, who has taken on the task of region after have been more ‘equal’ in terms of their eradicating poverty and any number of national income distributions. diseases in the world - with more seri- Latin America. Secondly and more importantly, the ousness than exhibited by any African focus on poverty, disease and igno- government - to predict that by 2035, rance and their ‘origins’ anticipated a there will be almost no poor countries vast body of theoretical and empirical left in the world. This is the rare case economic work that would later either in which Gates is being less ambitious. investments in health and education to Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University increased economic growth and identify economist, thinks that extreme poverty geography (location, disease incidence), can be eliminated globally by 2025. If history (i.e. slavery, colonialism) and all this appears too ambitious, now con- institutions (culture, customs, slavery, sider that African countries were com- social and economic ideals. At any rate, colonialism) as the ultimate causes of mitted to eradicating poverty, ignorance if Africa had enjoyed the kind of eco- underdevelopment in Africa. A recent and disease from the continent straight nomic growth it has witnessed over the study published in the Lancet (Global out of the gate from the time of their last two decades since the 1960s (with Health 2035: A World Converging independence. the same income distribution trajectory Within a Generation) found that ‘re- of the African socialism era), chances ductions in mortality account for about

10 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN 11% of recent economic growth in low- the old development model with a view ers of the African Writers Series income and middle-income countries as to determining how best to bring that (Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiongo, measured in their national income ac- insight ‘back in’ to present economic Sembene Ousmane, Camara Laye) counts’. and development policy making in Af- and the ‘lexicographicide’ (or delib- rica. erate ‘murder’ or ‘Africanization’ of The returns to investment in health are the English language) of Taban Lo even higher when a different, more use- So what did work in the early de- Liyong, Okot, P’ Bitek, Okello Oculi ful indicator – value of additional life- velopment innovation and what is and Joseph Buruga; and (b) the he- years or (VLYs) is used. The study found missing now? roic efforts of African and Africanist that between 2000 and 2011, ‘about • ‘Africanus economicus’ or ‘African historians to reclaim the African 24% of the growth in full income in economics’: the ability of African space in the historiography of hu- low-income and middle-income coun- economists, policy makers and in- man civilization (e.g. Cheick Anta tries resulted from VLYs gained’. telligentsia to identify Africa’s de- Diop, Bethwell, A. Ogot, Ali Mazrui, A vast body of literature confirms the velopment problems and to propose John D. Fage, Jan Vansina, Roland social profitability of investments in solutions to them. Early African de- Oliver and Robert July). education – whether at primary, sec- velopment thinkers and practitioners ondary or tertiary levels. Returns to were right on the money with their For a time, albeit very briefly, the investments in education appear to be development diagnosis and – for the first generation of African leaders more sensitive to a country’s level of most part - proposed policy solu- were not so much leaders as follow- economic development. Investments in tions. They failed in the execution ers. In contradistinction, today, Wole primary education appear to be most of the strategies but they deserve Soyinka laments that Africa’s future socially profitable in low-income coun- credit for their intellectual independ- is determined by politicians rather tries while investments secondary and ence, especially their rejection of the than artists. Many of these politi- tertiary education appear to be most premise that economics is generaliz- cians, having not spent much time socially profitable in middle income and able over space and time. One rea- grappling with the questions of un- high income countries respectively. son why this appears to have worked derdevelopment and independence, in the immediate post independent and having excluded much of the This suggests that as African countries period seems to be that for all their intellectual, scientific and artistic develop, they need to shift their empha- flaws, of which there are many, the community from the African nation sis from new or expansion of invest- first generation of African political building project, find it easy to cede ments in primary and secondary edu- leaders were not just accomplished the task of thinking through solu- cation to higher education. This is not thinkers and scholars, they were tions to Africa’s problems to outsid- unlike the model most African countries beacons of Africa’s cultural achieve- ers. To put Soyinka’s lament in con- adopted between 1960s and 1970s. ments. They had spent considerable text, there was a time when African Structural adjustment severely disrupt- time thinking about the questions presidents would go to African cam- ed this model in the 1980s and 1990s of independence, underdevelop- puses and engage scholars in heated with severe cuts to investments in health ment, the African identity, person- exchanges over questions of Africa’s and education at virtually all levels. ality and dignity. Many were in fact independence, sovereignty and iden- While a focus on the MDGs has refo- philosopher-presidents or poet- tity– or write well-reasoned opinion cused attention on these two sectors, the presidents: Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius pieces in national newspapers mak- focus has been more incrementalist and Nyerere, Leopold S. Senghor, Ago- ing the case for their policy choices, ‘small bore’ rather than of a ‘big devel- stinho Neto, Henri Lopes, Kwame however unpalatable. Emperor opment’ variety (large scale, universal Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Hastings Haile Selassie of Ethiopia attached access, big budgets, large commitment Kamuzu Banda, Milton Obote and so much importance to the role of of physical and intellectual resources). Kenneth Kaunda. Furthermore, education in development that for 20 they were ably supported and chal- years, he doubled up as the country’s The foregoing is not an argument for lenged (in equal measure) by an en- Emperor and cabinet minister for ed- a return to the African development tire movement of African intellectu- ucation. Today, there is no effort on strategy of the 1960s and 1970s. For als who had spearheaded the efforts the part of the African political class all its ‘local ownership’, idealism and to purge modern literature, history, to engage the African intelligentsia foresight, that strategy had a number philosophy and social sciences of ra- on the important questions of eco- of inherent weaknesses and it ultimately cial prejudices and Euro-American nomic development and political de- failed. The fundamental development ethno centrism: (a) the rejection of mocratization of the continent. The challenges facing Africa may have re- ‘darkness’ as the defining experi- only cabinet position many of them mained the same but the continent’s ence and image of Africa through hold dear and often assume personal development landscape and circum- the intertextual debate or dialogue charge of is the ministry of defense. stances have changed. The rise of the (to borrow Julia Kristeva’s theory internet, mobile telephony, the digital of intertextuality or the dialogism • ‘Big Development’: A comprehen- and revolutions, coupled with changing of Mikhail Bakhtin) between Euro- sive focus on ‘big questions’ and ‘ide- demographics and discovery of natu- pean ‘colonial’ works (most notably, als’ of development – a unified and ral resources present African countries Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, coherent political, economic and with unique opportunities for economic Joyce Cary’s Mister Johnson and H. social system anchored in democ- development. The foregoing is an argu- Rider Haggard’s King Solomon’s racy, liberty, equality social justice, ment for identifying what worked from Mines) and those of pioneering writ- economic transformation, social

11 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN Correcting the negative imagery of Africa is primarily a development task. They should enlist in this task in ways that would fully exhaust their physical and intellectual resources in this pursuit.

12 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN prosperity and mutual social respon- tural independence movement. challenging their views or persuad- sibility (an institutionalized form of ing them to see Africa differently social safety net or security). The Today, a new(ish) generation of African requires not a tutorial in political ge- early African development strategy scholars and (social) media activists ography, but changes in the material started out from a focus on real prob- are obsessed with providing universal conditions that provide some support lems and went out looking for solu- basic education in political geogra- for such an ideological construction tions. For the most part, this entailed phy of Africa under the rallying cry, of the continent. The fundamental policy experimentation rather than ‘Africa is Not a Country’. Numerous task facing the ‘Africa is not a Coun- ideologically predetermined ‘solu- scholarly articles, websites, Facebook try’ crowd is a bit more complex than tions’. Today, there is no shortage and Twitter posts been have been a satirical tutorial. Correcting the of predetermined policy solutions in generated on this meme. A personal negative imagery of Africa is primar- search of development problems in favourite is Binyavanga Wainana’s ily a development task. They should Africa. The early development inno- treatise: ‘‘How Not to Write about enlist in this task in ways that would vation in Africa sought solutions for Africa in 2012’’! For all its noble in- fully exhaust their physical and intel- economic structural transformation, tentions, the ‘Africa is not a Country’ lectual resources in this pursuit. eradication of poverty, disease and crowd is missing the point.’ For Af- ignorance, ‘equal exchange’ in inter- rica is indeed a Country! Let’s get To be sure, there are material or ‘real national division of labour, decoloni- on with it! Contemporary viewers life’ consequences to the conception zation and an end to the apartheid of Africa as a country, and perhaps and portrayal of Africa in negative regime in South Africa. That devel- some of their harshest African crit- terms. As the recent global panic opment strategy failed in many of its ics may not know that the ideology over the Ebola virus disease has objectives but it did succeed in two that asserts that the history and des- shown, the perception of Africa as key ones: decolonization and aboli- tiny of all African peoples and coun- a ‘country’ can have real economic, tion of apartheid. tries are inextricably intertwined has cultural and political consequences a long, distinguished and revered on individual citizens and countries It is taken for granted now but a key tradition in Pan African ideologi- of Africa. Afro-pessimism, partly task of newly independent African cal, philosophical, political, intellec- generated by negative and mislead- states was to fight for the complete tual and development thought. The ing portrayal of Africa has been at- liberation of the continent from co- ideological construction of Africa as tributed, at least in part, to low levels lonial rule. Political independence a ‘country’ dates back to the Sons of foreign direct investment, capi- looks self-evident now, but it wasn’t of Africa Abolitionist Movement in tal flight and brain drain in Africa. as recently as 20 years ago. The point 18th Century England (e.g. Ottobah Given the material consequences of had to be made – intellectually, mor- Cuogano and Olaudah Equiano) the geographical (and other) mis- ally and in blood, tears and broken and continues in the 19th (e.g. Henry understanding (s) of the continent, bones. Political decolonization of Sylvester-Williams) and 20th centu- the effort to set the record straight is the continent is a job that Africa did ries - Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Ny- worthwhile. Individual and collective well. By 1980, virtually all of Africa erere, Sekou Toure, W.E. B. Dubois, well-being of the African people de- was free from colonial rule although George Padmore, Marcus Garvey, pends on it. My point is not to belittle Namibia and South Africa remained Haile Selassie, Gamal Abdel Nasser the effort. Rather, it is to try to direct under minority and apartheid rule. and Ben Bella. What those who see it to the ‘bigger question’ at stake. By 1994, the entire continent was Africa as a country get, which their free of colonialism and apartheid. supposedly geographically erudite After all, it is easy to dispatch of the The political, humanitarian and eco- critics do not is that Africa is a ‘so- arguments of the ‘Africa is a Coun- nomic costs of decolonizing the con- cial construction’ whose meaning is try’ population. The facts are that: tinent were not insignificant. The so contested. Africa is not just a physical • In terms of nation-states, Africa called frontline states, especially Tan- geographical or political geographi- is not a country but 54 different zania and Zambia, bore a particu- cal entity. It is also a historical and countries (note that Africans gener- larly high burden in the liberation of ideological construct. ally reject the balkanization of the Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, continent into North Africa, Sub Namibia and South Africa. Yes, Africa is a political construct (as Saharan Africa, and South Africa. in nation-states) as the proponents of Instead they use, in their definition In spite of these costs, decoloniza- ‘Africa is Not a Country’ point out. of the continent, the literal physical tion and the anti-apartheid struggles But Africa is also an ‘ideological con- geography of the continent, and the were popular movements in which struction’ – a short hand for poverty, political entities constituting the Afri- ordinary African citizens exercised ignorance and disease for those who can Union); collective leadership and responsibil- see it as a ‘country’ or for those who • Of the 20 largest famines of the 20th ity. Masses of people rose up in arms see it in Pan African terms –a land century, only one (i.e. the Ethiopian (e.g. the Maji, Chimurenga, PAIGC mass of a people with a shared ge- famine of the 1980s) was in Africa. and Mau wars), civil disobedience, ography, culture, formative history It should however be noted that the economic and cultural boycotts and and political and economic destiny. last famine in Europe occurred in all manner of protests to demand Africans may prefer to see Africa as the Soviet Union in 1946-47; the last African independence and to reas- a geographic or political entity of famine in China occurred in 1958- sert the concept of African dignity, 54 nation states but that is no rea- 62; the last major famine in India personality and identity. This was son why others must see it that way occurred in Bengal in 1943 (i.e. no not simply limited to the political or too. If for some Africa is a shorthand major famine has occurred in India intellectual sphere, it was also a cul- for poverty, ignorance and disease, since the country’s independence in

13 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN 1947) and the last major famine in of sources of information. The World Ushahidi have made it possible for the whole of South Asia occurred in Economic Forum compares the data humanitarian organizations to better Bangladesh in 1974. In effect, since boom of today to the Texas oil boom of understand and respond more quick- at least 1975, vulnerability to famines the 20th century or the California gold ly and effectively to crises. Ushahidi has been eradicated in the rest of the rush of the 19th century. allows people to text in and report world outside sub Saharan Africa. cases of human rights violations or • Until very recently, a majority of Data is collected everyday by a variety political violence. the people living in extreme pov- of sources on almost all of our activi- • By looking at population flows and erty lived in China and South Asia ties. Almost every activity we undertake conducting real time CCTV analyt- (India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and can be transformed into a data point. ics to better understand traffic issues, Pakistan). In any case, poverty itself, Data is collected every time we make cities can better plan for and accom- defined in one sense or another, has a phone call, send an SMS, purchase modate their increasing urban popu- been a common and persistent oc- a good or service, drive in a car with a lations by building smart cities that currence in all countries throughout GPS system or visit a hospital, bank or have adequate health, water, electric- human history. To date, it remains, a foreign country. This data collection is ity, education, public transportation in various pockets and manifesta- being done not only by private corpo- infrastructure (e.g. Abidjan). tions, even in the richest countries on rations, but by governments, financial • Engineering Social Systems (ESS) in earth. Why it should be the defining institutions, health service providers, in- Kenya is overlapping mobile phone characteristic of Africa is arguably ternational development organizations data with census data to model the puzzling. (e.g. UN, World Bank, IMF), NGOs, et growth of slums in Nairobi, enabling cetera. city planners to better plan for and The list could be longer, the sup- build public services such as water porting arguments more watertight, In order to know what we need to know, pumps and public toilets. but in the end, what is to be gained be it in business or development policy • Opt-in surveys: With mobile phones, by winning this argument? That Af- making, we need to have a way of gath- short surveys can be sent to anyone rica is 54 different countries? That ering the necessary data and analyzing anywhere in the world to collect data famines may occur regularly in Af- it. Big Data analytics entails finding out on any subject or sector. For exam- rica but they have been much worse what we need to know to figure out new, ple, Geo Poll, recently ran an SMS elsewhere? That the condition of timely, and nuanced analysis of drivers survey of 10 questions in the east- poverty in Africa might be bad but of human behaviour, economic tech- ern Democratic Republic of Congo it has been worse elsewhere? The nological, environmental and climate (DRC) on violence and rape and re- fundamental question of African de- change. By understanding what drives ceived 1.2 million text responses. velopment in the 21st century must these changes, Big Data has the capac- be bigger than this. ity to allow us to design smarter, more These examples are indicative of the effective or impactful sustainable devel- potential applications of big data for How can the lessons of the early opment policies. economic development in Africa. development innovation be brought However, the present reality is that to bear on the current development Big data is not just a developed country big data is vastly under-utilized in Af- situation in Africa? By formulating phenomenon. Big Data is collected on a rica. Few if any Africa countries have an African development strategy that large scale in countries like Kenya where developed policies aimed at big data integrates Big Questions and Big 77 percent of the population has a mo- for economic development. Large Development with Big Data and Big bile phone, 50 percent have access to scale harnessing of big data for de- Science to take advantage of once the internet, and where the revolution- velopment in Africa is hampered by in a generation opportunity and to ary mobile money application, MPESA severe obstacles: lack of big data in- finally transform Africa into an ad- is widely used. The high penetration frastructure and software (supercom- vanced economic and scientific re- rates of mobile phones in rural, hard puters, smart machines and analytics gion. to reach, and even war torn areas pro- software); human capital (i.e. human vides the potential to gather large scale analysts); regulatory frameworks Big Data data sets in places where data has never (protective of privacy, intellectual Big Data is an umbrella term for the been collected on such a scale before. property rights and ‘inclusivity’); and explosion in the quantity and diversity The data being collected can shed new finance (supercomputers and smart of high frequency digital data. It refers light on demographic changes, epide- machines don’t come cheap; train- to data sets that are so large that typi- miology tracking, urban planning and ing software engineers, data analysts, cal software tools are unable to capture, infrastructure, weather patterns, food statisticians and economists costs store, manage, and analyze them. Often security early warning systems, habitat money). times, big data requires a supercom- loss, environmental degradation and cli- puter or smart machines to analyze. It mate change. In spite of the costs involved in build- is estimated that the worldwide volume ing the hardware, software and hu- of data will double every two years, Examples of applications of big data man capital infrastructure for har- reaching a global total of 40 zettabytes for development purposes in Africa nessing big data for development, by 2020. To put this into context, the abound, albeit on relatively pilot and the potential social returns to these world’s total data storage capacity in isolated cases: investments are so large that this con- 2012 was only 2.7 zettabytes. Accord- • By tracking population movements sideration needs to feature in Africa’s ing to the World Economic Forum, big through cell phone data and by run- public finance and economic plan- data is high volume, high velocity, and ning analytics on social media, opt- ning. Unless African governments high value and includes a high variety in services such as the Kenyan based make the strategic choice to invest

14 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN In order to know what we need to know, be it in business or development policy making, we need to have a way of gathering the necessary data and analyzing it.

‘big’ in Big Data infrastructure, they survival of given societies or not, tax • Big laboratories: Centralization of will continue to sit on large quantities them to their physical and intellectual scientific research in large laborato- of data that have potential to trans- limits. Big science involves large-scale ries to enhance cost effectiveness of form and quicken the pace of the scientific projects that are usually fund- basic research. continent’s economic transforma- ed by national governments or groups Big science was forcefully championed, tion. of governments (e.g. the Manhattan during and after WW11, by some of or US Atomic Project, Space Explora- America’s leading scientists, university To harness the applications of big tion, the CERN Large Hadron Collider, administrators, technocrats and cap- data for Africa’s economic develop- the Human Genome Project, National tains of the defense industry in what ment, African countries will need to Laboratories (e.g. the 17 US National would later become the US military- do the following as a matter of ur- Laboratories run by the Department of industrial-academic complex: the tri- gency: Energy in conjunction with leading US angular model of government, industry universities: Los Alamos, Lincoln, Law- and academic collaboration in funding • Big Data Policy for Development: rence Livermore, Lawrence Berkeley, research and innovation. The person Formulate a policy that seeks to har- Argonne, Radiation, Ernest O. Law- most credited with pioneering this mod- ness big data for development, espe- rence, Brookhaven, Oak Ridge, etc). el was America’s ‘General of Physics’, cially eradication of poverty, igno- star scientist and public administrator, rance and disease. Big science exploded in industrial na- • Investments in Big Data Infrastruc- tions during and after the Second World Vannevar Bush. ture, Software and Human Capital War, initially for military purposes (i.e. Vannevar Bush had a string of record • Big Data Privacy and Ethical Policy- the atomic project) but later for more breaking accomplishments. Among oth- to protect the fundamental freedoms peaceful or economic purposes (e.g. ers: he built an early analog computer and civil liberties of citizens to en- space exploration and the Human Ge- known as the Differential Analyzer in sure that big data is utilized to en- nome Project). Big science is character- 1931; he founded the electronics and hance human rights and freedoms in ized by at least four features: defense company Raytheon; was Dean Africa rather than to limit them or to • Big budgets: the scientific project is of the MIT School of Engineering; strengthen the police state in Africa funded by large grants from govern- helped found and lead the US National • Fostering Public-Private Partnerships ment, groups of governments, indus- Defense Research Committee and the in the development of big data in- try or a combination of all three. Office of Scientific Research andDe- frastructure, software, expertise, col- • Big staffs: Hundreds if not thousands velopment; helped found the US Na- lection, storage, analysis, access and of multidisciplinary, multinational tional Science Foundation; oversaw use. teams of scientists, engineers, social the programmes to build the US’ first • Develop an open data policy scientists and other experts. atomic bomb, radar and air-defense • Big Science (see below) • Big machines: e.g. supercomputers. systems. More importantly for our pur- The cost of installing and running poses, Bush wrote the famous Report to Big Science supercomputers can run into mil- President Truman, ‘Science, the End- Big science can be defined as large lions or hundreds of millions of dol- less Frontier’, which makes one of the scale, monumental scientific enter- lars (from the lower end of about $ 5 strongest cases for Big Science or why prises, which whether necessary to the million to well over $ 100 million). government funding of basic research,

15 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN jointly with universities and industry, technology and innovation as the main or effort, without which few if any eco- can be in a country’s national economic driver of economic growth in the ad- nomic benefits would flow from that and security interests. vanced economies. Today, ‘Big Sci- research. ence’ is nearly ubiquitous in advanced In ‘Science, the Endless Frontier’, Bush and emerging economies, be it physical Africa has very scientists per capita (al- made the case for the role of science or life sciences. Scientific research is though the few it has includes world and engineering in society that should increasingly conducted in the form of class scientists as argued elsewhere in be mandatory reading for all African large, expensive and collaborative ‘Big this magazine). It also has limited finan- leaders, bureaucrats, university admin- Science’ projects often involving multi- cial resources per country. However, the istrators, scientists, private sector, civil disciplinary and multinational teams of bulk of the countries in Africa, especial- society and development partners: natural and social scientists, engineers ly sub Saharan Africa shares common ‘‘Basic research leads to new knowledge. and other experts. or similar development challenges. In It provides scientific capital. It creates this situation, it makes economic and the fund from which the practical appli- Therein lies the case for ‘Big Science’ scientific sense to pull together expertise, cations of knowledge must be drawn… for ‘Big Development’ in Africa. Besides infrastructure and financial resources New products and new processes do not the contributions of science, technol- to initiate a few large, if expensive Big appear fully grown. They are founded ogy and innovation to economic growth Science collaborative projects directed on new principles and new concept, and development – highlighted above towards finding lasting solutions to which in turn are painstakingly devel- and confirmed by economic growth ac- the three common and fundamen- oped by research in the purest realms counting – ‘Big Science’ is particularly tal development challenges in Africa: of science. A nation which depends suited to Africa’s development condi- eradication of poverty, ignorance and upon others for its new basic scientific tions and challenges. Science, whether disease. This might include Biomedi- knowledge will be slow in its industrial big, medium or small is expensive: in cal Research; Space Research; Nuclear progress and weak in its competitive terms of equipment, human capital Science and Technology for Socio-eco- position in world trade…Advances in (training of scientists); time and money. nomic Development; Biotechnologies science when put to practical use mean For this reason, among others, Africa for Development, Nanotechnologies for more jobs, higher wages, shorter hours, has been lagging behind in ‘Small Sci- Development, Information and Com- more abundant crops, more leisure for ence’ let alone ‘Big Science’. Were Af- munication Technologies (ICTs) and recreation, for study, for learning how rica to make a breakthrough in the field Materials Sciences and Technologies to live without the deadening drudgery of Small Science, this would still not for Socio-economic Development. which has been the burden of the com- be sufficient for its economic develop- mon man for past ages’’. ment. While the theoretical results of Many African countries already have individual or small groups of individual nascent initiatives in all of these areas: Bush was writing several decades before researchers (i.e. small science) may be • The African space programme; the advances in economic growth theory significant, often their empirical verifi- African Leadership Conference on would reinforce his argument by con- cation would require experiments using space science and technology for firming the increasing role of science, large expensive laboratories, equipment sustainable Development (ALC);

The psychological ‘feel good’ effect of such research and accomplishments can also not be underestimated, especially in a region like Africa, still struggling to discard its image as a land of poverty, ignorance and disease. The Kariba Dam

16 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN national space programmes in South not sufficient for its development- pur programmes that the economic and Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya; the poses. It must now consider investing technological spillover effects of space Square Kilometre Array (SKA) as- time, intellectual and financial resources research have been considerable – in tronomy project currently involving into big Big Science or big technologies, the fields of medicine, communications, South Africa and 10 developed and in addition to, rather than at the ex- navigation, meteorology, earth resourc- emerging economies; etc. pense of small science and technologies. es exploitation and climate modelling. • The nascent national nuclear science To paraphrase Gunnar Myrdal: In this Chase Econometric Associates found and technology for socio-economic era of Africa rising, it would be pathetic for example that from 1960 to 1974, the development initiatives (South Af- if African countries got caught in the rate of return on NASA R&D expen- rica, Kenya, Ghana, Namibia, etc) predilections of investigator led Small ditures to the American society was 43 and the African Regional Coopera- Science project funding instead of percent. Feasibly, investments in other tive Agreement for Research, De- strategic Big Science for development fields of sciences could yield higher velopment and Training Related to funding. Africa should gather the cour- rates of return. Nuclear Science and Technology age, foresight, ambition and reason to (AFRA) embark on Big Science projects geared There is certainly no guarantee that in- • The Botswana Innovation Hub and towards solving Africa’s fundamental vestments in space research in African other nascent national science and development challenges: eradication of countries would yield such high returns. technology parks across the conti- poverty, ignorance and disease. Nevertheless, the preponderance of nent economic evidence suggests that the • The Ghana-India Kofi Annan Cen- To be sure, ever since its evolution in R&D investments needed in Big Sci- tre of Excellence in ICT in Ghana the 1940s and 1950s, and in spite of ence projects such as space research and other nascent Super Computer its large scale spread through the dec- tend to enhance a country’s technologi- or High Performance Computing ades, Big Science has received sustained cal capacity, a key driver in long term projects on the continent. criticism – much of it from leading sci- economic growth. The psychological • The National and regional Nano- entists. While many of these criticisms ‘feel good’ effect of such research and technology for Development initia- hold for advanced economies, in the Af- accomplishments can also not be un- tives rican context, some of the criticisms can derestimated, especially in a region like • National biotechnology research and easily be turned around as justification Africa, still struggling to discard its im- development initiatives for Big Science. One of the earliest and age as a land of poverty, ignorance and most famous critics of Big Science was disease. As to whether investments in All of these are excellent candidates for the British Astronomer, Sir Fred Hoyle alternative fields of science would lead an integrated Big Data, Big Science, Big who opposed Britain’s adventure into to higher rates of social returns, this is Development Strategy in Africa post large scale space research. Hoyle argued essentially an argument about strategic 2015. Apart from for the Square Kilo- that the intrinsic scientific interest of priority setting rather than an argument metre Array and the South Africa and space research was not worth the money against Big Science per se. That one Nigerian space programmes which are and manpower that went into it and that Big Science project can generate higher truly ‘Big Science’ projects, many of the there was little justification for spending social returns than another Big Sci- above initiatives are still being treated more financial and human resources ence project isn’t an argument against as ‘Small’ or ‘Meso’ Science projects. on space research than on any other Big Science. Rather, it is an argument This won’t work for Africa’s develop- branch of science. He also considered about prioritizing between two Big Sci- ment purposes. Neither space, nuclear the huge financial and human resource ence projects – an argument African nor nanotechnology programmes can investments in Big Science as capable of countries should take very seriously as be had on the cheap. Given the scale of ‘destroying’ science through industriali- they venture, timidly or full scale, into financial, physical and human resources zation, bureaucratization and politiciza- Big Science. needed for space, nuclear, nanotechnol- tion of research or what Alvin Weinberg ogy, high performance computing and called “adminstratitis, moneyitis, and The criticism that Big Science comes biomedical research (e.g. laboratory journalitis”: the dominance of science with high risks of “adminstratitis, biology, genomics) Africa must get this by administrators rather than practi- moneyitis, and journalitis” or bureau- right the first time. That means Big Sci- tioners, the over emphasis on funding cratization, politicization and industri- ence and Big Development. This has as a panacea for solving scientific prob- alization of science holds for advanced budgetary, educational, social and eco- lems; the effort to attract public support and African economies. In the African nomic implications worthy of a substan- for large scientific budgets and projects context however, this criticism can also tive debate that many of the countries through journalistic reporting, which be double edged. Yes, Big Science does embarking on these initiatives are yet to might blur the lines between scientific transfer the control of research aims, have. and journalistic writing. goals and topics to bureaucrats (i.e. strategic funding of research priorities As Melvin Kranzberg argued decades Variations of these arguments abound rather than investigator led funding of ago, technology is not inherently good, so one has an obligation to respond to research priorities), when in an ‘ideal’ bad or neutral. The degree to which it this criticism if one is making the case scientific enterprise, these questions and becomes one or the other depends on for Big Science in Africa. On the spe- decisions should be determined primar- among others, the purposes of its inven- cific case of the cost-benefit analysis ily by scientists. Advanced economies tion and the functions for which it is de- of large scale space research, we know facing no existential threats from pover- ployed. This applies to small or big tech- from studies of the economic impacts ty, ignorance and disease can afford this nologies. Africa has spent a considerable of the US Space Programme and space ideal. It is a luxury African countries amount of time and resources on ‘small economy studies of the Soviet, Euro- and scientists cannot afford. After all, af- technologies’. These are necessary but pean, UK, Japanese and other space ter everyone is killed by poverty, disease

17 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN and ignorance, there will be no science further Big Science projects. political rather than an ‘ethnic’ or ‘ra- to be undertaken, whether small or big. cial’ construct, hence their opposition to The risk of ‘journalitis’ often associ- the balkanization of the continent into This is a sensational statement but pov- ated with Big Science might be also be a North Africa, Sub Saharan Africa and erty, ignorance and disease can place productive development in Africa. The South Africa. African countries with the real constraints to the scientific enter- need to secure public support for Big largest multi-racial populations during prise, small, meso or big. The research Science would ensure that the African colonial rule like Kenya and South Af- topics for African scientists should have public is both engaged and informed rica made this clear at the outset of their some connection to the continent’s of Africa’s scientific initiatives. This freedom movements. In fact Kenyans of development challenges. In any case, might mitigate the negative impacts of Asian descent played a leading role in when was the last time an African sci- deadening ‘‘administritis’’ and corrupt- the country’s struggle for freedom – as entist operated in an ‘ideal’ scientific ing ‘‘moneyitis’’ while fostering African did South Africans of Asian and white environment? If the research topic or and non-African appreciation of the descent. Amin’s expulsion of Ugandan goal is not set by the government, it is continent’s scientific and development Asians was a stain on the continent – most likely set by the funding agency, achievements (i.e. eradication of igno- as is the penchant for Africa’s political often an overseas funding agency with rance and the purging of the continent’s leaders to run factionalized, patron-cli- its own interests which may or may not image as a place of poverty, ignorance ent governments premised on an ideolo- be consistent with Africa’s development and disease). gy of ethnic competition and exclusion. challenges? How can this scientific goal A majority of the African people take a setting be better than strategic African very ‘cosmopolitan’ view to nationality development led scientific goal setting? and citizenship. Bureaucratization and politicization of research is risky business. The entire his- African countries are presently engaged tory of the African development experi- I have never in a race to the bottom trying to at- ence suggests that African bureaucracies tract tourists and direct foreign invest- and bureaucrats can be dysfunctional, understood why ment. Spurred by the US$22 billion inept, and incompetent and corrupt – Africa as a whole has annual remittances that the African the worst possible combination for any diaspora sent to the continent prior to scientific enterprise – so this would be never had an explicit the Great Recession, the African Un- a real risk in Big Science projects in Af- and aggressive ion, the World Bank and 25 African rica. But we also know that it is possible countries have launched diaspora pro- to build a clean, lean, competent and pro development grammes and policies to enhance the efficient bureaucracy for Big Science immigration policy, contribution of diaspora to Africa’s projects (or for general public admin- development. While these are all im- istration for that matter). This is what that is, one aimed portant, collectively, they are all part Vannevar Bush and the US pioneered at attracting highly of an unnecessarily narrow strategy. A through the triangular military-indus- strategic effort to attract highly skilled try-academic model of Big Science (all skilled immigrants. immigrants might provide real impetus the criticism about wastage in parts of to the efforts to attract tourists, FDI and the system notwithstanding). Closer diaspora into the continent. More im- home, more recent evidence suggests portantly, Big Science Projects would be that some African countries can build excellent vehicles for achieving all four. fairly competent and clean bureaucra- The Great recession provides an excel- cies (e.g. Botswana, Mauritius, Rwanda, lent opportunity for Africa to attract and Ethiopia). Big Science can potentially solve some some highly skilled immigrants – as well of the problems often associated with as the African diaspora, not to mention Industrialization of research is not nec- scientific and development manage- foreign direct investment into the con- essarily a bad thing. In the African con- ment in Africa. It can pull resources and tinent. (However, it doesn’t bode well text, it might in fact be the ‘the magic expertise (including from other coun- for the African tourism sector, but the bullet’ for the continent’s industrial and tries and the diaspora, hence having contribution of tourism to Africa’s de- scientific advancement. Industrializa- the potential to reverse the problem of velopment is often overrated). With the tion of research might be the vehicle brain drain). It can provide innovative possible exception of the East Asian or for the continent to both industrialize organizational and managerial models the Asian economies in general, many and to develop a serious scientific and for executing large scale and complex of today’s advanced economies have technological capacity, thereby creating problems. It can also foster tacit knowl- benefited immensely from immigration. a virtuous cycle. By learning to assemble edge or learning by doing while also A staggering 40 percent of the largest the infrastructure, technical expertise, enhancing the quality and capacity of US companies were founded by immi- finances and administrative or bureau- national education systems by creating grants or their children. This includes: cratic capacity to oversee a few suc- demand for high caliber candidates. Ford, Boeing, Walt Disney, AT&T, cessful Big Science projects, within and Kraft, Proctor & Gamble, U.S. Steel, between countries, the continent might I have never understood why Africa as UPS, Estée Lauder, DuPont, Goldman develop the technical, managerial, in- a whole has never had an explicit and Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, frastructural and financial wherewithal aggressive pro development immigra- General Dynamics, General Electric, to launch and sustain a large scale in- tion policy, that is, one aimed at attract- Kohl’s, Honeywell, Nordstrom, Pfizer, dustrialization programme, which ing highly skilled immigrants. After all, Merck, Budweiser, Heinz, Colgate, would in turn necessitate and finance most Africans see the continent as a General Electric, Northrop Grum-

18 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN man, Lockheed Martin, McDonald’s, ventures into this field should expect the continent should resist attempts at Verizon, United Technologies, Com- its expenditure on science, technology development policy making by interna- cast, News Corporation, IBM, Apple, and innovation to rise above the lame tional consensus, ideological supremacy Intel, EBay, Oracle, Amazon, Google, AU target of 1 or 2 percent of GDP per or groupthink. The continent would do Brightstar, Yahoo, Sun, Qualcomm. A year. However, since Big Science in Af- well to look critically at its development ‘Big Development’ strategy for Africa, rica should be inextricably intertwined challenges and opportunities; follow im- to the extent that it is predicated on Big with industrialization (of science) and partial evidence; have the courage, spine Science and Big Data would do well to development, the cost benefit analysis and pride to set its own strategic priori- consider a Highly Skilled Immigrant of such expenditure should be viewed in ties as well as the honour, faithfulness Worker Programme. terms of its economy wide technologi- and grace to seriously, rigorously and cal spill-over effects, including human diligently implement or execute its on Having made the case for Big Sci- capital formation and national absorp- development strategies. That might in- ence for Big Development in Africa, it tive capacity – besides the direct prod- clude Big Questions, Big Data, Big Sci- is worth pointing out that Big Science ucts and services of the effort. Instead ence and Big Development or it might does have one potentially serious risk. of seeking foreign aid for conventional include something else. Whatever it is, It can funnel research into particular purposes from Western Europe, the US, it should be based on a sound reading directions and therefore preclude other Japan and China, African countries of the theory and practice of economic potential lines of research or approach- might want to re-orient their foreign aid development in historical perspective; es. While rare, this can lead entire sci- towards financing Big Science projects. current state of economic development entific societies (or countries) into false in Africa; opportunities and challenges leads as was the case with post WW11 No Policy Making by Ideological facing the continent – as individual Soviet agriculture. In general, diver- Hegemony, International Consen- countries or as a whole. sity in research (topics, aims, goals, ap- sus or Groupthink proaches) is always superior to lack of The opportunities presented by the in- This does not mean that Africa need diversity. For this reason, I am not ar- ternet, mobile technologies, the data not subscribe to international develop- guing that Africa should avoid small or revolution, changing demographics and ment efforts such as the post 2015 Sus- ‘meso’ research in favour of big science. geopolitical circumstances, present Af- tainable Development Goals (SDGs); My point is that for the purposes of its rica with a rare opportunity to formu- information rich democracy (e.g. Sen’s ‘Big Development’, Africa must begin late a grand development strategy that capabilities and entitlements or devel- to think beyond vague promises of pro- takes advantage of Big Questions, Big opment as freedom); efforts to combat moting STEM (Science, Technology, Data and Big Science to accelerate Big global climate change and ecosystem Engineering and Mathematics) educa- Development in Africa. In 2015, China degradation; etc. It must indeed. But tion or investing 1% or 2% of national overtakes the US as the world’s larg- with the realization that these are ‘ba- GDP to R&D or to science, technology est economy. It has done so through a sic minimum’ conditions for economic and innovation. The continent needs a development model full of innovation development which cannot substitute coherent Big Development strategy, a and experimentation. Africa should for a national, regional or a continental strand of which will be Big Science for aim to follow China’s lead within a few grand development strategy for struc- Development, which will in turn, have a decades. It has the know-how, resources tural economic transformation. coherent strategy for developing African and access to technologies necessary for economies as scientific nations or knowl- the task. The AU’s Agenda 2063 sets a edge economies: inclusive of STEM much longer timeline than is necessary education and research, Small Science, for this task given the vast explosion of Meso Science and Big Science. This knowledge, technologies, resources and has implications far beyond economic, geopolitical opportunities at the disposal financial, education and industrial poli- of the continent. cies and strategies. Among other things it would require African governments to Development theory, policy and prac- separate and ‘ring fence’ science budg- tice in general but especially in Africa, ets (separate say from the education has been stripped of any creativity, in- budget); divide that science budget into novation, ambition and independent a capital or development budget (i.e. for thinking over the last three and a half creating national laboratories or world decades through a combination of the class laboratories in physical, life or bio- ideological hegemony of neoliberalism medical sciences; installing and running and the imposition of well-intentioned high performance computers; purchas- but ultimately artificial and untested in- ing equipment); a resource budget (for ternational consensus on ‘best practice funding strategically or development led in development’ This has led entire Af- and investigator led research through rican countries into ‘false leads’, failed grants and other mechanisms) and an states, antiquated economies, ruined operational budget (for meeting the livelihoods and lost opportunities. salaries of scientists, researchers and university professors). Africa’s inability to take ownership and control of its development strategy has Given the financial, infrastructural turned the continent into a tragicomedy, and human resource requirements of current Afro-optimism notwithstanding. Big Science, any African country that In this great moment of ‘Africa rising’,

19 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN ICTs AND STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN AFRICA POST 2015?

By Gunter Nooke German Chancellor’s Personal Representative for Africa in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

Back in 2000, the international community demonstrated its commitment to tackling the most crucial challenge in the history of humankind – the fight against poverty, underdevelop- ment and hunger – by signing up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As 2015 ap- proaches, the MDGs are now due for evaluation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are to succeed them, have to be discussed and concluded. However, the track record so far has been ordinary at best.

s we enter the post-2015 debate, we have to take So we have to take a broader view. There is no an honest look at our efforts and think outside the “one size fits all”. I have, for a long time, been pre- box. Is our response still appropriate in our ever occupied with questions about how to incorporate faster changing world? Are traditional forms of de- sustainability and good governance. And how con- velopment cooperation still suited to today’s rap- crete should a global program be? How complex idly changing environments and challenges? can it be to have a global impact at UN level and still be adapted to each individual challenge? The A The Horn of Africa has vividly illustrated these bottom line is that it all comes down to outreach. various challenges. Somalia, to many minds still Instead of talking about people, we should talk the epitome of a failed state, may well find its way with them and use the development drivers they out of the power struggle it is caught up in. Then provide. It is essential to listen to their needs, to there are the aspiring countries of the EAC, which applaud their successes and to empower them to have committed themselves to building a stronger shape their future – even without us. political and economic union, and the still fledg- ing state of South Sudan. All these countries face Development policy in the 21st century – even different challenges and have different capabilities though alarmingly regularly associated with food and viewpoints. aid, drilling wells and deploying school teachers –

20 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN is not about help, it is about collabora- chances of changing people’s lives for for “[…] the use of enabling technol- tion. Instead of resolving the past, we the better have never been greater. ogy, in particular information and com- need to shape the upcoming decade, a SMS-based weather forecasts and up- munications technology, to promote decade that is often referred to as the to-the-minute market prices for farmers, the empowerment of women”, Goal 9 “decade of information”. remote diagnosis for rural hospitals or demands that we “significantly increase distance learning programs for students access to information and communica- In fact, having the right information and pupils are the future of develop- tions technology and strive to provide in the right place at the right time is ment outreach. We do not need to sink universal and affordable access to the what changes lives by paving the way wells if we can provide people with ex- Internet in least developed countries by for proper infrastructure, electricity or pertise on ground layers and manuals. 2020”. health care. To my mind, information Why should we build roads if we can and communications technology (ICT) provide local companies with remote While African governments have al- – still the most underrated driver of sensing? I call this empowerment by ready begun focusing on the latter and change – has to play a major role in the knowledge, and media as its means of recognized the need for a strong digital post-2015 agenda. transmission. Tailor-made applications infrastructure by placing it high on the such as M-Pesa can really make a dif- NEPAD agenda, the discussion on ICT The reason is pretty simple. Techni- ference. In combination with other ap- has remained primarily on the technical cal innovation influences the course of propriate technologies like small-scale level. The SDG debate should avoid the history –sometimes more than money solar systems, ICT can also be used also mistake of merely focusing on numbers. and sometimes even more than political in villages to provide life-saving – or at What we need is a holistic approach, ideas. Would the Arab Spring have been least life-enhancing – information. comprising social and legal aspects as possible without text messaging? How well. We have to emphasize the right use would the world know about the atroci- There is no doubt that all these tech- and right regulation of ICT. ties taking place today without video nologies can – and will – develop a dy- footage? Let’s take the example of the namic all of their own in aspiring coun- So we have to think ahead. Academ- late Martin Luther and the invention of tries. Their results, and their limitations, ics, citizens and politicians alike need the printing press by Johannes Guten- are far beyond the foreseeable. With the to make their case now. Only by pro- berg in the fifteenth century. Without post-2015 agenda effectively setting the moting the benefits of ICT as a major this technical innovation, Martin Lu- scene for the world we want to live in driver and lever in achieving our super- ther’s translation of the bible would not by 2030, we need to adapt ICT now. ordinate sustainable development goals, have spread so quickly and so far afield. The SDGs have to reflect ICT with all while also setting regulative boundaries And indeed, it changed the course of its merits and downsides, not only on for their proper use, can we allow their history. a technical level. Information technol- dynamic to unfold and pave the way for ogy is fast becoming an everyday com- a development beyond paternalism and A couple of years ago, the expression ponent of our lives, whether in Africa, autocracy. “media consumption” meant barely Asia or Europe. People – obviously not more than listening to the radio and only in LDCs – have to be educated New means of communication provide watching TV. Education, on the other on the uses, benefits, shortcomings and vast possibilities for transparent admin- hand, meant sitting in a classroom. To- perils of ICT. Powerful information istration and good governance. They day, this has been replaced by people might end up unleashing harm if it falls enable people to review government communicating in real time through into the wrong hands. As much as infor- actions and forge opinions regardless of social media. An unimaginable amount mation provides freedom, it might easily their geographical, social or economic of data is floating in virtual space. ICT also facilitate surveillance. status. Democracy and political partici- has a fundamental influence on educa- pation thrive on this public outreach. It tion, the acquisition of knowledge, on This is the point where think tanks and is estimated that by 2017, mobile phone how knowledge is used and on how it thought leaders are required to act. De- penetration in Africa will reach 97%. is spread. Take the online platforms of spite the obvious technical issues of ICT Every one of those mobile phone users established universities, which are easily implementation – not every field hospi- will have at their fingertips the means to able to reach hundreds of times more tal can afford telediagnosis systems, not have their say. Let’s listen to them. students than their offline, attendance- to mention the enormous challenge based counterparts. ICT thus influences posed by rural electrification – the le- Civil society and the private sector are the very concept of education itself. gal aspects also have to be considered. crucial if we want to achieve socio-eco- With Africa entering the decade of in- nomic growth and make a difference. Recent decades have shown the grow- formation, it is now time to put in place Let us – all together – tackle the task of ing influence of knowledge-driven prudent regulatory frameworks at a using new media and the means they media on most parts of our lives. ICT national level, providing an adequate offer us of making the world a little bit provides the infrastructure for a knowl- guarantee of privacy. better. Because that is precisely what the edge-based world economy. It is also a post-2015 agenda is about. key technology for sustainable develop- So far, four out of 16 SDGs proposed by ment. Using ICT, things do not only the Open Working Group refer to ICT * Günter Nooke also previously served the Ger- get faster. We can now achieve and do by name. So, although they are men- man Government as Commissioner for Human things that were impossible before. We tioned as a means of implementation Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the can see this especially well in the inter- rather than as a front-line target, ICTs Federal Foreign Office. action between media and education. have indeed gained recognition in the It is not over-audacious to say that the post-2015 process. While Goal 5 calls

21 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN DEVELOPING A NEW APPROACH TO INNOVATION ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECOSYSTEMS SUSTAINABILITY AND IN AFRICA SOCIAL INCLUSION

echnology has always determined the quality of life of people. From the invention of the first agricultural tools, millennia ago, to the widespread use of new digital technologies such as the mobile phone, technology has gradually changed economies, social life and people’s views. With the ap- pearance of modern science, however, the speed of technological change Prof. Dr. Stefan Schepers Thas increased. Science and technology nowadays determine more than Formerly, Secretary General of an ever the competitiveness of countries and the welfare of peoples. Independent, Tripartite High Level However, it is not always fully appreciated how to stimulate their develop- Group on Innovation Policy ment and how to steer the complex processes from invention to innova- Management in the EU tion, in whatever sector, be it ICT or agriculture, industrial manufacturing or services, or government and management. Management in companies, large or small, and governments of countries, including regional and mu- nicipal government, play an important role in creating the framework con- ditions for people to innovate.

When one considers the most successful countries worldwide, those at the top of innovation or global competitiveness ranking, then one will discover that they have all developed systemic conditions to stimulate innovation. Increased funding may lead to more research, but it will not necessarily bring more innovation in markets and thus more economic growth and social improvements. Moreover, a lot of innovation nowadays is consum- er driven, which is why an open, bottom-up approach to innovation is equally important. Innovation in traditional sectors can often bring more economic benefits than desperately trying to get into a sector where others have achieved competitive advantage. However, one should add that rapid scientific and technological developments no longer offer stable advantage, but rather temporary ones, as science is by definition open, and market strategies need to be at least regional, and global at best.

A new approach: innovation ecosystems An innovative economy and society cannot be conceived in traditional ways, as in the industrial economy. A watch is complicated, but not com- plex, because its mechanics interact in a predictable, linear way. Innova- tion does not follow such linear processes, but complex ones, with predict- able and unpredictable actions and re-actions among many actors. It must be seen like an ecosystem: a complex of naturally interacting organisms, functioning with non-linear dynamics and feedbacks.

An ecosystem of innovation aims to emulate nature in its organizational complexity and to create the dynamics, interactions and feedbacks that produce desired outcomes, as well as spin-offs and cumulative effects. Par- adoxically, it requires an effort of parallel construction and deconstruction and of creation of the right framework conditions, which can only be done through consistent holistic steering and collaborative efforts of stakehold- ers. Nevertheless, the effects may be at the start uncertain and apparently marginal before developing their full potential.

Natural ecosystems can either evolve under the pressure of contextual change, or perish. Similarly, the creation of an ecosystem of innovation will be required and stimulated by external challenges which threaten the survival of desired patterns. This brings acceptance for the need of inno-

22 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN vativeness, but only if accompanied by too; indeed the outflows of capital may Leadership clear identification and communication be reversed, which would be a positive Clear and consistent leadership (from of benefits to succeed. first step. Therefore, its governments AU, regional market, country, regional need to become innovative themselves or city government) will be needed to The key objectives of developing an and adapt their governance methods to create the framework conditions to fa- ecosystem of innovation are to create new challenges. They will have to adapt cilitate innovation actors, primarily value for society, by enhancing the qual- to the fundamental and irreversible ex- companies, large or small, and centres ity of life of its citizens and the com- ternal changes which have become ap- of research and knowledge, but also petitiveness of its enterprises, through parent since more than a decade. civic society organisations and indi- intelligent interaction between a variety vidual citizens, to develop and manage of stakeholders, principally economic They must accept that the required in- the dynamic inter-actions which lead to actors (large and small companies and novation will come from a paradoxical measurable innovation and added value other entities), public governance sys- process, combining the unknown, crea- creation. tems (AU, regional market organisa- tivity and rigorous scientific method. It tions, and Member states), and univer- requires the opposite attitude from bu- It requires an approach of collabora- sities and other centres of knowledge. reaucracy, which is about stable process tive governance. Today, innovating ca- This requires consistent leadership and control in large entities. Strategic pacities lag behind new and increasing and stakeholder engagement in various agility requires specific leadership skills needs because of a tendency towards in- forms. and organizational processes, and these crementalism and a focus on procedure should not be limited to the business and control. Value creation should start from a wide sector if rapid and cumulative effects concept of demand. This can come from are to be achieved. This needs to be replaced urgently by the needs of industry to find solutions to pushing for innovative government specific problems in their value chain It is by considering the limitations of paradigms and a focus on coaching and (such as resource efficiency, increased current approaches in new contexts, but mentoring the available capacities to- agricultural productivity) or from con- also by extracting successful elements of wards the emergence of an ecosystem tinuously emerging and changing so- current approaches, that a new, compet- of innovation in order to succeed in re- cietal needs (such as quality of living). itive and socially accepted economic ar- sponding to the present challenges. This Innovation will also often come through chitecture can emerge. Thus, it must be demands a departure from a legalistic the involvement of stakeholders (co-cre- part of a culture of innovation to accept culture of power preservation towards ation). In certain cases though, such as experiment and managed risk in order a cooperative and result-oriented cul- in public administrations, push and pull to allow a widening and diversification ture. Africa’s age old communal cultures will be required in order to avoid a less of the innovative products, services or should in fact be helpful to develop bot- efficient use of opportunities or outright processes and their application. tom-up innovation, instead of only rely- opposition to change. ing on imported models of governance. Africa is not lacking in capacities but it Foresight and assessment of paradigm Demand-driven value creation requires does have a serious problem of coher- shifts establishing a permanent strategic agil- ence of vision and purpose, of creating ity, scanning the global context, scout- cumulative effects, and of governance Correctly assessing change is a difficult ing for opportunities, and paying atten- not attuned to 21st century require- task in business and government be- tion to continuities or discontinuities. ments due to organisational fragmen- cause of a tendency to compare to the The emergence of novel concepts or tation, bureaucratisation, persistence past. It is therefore essential to develop processes, products or services, is often of multiple barriers to innovation in a realistic cognitive map, based on an the result of out-of-the-box thinking, markets, and the absence of a system assessment of the interacting develop- improvisation, repeated trial and error, approach. It lacks the right culture and ments. This must be done externally, and the emergence of new tacit and governance tools to develop an ecosys- through a network of centres of knowl- explicit knowledge until some form of tem of innovation appropriate to the edge. consolidation takes place. present challenges. Furthermore, inno- vation policy is often mixed up with re- Inspiration and methodological exam- A few African countries have made it search policy, which is in fact different. ples can be found in the work of the In- to a medium level of international in- Research policy is only one element of ternational Panel on Climate Change, novation and competitiveness rankings, innovation policies. As a result, invest- the World Economic Forum on Risk In- which is an indication that it can be ments in research and attempts of in- terconnection and Convergence or the done, although there is still much effort novation policy have brought few con- strategic outlook of the World Business and innovative thinking needed to start crete effects on economic growth, and Council for Sustainability. The horizon with. Future welfare depends on it. many signs indicate that on-going ones must be 2030 and beyond. will not provide any better results, de- The challenges ahead spite some remarkable examples, such The resulting scan of innovation chal- If African governments want to stimu- as Africa’s leadership in mobile phone lenges in Africa should be formulated late innovation, they must first avoid usages. solution neutral. This will enable the further investing in funding, and should emergence of creative ideas, which are instead focus on creating the adequate The following steps should be consid- the embryonic solutions whose potential framework conditions. There is suffi- ered to start building an innovation eco- impact can then be further analysed. It cient funding in the world looking for system which will have a better chance will also avoid that future innovation ef- productive investments, and if the con- to succeed in delivering results. forts are determined by tactical consid- ditions are right, it will flow to Africa erations.

23 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN Thinking the unthinkable. In fact, it can probably only be achieved scientific approach to all forms of risk Conditions of development cannot be through consistent and courageous requires consistent efforts from those in overcome by incremental, but rather by leadership, but one which is also sensi- government, business and science, to a radical approach, in order to achieve tive to the requirements of an innova- promote these values in the education trend mutation. This is not just a matter tion ecosystem functioning and to the systems and through the media and re- of catching up in sectors of high inno- continuously changing context. Leader- forms of rules and accountability. vation and rapid productivity growth, ship is often assumed in Europe, seldom where Africa is seriously lacking behind, developed, yet the complexity of ecosys- Implementation but also in traditional sectors, where tem steering requires doing so now. The relationship between different ad- there is often competitive advantage, ministrative units within government, and obviously in public governance, Change is necessary to move beyond a and between them in regional markets, whose policies and accumulation of culture of regulation and control and the different interfaces between politi- rules, often dating from pre-independ- towards a culture of mentoring and cians and civil servants, and finally but ence times, are the main cause of this coaching of all stakeholders. Steward- not least, the capacity problems, need lack of competitiveness. ship tools are more suited to promote urgent addressing in order to facilitate a culture of innovation and of change the emergence and functioning of an In any governance system, there is a among various actors than traditional innovation ecosystem. This requires risk that the established underlying command and control approaches. attention to ensure equal capabilities policy paradigms will dominate critical throughout governance systems and a re-examination in view of fundamental Ensuring coherence re-think of personnel policy to bring contextual shifts. Therefore, a zero- Coherence is a key ingredient to bring new qualities into public services. based approach is needed to respond cumulative effects in an innovation eco- to the paradigm shifts, and to chal- system. It demands an overall perspec- Evaluation lenge conventional wisdom about who tive, in particular in the early stage of Regular peer review, scrutiny of process should proceed how in order to achieve innovation development, when inertia and evaluation of achievements, or the results. The inter-relationship between and status quo approaches risk to un- lack of it by independent multi-stake- national, regional and municipal gov- dermine the need for radical new de- holder groups of experts, is essential to ernments, AU and regional institutions, partures. Therefore coherence cannot ensure firmness of purpose and agility business, and centres of knowledge, is be provided through traditional coordi- of methodologies. Experimenting with central to value creation. nation set-ups which usually serve only fundamentally new methods and aban- short term interest defence. doning or modifying programs when This will make it possible to clearly dis- In order to ensure a focus on the mega- they appear not to move fast enough to- tinguish the complementary roles of the issues determined during the assess- wards tangible results must be a full part various government levels in the inno- ment phase, to avoid their premature of an innovation ecosystem. vation ecosystem and new methods of absorption in policy-as-usual, and to steering and cooperation. The govern- create serendipity, experimental attitude Included in evaluation approaches must ance system designed to respond to the to reality and risk taking in the face of be tolerance for failure, provided the challenges of the post-war period was uncertainty, innovation must be steered right efforts have been made of course, greatly innovative, but it is in need of a centrally. It must be an overarching ob- because without some form of con- fearless re-design to facilitate the crea- jective to which all other must converge. trolled gambling there will be not suf- tion of an innovation ecosystem. This way, one can take useful inspira- ficient innovation. This will be a radical tion from the concept and work on re- departure from existing bureaucratic To achieve a higher degree of innova- gional market integration. culture, and requires strong leadership tiveness, there should be more clear dis- support, transparency and communica- tinction between governance functions Ensuring stakeholder engage- tion with stakeholders. which are essentially routine, and those ment where innovation is the priority. Inspi- To properly assess the paradigm shifts Evaluation is not only part of constant ration can be found in the functioning and align the various agendas, it is es- learning under circumstances of uncer- of other inter-state systems (e.g. EU, sential to involve the economic actors tainty; it also will help to develop a more ASEAN, and OECD) and may lead to alongside the centres of knowledge, be- constructive approach to risk manage- a greater diversification of governance cause they often possess an understand- ment in the broadest sense. Learning organisation and tools, even within in- ing of market needs, second to none. capacities and risk acceptance are ma- stitutions, depending on objectives and This demands the development of a jor characteristics of an innovation eco- competences. deliberation culture and tools which go system. They provide the basis for ad- beyond mechanistic stakeholder consul- justments and often lead to additional Strategic capability development tations in order to bring a shared vision innovativeness, hence to improve value In order to align the contrasting, open and cooperation during implementa- creation and competitive advantage. and hidden interests of stakeholders, tion. it is necessary to develop a learning mind-set. Therefore, cross-disciplinary However, research and centuries of ex- research and multi-experience inputs, perience have shown that there is a posi- *For Prof. Dr. Stefan Schepers work with the as well as open-mindedness and incen- tive correlation between a society’s de- EU, see www.highlevelgroup.eu. Prof. Dr. Ste- tives, and finally tolerant handling of gree of tolerance for the independent, fan Schepers is also chairman of the think tank failures, will be also necessary after the creative and entrepreneurial minded, Mazungumzo – the African Forum in Brus- assessment phase. and its economic success. Bringing a sels. See www.mazungumzo.eu

24 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN 25 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN PROMOTING APPLIED SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY IN AFRICA

Prof. Goolam Mohamedbhai Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Mauritius, former Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities, and consultant to the World Bank on PASET (Programme on Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology)

In 2012, the World Bank launched the Partnership in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Tech- nology (PASET), an initiative for skills development in applied sciences over the whole spectrum of education – from technical and vocational training (TVET) to higher education, research and innovation – through partnerships between Sub-Saharan African countries and identified Partner countries such as Brazil, China, India, Japan and Korea, which are already making significant invest- ments in Africa.

Background series of consultations with nine the Partner countries. The Afri- identified proposals. African countries in the first half can countries present agreed on of 2013 enabled an assessment a number of follow-up actions: Follow-Up of existing engagements in those a) obtain support for the PASET Over the period February-April African countries by the Partner initiative in their respective coun- 2014, follow-up consultations countries and helped the Afri- tries from stakeholders beyond the were held with eight of the African can countries to frame proposals education sector, such as the min- countries present in Addis Ababa A for further engagements with the istries of finance and economic (Ethiopia, Liberia, Mozambique, Partner countries. development, and the private Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan sector; b) ensure greater coordi- and Tanzania) to assess progress Addis Ababa Workshop nation between higher education made on action plans presented The results of this first phase of and TVET, which usually operate and commitments made at the PASET were presented at a work- under different ministries; c) col- workshop. A couple of the coun- shop held in Addis Ababa in July lect and create a database of all tries were unable to consult the 2013, which brought together S&T engagements with the Part- key stakeholders and several of high-level representatives from ner countries; and d) follow-up them reported that creating a na- the African countries as well as with Partner countries on specific tional consultative body proved

26 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN to be difficult. Coordination between source development, making it difficult higher education and TVET was also a to identify projects of interest to Partner Dakar Workshop and Call for Ac- challenge, which made it difficult to im- countries. In Malawi, TVET fell under tion plement a national strategy covering the several ministries – labour, youth and In June 2014, a PASET workshop was whole education sector. All countries education – making coordination within convened in Dakar, Senegal where rep- found setting up a central database of that sector difficult. resentatives of the African and Partner engagements and S&T activities to be countries, as well as other stakeholders, a major challenge, one constraint being What came out clearly was that Part- including the private sector, met to take the difficulty in deciding where such a ner countries were providing significant stock of the findings so far and to plan database should be located. And a cou- infrastructural development support to the way forward. The main outcome ple of the countries failed to develop the African countries. China was build- was the Dakar Call to Action, an ambi- clear, specific proposals for considera- ing a new S&T University and a Techni- tious commitment to various stakehold- tion by the Partner countries. cal College in Malawi, as well as a Tech- ers: Sub-Saharan African countries and nical Training College in Cameroon. their higher education, research and But there were also several success sto- Japan had helped to build a bio-medical TVET institutions; Partner countries ries. Senegal, for example, which had laboratory for controlling the quality of from the South and their investment held its major national consultation drugs in Burkina Faso, and it was also firms; technical and financial partners prior to the Addis Ababa workshop, had planning to set up a Teacher Training that have cooperation programmes with developed a well-focused plan of creat- College in Malawi. Korea had built sev- countries and institutions in Africa; and ing a University of Agriculture and a eral TVET centres in Cameroon. the African Business Champions for Virtual University, and had approached Science, a new initiative that aims to China and Korea, respectively, for Priority Areas and Clustering better connect business and scientific funding. Nigeria had set up a Presiden- The thirteen African countries con- communities in Africa. tial Committee to develop a strategy to sulted were specifically asked to identify valorise its TVET sector. Rwanda used priority areas for targeting their engage- In the Call to Action, the participants an existing consultation forum involv- ments with Partner countries. The pri- committed to work towards achieving ing all ministries and other stakehold- ority areas identified by the countries the following medium-term objectives ers to share information on PASET; were: agriculture, ICT and construction in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next ten it had also set up employer-led Sector (10 countries); mining (9); energy (7); years: training of 10,000 new PhD hold- Skills Councils involving all stakehold- health (6); manufacturing (5); and tour- ers through an African regional scholar- ers in identified priority sectors, and ism (4). The consultations also revealed ship programme; doubling the number had contacted China, Korea and India that Partner countries were funding the of students in ASET programmes in at to support its initiatives. Tanzania had African countries in several of these pri- least ten countries; creation of five re- consulted different ministries and the ority areas. A way forward, therefore, gional TVET centres of excellence for private sector and had identified train- could be for the Partner countries to training TVET faculty; development of ing of science teachers as its topmost provide a more focussed support to Af- a regional quality assurance mechanism priority; it was also in the process of rican countries grouped in priority clus- for ASET programmes; and establish- approaching China for the creation of ter areas, especially as clustering would ment of data systems and benchmark- a University of Agriculture, and Korea promote regional collaboration, a key ing of ASET programmes and institu- for equipping the four TVET Centres objective of PASET. Some possible clus- tions in at least ten countries. that Korea had built. ters could be: To implement these objectives, it was Additional African Countries Agriculture: China is providing support also agreed in Dakar to create: an Ex- Over the same period in 2014, consul- to Senegal and Tanzania in putting up ecutive Steering Committee comprising tations were held with an additional an Agricultural University; Brazil has mainly of selected African policy mak- group of African countries to assess several higher education projects in ag- ers and representatives of the World their engagements with Partner coun- riculture, mostly in Mozambique but Bank; a Consultative Advisory Group tries. These countries were: Angola, also in Sudan; and a long-standing col- of relevant experts to advise on the Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi and laboration in agricultural research exists implementation of the plan; working Zambia. Several of the challenges iden- between Burkina Faso and India. groups as required to design and devel- tified earlier in the first group of coun- op tools and programmes for the vari- tries were also found in these countries. ICT: Korea is planning to help create a ous initiatives; and a Partners Forum to Angola, with its specific post-war situa- Virtual University in Senegal as well as meet regularly to take stock of progress tion, had hardly any engagement with a College of Open and Distance Learn- and propose further development. The the Partner countries, except for some ing in Rwanda; India and China also Executive Steering Committee and the scholarships from Brazil and India, have ICT projects in Africa. Consultative Advisory Committee have most of which were awarded directly already been constituted and prelimi- without going through the government TVET: Korea supports the TVET nary meetings have been held. system. An interesting situation in An- sector in five SADC countries under gola is that the foreign oil/gas compa- the Better Education for Africa Rise The PASET initiative can become an nies are funding local higher education (BEAR) project; China, India and Ja- important tool in the Post-2015 Devel- programmes in various areas, not just in pan also support TVET in several Af- opment Agenda for Africa, helping to oil/gas related subjects. rican countries, and the TVET could transform economies for jobs and inclu- specifically target the construction sec- sive growth and to forge global partner- In Malawi and Burkina Faso there were tor, an identified priority sector for most ships. no national plans for skills or human re- countries.

27 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN CLOUD COMPUTING THE NEXT IT INNOVATION IN AFRICA

By Shiyghan Navti

Africa is well positioned for the next wave of technology innovation where IT services are instantly available to end users on request. Improving and maturing Internet connectivity presents a significant opportunity for African businesses and technology entrepreneurs. Applications and services which were previously inaccessible due to a lack of locally available skills or the need for significant up-front investment in infrastructure, can be made more accessible on a pay-as-you-go business model, with IT services delivered over the Internet.

2828 THETHE AFRICAN AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN TECHNOPOLITAN frica is well positioned for the next media and entertainment. For a lo- ing cloud services. According to the wave of technology innovation where cal cloud computing based economy survey: IT services are instantly available to to thrive, a basic investment in data end users on request. Improving and centre infrastructure is needed. Some • 74% of respondents say the cloud maturing Internet connectivity pre- African countries are in the process of has given them a competitive ad- sents a significant opportunity for building data centers capable of de- vantage. African businesses and technology livering cloud services. A entrepreneurs. Applications and ser- • 61% say it has increased employee vices which were previously inacces- While cloud computing holds a lot of productivity. sible due to a lack of locally available promise in Africa, it also faces adop- skills or the need for significant up- tion challenges. Chief among these is • 71% say the cloud reduces com- front investment in infrastructure, can weak or lack of a regulatory frame- plexity within their business. be made more accessible on a pay-as- work governing the delivery of cloud you-go business model, with IT ser- services, particularly the protection • 41% named agility as their prima- vices delivered over the Internet. of sensitive and personal identifiable ry driver for adopting cloud. information. Many African countries In some parts of Africa, this business do not have local data protection leg- • 65% say cloud doesn’t adversely model, which is commonly referred islation or cross-border agreements affect security. to as “cloud computing”, is already that facilitate the exchange of sensi- being adopted as a way of overcom- tive and personal identifiable infor- • 36% say it actually increases secu- ing IT infrastructure deficiencies. Ac- mation. In order to accelerate the rity. cording to the International Telecom- growth of cloud computing services munications Union (ITU) more than in enterprise organizations, African In Africa, the mobile can be used to 50% of ICT operators in Africa have governments need to put in place enable the delivery of cloud based IT begun to implement or are already data protection legislation as well as services to every citizen. As with the using cloud computing. The cloud is codes of conduct governing the han- communication infrastructure gap no longer an emerging business mod- dling of data and personal identifia- that led to the rapid adoption of wire- el. It is essential. ble information across borders. Cloud less mobile services in Africa, the de- computing in Africa needs to be built livery of public cloud computing ser- Cloud computing optimizes the use on a solid legal and policy framework, vices will initially be largely accessed of scarce resources by consolidat- in order to inspire confidence in wide- via mobile devices. Over the next few ing what is available into a resource spread domestic and foreign use of years, we predict that as broadband pool which is efficiently allocated to cloud services. penetration improves, cloud comput- users based on their needs. This ap- ing will take centre stage as Africa’s proach to IT service delivery is set for Besides questions of data security, technological innovation platform of a major take off in Africa, provided privacy and ethics, cloud computing the twenty-first century. certain enabling measures are put in also comes with the risk of loss of IT place. Although a large segment of jobs. Many believe cloud comput- The ITU has identified the need for the IT user community experience ing is synonymous with moving IT better understanding of the cloud en- cloud services though public cloud services to an overseas public cloud vironment and technical considera- service providers such as IBM, Mi- infrastructure, resulting in reduced tions related to the delivery of cloud crosoft, Google and Amazon, uptake local employment. However, by cloud services. To ensure rapid adoption of of cloud has been largely driven by enabling new levels of business agility, cloud services, a regulatory environ- internal enterprise adoption. Many cloud computing can create employ- ment that adheres to international enterprises are exploring or preparing ment opportunities beyond the IT standards of data protection and data to introduce this new business model. sector. security is key, along with the avail- Studies by the International Telecom- ability of local efficient datacenters, munications Union have shown that A 2014 report by Harvard Business services and applications that address banking and the educational sectors Review Analytic Services “Business the needs of African businesses. Fi- are potential early adopters of cloud Agility in the Cloud” (http://www. nally, the development of local cloud computing. However, significant op- verizonenterprise.com/resources/ computing skills, research and devel- portunities for cloud computing also media/large-134784-hbr.xml) found opment on the continent will also be exist across government, in retail, that 70% of organizations were us- critical.

Dr. Shiyghan Navti is the Africa Cloud Ambassador for the Cloud Credential Council, a founding member and Director of the Africa 2.0 Foundation. Prior to founding Tech Equity Ltd, Dr Navti led the IBM Europe private cloud technical sales business and the IBM Africa expansion strategy. Tech Equity has delivered services in the US, UK, Germany, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique and the UAE.

29 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN DON’T MAKE OUR HISTORY A FARCE! REFLECTIONS OF A YOUNG CARIBBEAN TRADE ANALYST By Yentyl Williams

From left to right: Karine Lubambu (DRC), Neema Toyb (Comoros Islands), Miriam Poretti (Cameroun) and Yentyl Williams (Trinidad and Tobago, UK) at the 2014 WTO Public Forum in Geneva.

Having taken an early plane from the heart of the EU in Brussels, and arrived promptly an hour and a half later for the opening session of 2014 WTO Public Forum (or WTO #PF2014 – as was the twitter hash tag), I immediately felt suffocated from the hot and crowded plenary room. As I leaned against the only space of wall possible next to the entrance, I could not help but feel a very strong sense of deja vu. Except I hadn’t been here before, neither had I personally witnessed WTO debates first-hand, but I had read of so many like them, which ended up being more of a discussion than producing any concrete outcomes, one in which rhetoric would prevail over concretely impacting realities.

left the room as I felt a prickly heat run over me and headed for the nearest water dis- penser. After one cup of water, I took the second to a comfortable looking sofa nearby. A young African guy was far too absorbed on his smart phone to notice I’d joined the other side and I was happy that I didn’t catch his attention. I sat back, drank the water and breathed calmly as I mentally prepared myself for the coming two days of continu- ous debate on trade and Africa. When I felt good enough to return to the room, I found the young lady that had shared her piece of wall with me earlier on. She was sat in I between the two door entrance to the plenary room and I decided to join her there. We

30 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN immediately began chatting and within staying in Geneva’s most expensive ho- and the opportunities of the agreement the space of a few minutes, it seemed tel and invited me for a drink. Unim- whether we like it or not. This fait ac- like we’d been friends for years. pressed, I took his card, smiled and con- compli was not our choice but we shall tinued a more intellectually stimulating inherit it and embrace it as if we con- Our conversation dived straight in at conversation with my new friend. As we ceived it. But because our eyes and our the deep end, life and politics, trade were talking, again we were interrupted, ears have been wide open, because we and underdevelopment, inequality this time by a young woman whose face ourselves are products of trade and de- and integration, the job market, youth looked familiar. She asked us a practical velopment, we don’t want to make our unemployment. Neema, was a young question about the building, and then history a farce. Once a tragedy, twice a woman from the Comoros islands with the embarrassment on her face said that farce. EU Trade Commissioner Karel a brilliant smile and great aura. We au- she mistook us for WTO building staff, de Gucht recognised that the EU-ACP tomatically connected as I knew her sto- she smiled and shuddered away, as we preferential system has not worked, and ry and she knew mine. Young diaspora both knew that we’d met before in her many development officials concur with with few connections to the top echelons professional environment, the European this trade point of view. There is no of the international cities that we were Commission. guarantee that the EPAs will work, and implanted in struggling to pay our rent if we look at the Caribbean case which each month and struggling to enjoy Meetings aside, how was I to know that is five years senior to the new African our youth at the beginning of our pro- this simple meeting beyond any fancy EPAs, we can see that implementation grand session between ministers or was slow and so the agreement is thus CEOs was going to be the most fruitful far substantially superficial. We don’t of my time at the WTO. And impor- want to relive failed history and we tantly, an experience which taught me a don’t want history to repeat itself - we lifelong lesson. We often seek what is big have lived the tragedy and we will not and grand, to be included on the world put our efforts into a farce. We, the young stage, for the attention of the room, but all too often, we fail to look at what is I left WTO with a smile, glad with the diaspora generation right beside us. We often overlook our individual friendships I had made with neighbour who can be our best friend several young African diaspora. I felt a have seen the whole because we have our eyes fixed straight much more liberating feel than when thing unravel with our ahead at the stage, we often pay great I first entered the previous day. I feel importance to the words of esteemed that our generation will not allow his- double-hatted ability to strangers with impressive positions, and tory to repeat itself, young Africans neglect those who swim along the tide want change and the diaspora will join understand both sides beside us. this evolutionary process. We won’t be a of negotiations, both farce but we shall make history. Sometimes, striving ahead, we don’t cultural tendencies and look around. This can equally be said of the African regions that are now sign- eventually, both points ing Economic Partnership Agreements of view. under the pressure of deadlines. We can Yentyl Williams is regional Trade Re- equally say that these African countries searcher at the Technical Centre for Agriculture didn’t spend enough time to look, learn and Rural Cooperation (CTA). Prior to joining and listen with their regional partners, CTA, Yentyl worked as an independent consult- until an exogenous force, the EU, forced ant pioneering research on the subject of ‘TTIP: them to. What implications for Africa?’ She also worked fessional careers in new cities we were on competition policy and internet governance at at pains to discover because of budget Who is to blame? There shouldn’t be Burson Marsteller, and on the Economic Part- constraints. pointing of fingers but we should learn nership Agreements with the African, Caribbean now and learn quickly. We, the young and Pacific states at the Directorate General of While we were getting on like a house diaspora generation have seen the Trade in the European Commission. Yentyl is on fire, a diplomat from a country that whole thing unravel with our double- a graduate of King’s College London, Sciences shall remain nameless, decided to in- hatted ability to understand both sides Po Paris and post-graduate of the College of troduce himself and as we talked, he of negotiations, both cultural tenden- Europe, Bruges. She has researched, published quickly directed the conversation to cies and eventually, both points of view. and travelled widely in the African and Carib- my after-Forum activities. And without bean regions, and is a national of Trinidad and hesitation, he modestly said that he was We have to deal with both the challenges Tobago and the UK.

Editor’s Note: On October 3, 2014, ACTS convened a Session at the 2014 WTO Public Forum in Geneva. The entire Audio Podcast of the Session - An Empirical Analysis of the Future of Africa’s Trade Relations with Europe and the US - is available here: http://www.wto.org/audio/pf14_session26.mp3; http://www.acts-net.org/media-centre/podcast

31 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN THE TRANS- ATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP WHAT IMPLICATIONS FOR AFRICA? By Yentyl Williams The Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) currently being negotiated by the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (US) has direct implications for Africa’s economic transformation. TTIP represents the largest bilateral trade agreement in history; insofar as the nations of the African continent have significant trade relations with both the EU and the US, the continent’s leaders should aim to harness African economic development and mitigate the harm that would arise from merely resting on the sidelines of this potentially historic agreement.

Learning from history and being driven by challenges

The historicity of trans-Atlantic relations should not be Our reality today is evidence of this historic power that forgotten. Indeed, recalling the dominant role of the established the post-War World War II multilateral insti- transatlantic powers of the West in history, should inform tutions for international economic cooperation, including and empower endogenous policy-making on the African the Bretton Woods system (the International Monetary continent. The power of the Atlantic does lie in the size of Fund (IMF) and World Bank group) and the World Trade Tthe EU and US markets – accounting for one third of in- Organization (WTO). As history repeats itself – just like ternational trade, half of world GDP – and other formal the 1999 Seattle WTO protests, the recent European Citi- measures of comparative economic weight. But the power zen’s Initiative (ECI) to ‘Stop TTIP’ and the European of the Atlantic is also one of ideology. Conviction andg- Commission being inundated with official stakeholder lobalisation of this ideology has been used as benchmarks consultations to the extent that the database crashed – for global standards, most prominently fixating Africa there is already much evidence of the endogenous rejec- within a still frame of poverty and underdevelopment. tion of TTIP in the EU and US.

32 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN How does TTIP affect Africa? pressive rates, at 4% compared to 3% should be the heart at which economi- Firstly, TTIP can impact the image and globally,[ii] can it not rise to the chal- cally sustainable decisions are taken, reality of ‘Africa rising’. While the EU lenge of becoming a 21st century trad- prioritizing equitable human develop- and the US are the negotiating par- ing power? Yes. But this will require ment and the protection of the planet. ties to TTIP, their weight on the world discarding outdated models of devel- Holistic, evidenced-based policy-mak- scene, not merely economically, but opment and being bold about policy ing can benefit all policy-makers world- also politically and socially, can wield reform at the international, regional wide. However, arrogance and failure to monumental impact beyond these two and national levels. It will also require learn from history merely allows history regions. It may impact both endogenous prioritizing investments in national and to repeat itself to the detriment of hu- policy-making and the much needed ex- regional production through a wide man and ecological evolution. ogenous image-change of the continent. range of economic tools, including in- On the latter, exogenously, the image fant industry protection and additional Appropriating 21st century op- of Africa must catch-up with the real- regulation – all of which might be con- portunities and challenges ity of the fast-paced, entrepreneurial strained by TTIP, as well Africa’s own TTIP is merely the most prominent and dynamic continent that Africa has trade agreements with the EU and the amongst a list of so-called mega-re- become. On the former, endogenously, US. Enhancing intra-regional Afri- gional trade agreements (MRTA) be- African people and African leaders can trade is the first foundation upon ing carved out internationally. If Africa must lead this change. In this regard, which African nations can compete in is ever going to punch its weight in the the strong geopolitical motivations and an increasingly globalized world, where world, it has got to be now or never. global standards-setting goals of TTIP trade rules. Africa can no longer afford Efforts must be coordinated to foster will either be a stumbling block or build- to be reactionary; the result of inaction and accelerate African regional inte- ing block for the holistic transformation is too costly. At the WTO, inter alia, Af- gration. After all, if Africa is ready to of the African continent. rican countries must unite. enter into free trade agreements with the EU, surely Africa should be ready Secondly, and intrinsic to the first point, As a young observer of international to trade more freely with itself. Moving TTIP can impact Africa’s international relations, optimism is built in the face on from a history of development and trade relations. The EU and the US of numerous failures. Former Euro- under-development requires breaking remain Africa’s main trading partners, pean Commissioners of DG Trade with the past and appropriating 21st while each region maintains different recognized the failed economic history century opportunities. One of those trade and preference schemes with Af- of the EU and its ex-colonies, grouped opportunities is greater intra-African rican nations. By way of existing trade together as the African, Caribbean and trade and enhanced regional integra- agreements, African products would Pacific (ACP) states.[iii] The Economic tion. Harnessing the benefits of greater face increased competition with either Partnership Agreements (EPA) have intra-African trade puts Africa as a con- EU or US exports within the transat- been promoted as a response to change tinent on a better footing to harness the lantic market place.[i] African products this history, but in over 12 years of ne- potential benefits that may be reaped would also face higher compliance costs, gotiations, a hash of agreements – in- from the EU-Africa EPAs, or the US which could in theory have the positive cluding the interim EPAs and one full African Growth and Opportunity Act effect of raising standards of African EPA which is yet to be ratified by all (AGOA) as currently constituted. Few exports and products in general or in national parliaments – is revealing that things could accelerate Africa’s eco- practice undermine the competitiveness relations are still wrought with tension. nomic transformation faster than deep- of African products and services in both Thisincludes continued internal institu- er and faster regional integration within markets. tional infighting at the EU level.[iv] The the continent. Not only do the African unfinished story of the EPAs surely does peoples and diaspora deserve it, but the Herein lies the case for African ‘agency’ undermine continued obedience and world deserves Africa playing its part on or ‘strategic interest’ in the TTIP nego- loyalty to the straitjacket of neoliberal the international scene. A more region- tiations. Depending onthe final legal, economic policies. This history under- ally integrated Africa is much better economic and development provisions, scores a trichotomous failure of eco- placed to play this role. given Africa’s trade agreements with nomics, development and trade policy both the EU and the US, TTIP can between the EU and the ACP states. In Yentyl Williams is regional Trade Re- have either positive or negative impli- light of the 2015 expiry of the current searcher at the Technical Centre for Agriculture cations for Africa’s development – or US African Growth and Opportunity and Rural Cooperation (CTA). Prior to joining indeed,a hash of both. The fundamen- Act (AGOA), it may not be far-fetched CTA, Yentyl worked as an independent consult- tal challenge for TTIP negotiators and to imagine the US promoting the adop- ant pioneering research on the subject of ‘TTIP: African policy makers is thereforethree- tion of similar EPA style agreements What implications for Africa?’ She also worked fold: How to translate potential benefits with African nations. on competition policy and internet governance at of TTIP into real benefits globally, es- Burson Marsteller, and on the Economic Part- pecially with regards Africa’s develop- Forcing developing states to open their nership Agreements with the African, Caribbean ment? How to mitigate the negative markets regardless of their develop- and Pacific states at the Directorate General of development impacts of TTIP? How to ment, trade and financial needs does Trade in the European Commission. Yentyl is elevate Africa from rules and standards- bring into question the ethics of the a graduate of King’s College London, Sciences taking to being a veritable global trade dominant logic of international trade. Po Paris and post-graduate of the College of player? The current state of play of the Doha Europe, Bruges. She has researched, published Round, like the feet dragging witnessed and travelled widely in the African and Carib- Harnessing African growth and with the EPAs, is critical evidence that bean regions, and is a national of Trinidad and delivering beyond past failures something is not right in international Tobago and the UK. As Africa continues to grow at im- relations. International institutions

33 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN ‘‘ONLY THE BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR AFRICA’’

THE PORTRAIT OF AN AFRICAN SCIENTIST

Dr. Cosmas Milton Obote Ochieng Executive Director, ACTS Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir Aggrey (1875 – 1927) or ‘Aggrey of Africa’, a Ghanaian- African-American scholar, remains one of Africa’s foremost thinkers and educationists. Co-founder of Achimota College, Ghana, he held two doctorates (one from Columbia, another from Hood Theological Seminary), two Masters Degrees (Columbia and Livingstone College), several diplomas, and was first in most of the examinations he took. Not surprisingly, he held that ‘‘only the best is good enough for Africa’’.

he purpose of university education in easily pass the test. There are few reward science, technology, innova- Africa, he argued, should be to fos- world class laboratories or ‘Big Sci- tion and merit is the best to ensure ter ‘‘original thinking, encourage re- ence’ projects without African scien- that the continent not only makes the search, help to add to human knowl- tists or scientists of African descent – most of its own talents but also in- edge’’. Making the case for harnessing CERN, NASA, Los Alamos, name it. creases its odds of making the most Tof applications of science, technology This suggests that a key constraint to of the available global talent pool. and innovation for African develop- Africa’s development is lack of effec- ment, he continued ‘‘we of West Af- tive organizational and institutional Tapping into the vast pool of Africa’s rica have proved that we can get the leadership across sectors: academia; expertise is a no brainer. Make no classics, theology and philosophy. We public and private sectors, civil soci- mistake: such expertise exists in num- are past masters in jurisprudence and ety and the media. bers sufficient for the task. To exclude dialectics. the very best of what Africa has to of- To accelerate its economic develop- fer, in the toughest challenge for the The question is, can we turn such ment, the continent will have to find continent since decolonization, argu- knowledge more and more into the ways to tap into the vast pool of ex- ably since the 1500s, is insanity per- service of the common weal? Can we ceptionally talented and gifted Af- sonified. That was not the approach give back with interest what we have ricans, many, but by no means all, that the continent followed in its suc- received? I believe, we can. It is for currently living outside the continent. cessful decolonization movement. It University Education to prove what This will require policy and institu- is simply not a winning development scientific training can do’’. tional incentives that celebrate, at- strategy. tract and reward excellence, ambition Aggrey of Africa made these state- and expertise. The Ethiopian ‘Yellow Here, we profile three African scien- ments at the beginning of the 20th Card Programme’ extended to per- tists who are blazing the trail in three century. He would be horrified to see sons of Ethiopian descent who ac- different fields: what has become of many an African quired nationality of other countries university, government or nation-state is a good model. Focusing on the dias- • Prof. Babatunde Ogunnaike, an ex- in the 21st century. Virtually no Afri- pora has become increasingly popular pert in control and systems theory; can university, government or nation- with many African governments – no state today can pass what might be doubt due to the huge remittances as- • Dr. Tilaye Tadesse Asfaw, an astro- called ‘The Aggrey of Africa Test’: sociated with the diaspora. It is good physicist with NASA, ‘‘only the Best is Good Enough for policy. Africa’’. Governance by exclusion, • Mr. Moses Gichanga, a drones for corruption, incompetence, and lack Nonetheless, the fundamental ques- development technology innova- of ambition have combined to ensure tion of brain drain in Africa is not one tor. that few African organizations can of how to get the African diaspora to pass this test. participate effectively in the conti- Their individual stories reinforce the nent’s socio-economic and political overall argument of this Magazine: While African organizations and in- development (for the most part, they Africa has the expertise or the abil- stitutions might have a difficult time already do), rather, it is why so many ity to access the expertise needed for passing the test, many individual Afri- qualified Africans feel compelled to its economic development. What it can scientists, scholars, writers, artists, leave the continent in the first place. needs to do is to find the political will industrialists, inventors, innovators, Creating local conditions (social, eco- and business model for harnessing farmers and human rights activists nomic, political, etc) that value and that expertise.

34 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN PROFILE Prof Babatunde Ogunnaike

Prof. Babatunde Ayodeji Ogunnaike is the William L. Friend Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engi- neering at the University of Delaware. He is an American Chemical Engineer of Nigerian descent. He was born in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, Nigeria and attended the Univer- sity of Lagos, graduating with First Class Honours in Chemical engineering in 1976. He also holds an M.Sc. in Statistics and a PhD in Chemical engineering both from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Prof. Babatunde’s research focuses on modelling and control September 2002, was the Technology Leader of the Process of industrial processes (polymer reactors, extruders, distilla- Control group. While at DuPont, he pioneered the develop- tion columns); identification and control of nonlinear systems; ment and implementation of model predictive control (MPC), the application of process analytical technology for control of nonlinear state estimation, nonlinear control, and product pharmaceutical processes; the interaction of process design quality control for industrial polymerization and granulation and process operability; applied statistics; biological control processes. He joined the faculty of the University of Delaware systems for process applications; and systems biology with ap- in 2002 and became the Dean of the College of Engineering plication to neuronal responses and cancer. He is the author in July 2011. He has been a visiting professor at the African of many journal articles and books including Process Dynam- University of Science and Technology, Abuja. ics, Modelling and Control (Oxford University Press, 1994) and Random Phenomena: Fundamentals of Probability and Prof. Ogunnaike is the recipient of several awards includ- Statistics for Engineers (CRC Press, 2009). He has been As- ing: American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) sociate Editor of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics 1998 Computing and Systems Technology (CAST) Division’s Engineers’ (IEEE) Transactions on Control Systems Technol- Computing Practice Award; University of Delaware’s Col- ogy and of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. lege of Engineering Excellence in Teaching award (2004); 2007 Instrument Society of America’s Donald P. Eckman He was a Research Engineer with the Process Control group Education Award (2007) and American Automatic Control of the Shell Development Corporation in Houston, Texas Council’s Control Engineering Practice Award (2008). He is from 1981 to 1982. From 1982 to 1988, he was first lecturer a Fellow of the following professional bodies: American Insti- and later Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos. He tute of Chemical Engineers, American Statistical Association, joined DuPont’s Central Research & Development Depart- American Association for the Advancement of Science and ment in 1989, becoming a Research Fellow in 1995, and until American National Academy of Engineering.

ACTS Executive Director, Dr. Cosmas Milton Obote Ochieng interviewed Prof. Babatunde Ogunnaike for the African Technopolitan.

AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN: PROF. OGUNNAIKE: products with consistent product qual- Hello Prof. Ogunnaike. We are In the most general sense, “Control and ity in the face of changing atmospheric very pleased to explore the ap- Systems Theory” is an interdisciplinary conditions and varying raw materials. plication of science, technology branch of engineering concerned with Automatic control systems are responsi- and innovation to Africa’s devel- the design, analysis, and implementa- ble for rocket and missile guidance, the opment with one of the world’s tion of systems that enable the opera- cruise control in automobiles, and even leading experts on control and tion of complex processes (such as refin- the hard drives on our computers, and systems theory. How would you eries, or other manufacturing processes), in our CD players. It is also very impor- describe control and systems complex machines and equipment (such tant to note that physiological life as we theory, and what do you see as its as airplanes, automobiles, and even know it will not be possible without con- potential applications in social, rockets) consistently at desired operat- trol systems inherent in physiological economic and sustainable devel- ing conditions. For example, process systems. The human immune systems is opment in Africa? control systems enable refineries and an example of an exquisite physiologi- chemical manufacturing processes to cal control system that helps us maintain operate at safe conditions and generate good health in the face of ever-present

35 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN pathogens. The nervous system, with AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN: its implication for development, and if the brain as the central computer, is the How would you enhance Africa’s we are patient in sustaining this effort ultimate physiological control system capacity to harness applications over the long haul, I am certain that by which we are able to walk, breathe, of science, technology and in- we will start to see results by and by. and carry out both external and inter- novation for sustainable devel- South Korea and India are the perfect nal activities that support life. In fact, opment and what do you see as examples of what such a strategy can many diseases arise as a consequence of the key to promoting STEM (sci- produce. the failure of one or more physiological ence, technology, engineering and control systems. For example, diabetes mathematics) development in Af- Before I leave this subject, I would like arises as a result of a malfunctioning rica? to sound a bit of a warning. Many in the blood glucose control system; hyperten- developed world are (justifiably) empha- sion is the failure of the blood pressure PROF. OGUNNAIKE: We need to sizing STEM education. This is good, control system. Consequently, the ap- start our students early by introduc- but we should not do so to the exclusion plications of control are broad, extend- ing them to the concepts of the grand of the arts and humanities. Developing ing into many areas including manufac- challenges facing the African continent technically sound (and even financially turing, electronics, transportation, and and indeed the world at large, and then viable) solutions to problems facing medicine, just to name a few. show them how developed nations have mankind is good, but such solutions are hitherto approached their own chal- ultimately bound to fall short without AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN: lenges. We need to encourage our stu- incorporating a social component to What led you to focus your dents to be innovative in their thinking. these technical solutions. By all means, research in this area? Is this an To enable this, we need to provide them let us train our students in STEM, but area in which Africa (i.e. African with the opportunity to “tinker”. I do not at the expense of sociology and the universities) has the capacity to not subscribe to the notion that only a humanities. To be successful, scientists focus its research and applica- “select few” can learn STEM subject. and engineers must know how to com- tions of that research for socio- I agree that the truly gifted in these municate well; they must also under- economic development? areas will be relatively few in number, stand some of the not-so-algorithmic but with good teaching, everyone can and predictable characteristics of the PROF. OGUNNAIKE: That I focused understand the basic principles. To human being. my research in this area was simply for- maximize our chances for success, we tuitous. When I was completing my need to find the truly gifted and provide AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN: Bachelor’s degree at the University of them with special advanced and chal- You have been a visiting profes- Lagos in 1976, my undergraduate thesis lenging training, but we need to ensure sor at the African University of advisor, Professor Ayodele F. Ogunye, that such a programme truly serves the Science and Technology in Abuja, encouraged me to go to graduate school gifted and not just another programme Nigeria (AIST). What are your and to work in this area. I listened to that the rich and powerful will co-opt thoughts on the general concept his advice and in actual fact, I ended for their children. of AUST? Is it a viable vehicle to- up carrying out my PhD thesis work at wards the creation of an African the University of Wisconsin—Madi- While it is important to teach funda- MIT? son, under the supervision of Professor mental principles of each subject, it is W. Harmon Ray, whose very first PhD just as important to engage students in PROF. OGUNNAIKE: No one can or student ever happened to be the afore- unsolved problems and to provide the should expect to reproduce the achieve- mentioned Professor Ogunye! students with hands on experiences. ments of MIT, or even the IITs in India, We need to engage our students early simply by blindly copying what these As to whether this is a good area for Af- in STEM fields and let them know that folks did for their respective countries rican universities to consider focusing within these subject matters lie the se- back in the day. However, we can learn on, the answer is not so straightforward. crets to solving some of the nagging from these historically successful enter- On one hand, a significant portion of problems faced not just by Africa but prises and evolve a similar system of the work in this area is theoretical— by the world at large. We also need to higher education that is customized to which means that to contribute to the find and train dedicated teachers who fit our continent, and which will there- field does not require a lot of sophisti- can inspire this next generation. From fore enable us to address the unique cated equipment. This may make the my memories of growing up in Nigeria challenges posed by our uniquely Afri- theoretical aspect of the work attractive learning Mathematics, Physics, Chem- can problems. for African universities who may not istry and Biology, African students are have access to sophisticated and expen- just as bright and just as gifted as any As such, the concept of the AUST in sive equipment. However, there is an other student in the world. I went to Abuja and its other sister institutions is aspect of this work that requires practi- school in Nigeria with some of the most a sound one. The objective is that these cal implementation. intelligent students I have ever met any- institutions will become a place where where in the world. we train the next generation of scientists Whatever the case, Control & Systems and engineers to tackle the problems Theory as a research area plays a sig- The various national governments in facing Africa today and in the future. nificant role in finding solutions to many the continent need to invest in the de- of the technologies needed to address livery of high quality STEM education, AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN: such pressing problems as water, power, because nothing will happen if there is What do you see as the role of and health care. no infrastructure. Once we turn stu- science and technology coopera- dents on to the potential of STEM and tion, particularly between Africa

36 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN and the US, in increasing Africa’s access to vital made. Access to a quality education should not be just for applications of science, technology and innovation the wealthy; in fact, without broad access to quality education for development? How might Africa best leverage across the entire spectrum of society, no nation will succeed not just the technological capabilities of advanced in the 21st century. economies but also of the African diaspora or sci- entists of African descent? AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN: If you had an opportunity to share your thoughts PROF. OGUNNAIKE: I believe that for Africa to reach its and ideas on the development of science, technology full potential, it will be essential that we have “all hands on and innovation with an African leader, what would deck”. First, we can benefit significantly by forging collabora- you say? tive and cooperative relationships with the developed world. Africans in the diaspora (in these developed countries) have PROF. OGUNNAIKE: It will be too easy to point to all a huge role to play in catalyzing and facilitating such rela- the missteps and ineffectiveness of many African leaders of tionships. In the end, every person of goodwill interested in the past. This is not likely to be productive. Instead, I will seeing sustainable development in the African continent must appeal to the leaders to learn from the mistakes of the past join hands and strive for this singular purpose. and then learn from the successes of other nations, especially South Korea, and to an extent India. But for any suggestion I am not sure why, but there seems to be elements of a low- to have any chance of successful implementation, there has to grade mutual tension of sorts between the Africans that be a genuine soul-searching by each leader. In the end, each “stayed at home” and the ones who, for one reason or the leader needs to make up his or her mind that the time has other, had to leave the shores of Africa to go into the dias- come to put everything else aside and focus on doing lasting pora. Whatever the lingering problems, we all need to realize good of the nations they lead. that things will not change unless people make them change, and, like it or not, one group by itself cannot implement the That said, African leaders need to understand that (a) Afri- changes necessary without the other. This reminds me of a cans are just as talented and naturally intelligent as anyone proverb that I suspect exists in one form or the other in many else in the world; and (b) that education in general, but STEM African languages: “If you want to go fast, walk alone; if you education in particular, provides the best opportunity for rap- want to go far, walk with a group”. There is ancient wisdom id development; and (c) that without good, selfless, and in- in these words: if we want to go far as a continent, we have spirational leadership, African nations will never reach their to work together, all of us—those at home and those abroad. potential. The groups complement each other. Much of what I have said earlier is what I will repeat to our AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN: leaders and then end by noting that developing a culture of What is your best memory of growing up and study- scientific and technological innovation is the hallmark of the ing in Nigeria? How would you characterize Nige- nations that will prosper in the 21st century. We are fortunate ria’s development strategy over the last 50 years, at that technological advances such as the internet, and commu- least in so far as science, technology and innovation nication tools such as the smart phone, have made the playing is concerned? field a little bit more level, and the world just that much flatter, making it possible for developing countries not just to play PROF. OGUNNAIKE: I recall that in the 1960s (at least catch-up, but to leap frog. But the leaders must have an inter- in the Western Region of Nigeria, but I imagine the same nal conviction that they have a role to play: that of providing might also be true of the Eastern Region), we had an envi- true leadership. How committed they are will be reflected in able educational system that was truly remarkable overall, but the actions they take. It is not too late. one that was particularly strong in STEM. I recall that when I was in my “Lower Sixth” form (the first of the 2 years of what was known then as the “A-Levels”), our mathematics program at Government College Ibadan, in Western Nigeria, was so strong that some of us could look at a second order dif- ferential equation and tell you the solution! Many of us who went through that rigorous training discovered just how good our training was when we went abroad to study, especially in the US. (My professors in graduate school at the University We, the young diaspora of Wisconsin could not believe what I just said about solving simple linear differential equations by mere inspection until I generation have seen the whole demonstrated it to them!) thing unravel with our double- Alas, that education system has systematically degraded to hatted ability to understand both the point where STEM training is no longer a strength in Nigeria. The earlier pre-independence generation of leaders sides of negotiations, both cultural got it right by investing in high quality teachers and schools, and in pioneering Universities, laying the foundation for tendencies and eventually, what our generation enjoyed; a chronic lack of investment in both points of view. high quality education and infrastructure perpetuated by the subsequent generations is primarily responsible for the cur- rent state of weakness in education in general across all ages. This, I believe is one of the biggest mistakes that the country

37 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN FROM ETHIOPIA TO NASA DR TILAYE TADESSE ASFAW By Dr. Tilaye Tadesse Asfaw and Dr. Cosmas Milton Obote Ochieng

Conventional opinion regards space science, technology and innovation as the preserve of a few advanced economies. Whenever a developing country launches a space programme, there is no shortage of domestic and international criticism.

he level of poverty in such a country communications and broadcasting; in Kenya’s Turkana County. would be highlighted and the coun- air traffic management, biodiversity try would be advised to spend its and natural resource management; All this means that as Africa seeks time and money on ‘real’ problems. etc. Space applications offer effective economic structural transformation, That applications of space technolo- tools for monitoring and conducting space science and technology should Tgies and innovations can be har- assessments of the environment and be seen as an integral part of Africa’s nessed to alleviate poverty or to pro- climate; managing the use of natural development strategy. Earth obser- mote socio-economic development is resources (e.g. biodiversity, marine vation systems, meteorological sat- hardly ever considered. and fishery resources); managing ellites, communication satellites and responses to natural disasters (e.g. global navigation systems already The idea that poor countries should floods); and in enabling ‘smart agri- make significant contributions to not dare to harness applications of culture’, ‘smart schools’ and ‘smart the pursuit of sustainable develop- space science, technologies and in- health’ services provision. ment in Africa. Navigation satellite novations for their sustainable de- systems and satellite communica- velopment is seriously flawed. Space Globally, more than 50 countries tions enable Africa to connect and is a strategic natural resource and it have some spaceflight capability or communicate with people around has been viewed as such ever since ability to launch satellites into orbit the world. Satellite imagery can help the dawn of the space age. More either independently or through a with ‘smart’ and ‘resilient’ city plan- importantly, while space research is third party. In Africa, this includes ning – an urgent need in Africa given expensive and should be subject to the two main regional space hubs, the continent’s rapid urbanization rigorous national debate and cost Nigeria and South Africa. Across and demographic changes. Satellite benefit analysis, contrary to conven- the continent, satellite capacity has imagery can also be used to monitor tional opinion, the potential applica- nearly tripled since 2010. This has and track land use change, deforesta- tion of space science and technology catalyzed Africa’s ‘mobile and data tion, habitat loss, environmental deg- to social and economic development revolution’ and contributed indirect- radation; crop productivity, precision is not only vast but potentially more ly to the continent’s recent impres- farming, food insecurity, etc. Accord- beneficial at lower levels of econom- sive economic growth rates. Satel- ing to the OECD, globally, revenues ic development. lite mapping has also been used in derived from space related products natural resource management (e.g. and services amounted to some USD The world is increasingly dependent mineral exploration). The technol- 150 – 165 billion in 2009. The space on space technologies and innova- ogy recently led to the discovery of economy (one based on products and tions for weather forecasting; global the vast underground water aquifer services derived from space sciences,

38 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN technologies and innovations) is just get- Center, Space Weather Laboratory in After graduating with a B.Sc. in Physics ting started. Africa cannot afford to lag Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. Asfaw holds from Addis Ababa University in 1996, behind in this economy, both as a user a PhD in Astrophysics from the Max- Dr. Asfaw taught high school physics for and producer of space technologies and Planck-Institute for Solar System Re- eight years – in a rural school 350km innovations. search in Germany and a B.Sc. (Physics) from Addis Ababa. It was only after he and an M.Sc. (Astrophysics) from Addis graduated with an M.Sc. in Astrophys- The world’s reliance on space tech- Ababa University in Ethiopia. ics from Addis Ababa University in nologies, products and services makes 2005 that his interest in space research it vulnerable to disruptions by extreme Dr. Asfaw’s research focuses on numeri- exploded. By then, the Ethiopian Space space weather conditions. A better un- cal modelling of the magnetic field in Science Society (ESSS) was just 1 year derstanding of space weather and a the solar atmosphere. The magnetic old. ESSS was founded in 2004, as a capability to provide timely and reli- field in solar atmosphere plays a key role self-funding member based organiza- able space weather forecast is critical in almost all active physical phenom- tion, with a mission to promote astro- to the viability and sustainability of the ena such as solar eruptions and coro- physics, astronomy and applications of nascent global space economy. Severe nal heating. Solar flares, prominence space sciences for social and economic space weather storms present a variety eruptions, and coronal mass ejections development in Ethiopia. of hazards to modern economic instal- (CMEs) are tremendous explosions in lations and social services. Severe space the Sun’s atmosphere. Intense magnet- Today, Ethiopia has a nascent space weather storms can disable GPS sys- ic fields around sunspot regions drive programme, courtesy of the Ethiopian tems, damage power grids and disrupt these eruptions. These eruptions can in Space Science Society (ESSS). For a satellite communications, potentially turn produce hazardous space weather national space programme that is not leading to large economic losses or hu- conditions close to Earth. directly funded by the state, ESSS has manitarian crises. done phenomenally well. Its advocacy Dr. Asfaw has developed nonlinear led to the launch of Astrophysics and Given the world’s increasing depend- force-free coronal magnetic field solver Astronomy courses in Ethiopia in 2007. ence on space technologies, products (or a software tool), which calculates Its public awareness and space literacy and services, high quality forecasting the 3-D magnetic field from the pho- campaigns in primary and secondary of space weather is of paramount im- tospheric boundary into the solar at- schools in Ethiopia has seen an in- portance. This requires a better under- mosphere using spherical geometry. Dr. creased spike in public interest and pub- standing of the behaviour of the sun. Asfaw is currently involved in develop- lic policy in space science and technol- The sun is the main driver of space ing a numerical code that is going to be ogy for development. In 2013, Ethiopia weather through the violent eruptions integrated into NASA Community Co- became the third regional space hub in caused by its magnetic field. ordinated Modelling Center (CCMC) Africa with the construction of the larg- to predict solar eruptions with a view to est observatory in Eastern Africa de- Although Africa has only a handful enhancing the accuracy and timeliness signed to promote astronomy and space of space programmes (South Africa, of space-weather forecasting. He also research. The USD 3.4million Entoto Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt – and more has a leading role in the development of Earth Observatory is located in the En- recently Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya) a set of tools for use in modelling the toto Mountains (3,200 metres) on the and the continent spends little resources quasi-steady evolution of coronal active outskirts of Addis Ababa. on space education, space studies or region magnetic fields using data from space research, Africa is increasingly HMI/AIA on-board the Solar Dynam- The Observatory launched with a bang, a credible player is space science and ics Observatory and other ground based taking amazing photographs as can be technology. South Africa and Nigeria telescopes. seen from figure 1 and figure 2 below. have fairly large and sophisticated space ESSS, together with the Ethiopian gov- programmes. Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Dr. Asfaw grew up in the Harar re- ernment is planning on launching a Morocco, Namibia and Senegal, among gion of Ethiopia. While his high school second Observatory in the ancient town others have nascent but credible space teachers noted his aptitude for science, of Lalibela for national security and de- programmes. African scientists or scien- especially physics and mathematics, velopment purposes. For a programme tists of African origin have long made space science was the furthest thing that was initially called the ‘Crazy Peo- distinguished contributions in space from his mind. Ethiopia did not have ples’ Club’, ESSS has been a resound- science, technology and innovation at a space education or studies at either ing success. Through individual private some of the world’s leading space re- secondary or undergraduate education effort, it has persuaded the Ethiopian search centres. levels. Moreover, since the country had government to embrace the social and no space programme (prior to 2004), economic impacts of space sciences and One such young African astrophysicist public awareness of potential applica- technology. is Dr. Tilaye Tadesse Asfaw. A native of tions of space science and technology Ethiopia, Dr. Asfaw is a Postdoctoral Fel- was negligible. Ethiopia is just one among a growing low at the NASA Goddard Space Flight number of African countries with nas-

39 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN cent space programmes. There is in fact South African Space Programme, con- Launchport (now known as the Bro- a continental space programme under- firms that Africa has the expertise, tech- glio Space Centre) built in Malindi in way in the continent. In 2009, the Afri- nology and financial resources or ability 1964. In 1970, on the 7th anniversary can Union called for the establishment to access the expertise and technologies of its independence, jointly with NASA of the African Space Agency. needed to establish and run scientifically and Italian engineers, the world’s first and developmentally beneficial national satellite dedicated to celestial X-ray as- If Ethiopia launched a space pro- or regional space programmes. The de- tronomy was launched from Kenya at gramme on a ‘shoe string’ budget, Nige- velopment needs of the continent and the San Marco launch platform - a con- ria has had a fairly credible and publicly the sustainability of its human welfare verted oil platform. well-funded space programme for over and ecosystem health, demands that the a decade now. Nigeria’s National Space continent joins to race to harness appli- The NASA built and operated satellite Research and Development Agency cations of space sciences, technologies was named ‘Uhuru’ or the Small Astro- (NASRDA) headquarters in Abuja. To and innovations. nomical Satellite 1 (SAS-1). It stayed in date Nigeria has successfully launched service for nearly three years. Uhuru’s five satellites into space, at least 3of The African space race might be getting main mission was to survey the sky for which are currently orbiting the globe. off in earnest now, but this is not Africa’s cosmic X-ray sources. It provided the Four of Nigeria’s satellites were de- first rendezvous with space exploration. earliest signs of the existence black signed for noncommercial or public Africa has had false starts with the space holes. It also discovered and mapped purposes while the fifth, NigComSat- race before. With the help of NASA, X-ray sources (e.g. binary star systems, 1R is used for commercial purposes. South Africa launched a sophisticated supernovas and galaxies) and x-ray pul- Each of the country’s satellites has a national space programme in the 1960s sars. range of purposes but typically these although during the apartheid regime, include: disaster monitoring and con- To date, the San Marco Platform has trol; national security; natural resource launched 18 rockets (carrying scientific management; agricultural development payloads) and 9 satellites into space – all and broad based socio-economic devel- of them successfully. The San Marco opment. or BSC Space Programme has two seg- ments: (a) a sea segment dedicated to Nigeria’s first satellite Nig Sat 1, cost orbital and suborbital launches (b) and USD 13 million and orbited the earth a land segment that besides supporting 2012 when it was replaced by Nige- the sea based launches, has 3 ground riaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X. All three stations for Satellite Data Acquisition satellites were built by the UK firm Sur- and a Remote Sensing Centre. While all rey Space Technologies but launched Fig 1. Spiral Galaxy spinning in the the data at the remote sensing centre is into orbit by different space faring na- anticlockwise direction observed by the Ethiopia freely available to Kenyan researchers tions. Nig Sat-1 was the first satellite Earth Observatory: http://www.ethiosss.org.et/ and government agencies, the San Mar- to send back pictures of the US east index.php/en/home/news/131) co Space Research Project is largely led coast during Hurricane Katrina. Since and driven by the Italian Space Agency, then, Nigeria’s satellites have been under a cooperative agreement with used to among others: track crops and the Kenya Government. Kenya leads weather in order to ensure food secu- to harness and leverage its nearly 50 rity; improve urban planning and tax years of collaboration in space research collection in Lagos; monitor ecologi- through the San Marco Space Centre to cal change within the Niger delta and create a credible and development ori- to provide cheaper wireless and inter- ented national space programme. net coverage. Nigeria has also used its satellites for election monitoring (2011) Should Africa or African countries have and review of electoral boundaries. Ni- a space programme? This magazine geria plans to design, build and launch believes that on the balance of strate- a satellite of its own from a Nigerian Fig 2. Mars as captured by the Entoto Earth gic scientific, economic, technological Launchpad by 2020. Observatory in Ethiopia. (http://www.ethiosss.org. and cultural (i.e. catalyzing the devel- et/index.php/en/home/news/131-the-first-light- opment of the continent as a scientific The National Space Research and De- observed-by-eo-telescopes) region) spillover effects, the answer is velopment Agency (NASRDA) is the yes. The fundamental question of the national space agency of Nigeria. It it was mostly deployed for military pur- African space programme is one of how was established in 2001 and it has six poses. Since the end of apartheid, the best that continent can harness applica- “centers of excellence” throughout Ni- South African space programme has tions of space science, technology and geria including its main headquarters generated applications of considerable innovation for its socio-economic de- in Abuja. The initial cost of establish- commercial and humanitarian uses. velopment. Should the continent have ing NASRDA is estimated at USD 93 Sadly, Kenya failed to leverage its asso- a regional space programme (i.e. the million. ciation with NASA and Italy (University African space agency) or should it have of Roma, ‘La Sapienza’) to develop a sub-regional (i.e. East, West, South, The experience of world class space viable and independent homegrown North) or even national space agencies scientists of African origin such as Dr. space programme. Nevertheless, the or should it have a combination of two Asfaw and the successes of ESSS, the country is associated with pioneering or more of the above? Given the com- Nigerian Space Programme and the space efforts through its San Marco bination of the enormous human, fi-

40 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN economic or development needs these are strategic choices or policy trade-offs worthy of serious and evidence based consideration.

With clear missions and objectives, principle of subsidiarity or a clear division of labour and smart allocation of resourc- es, it is possible to have a tiered national and regional system that pulls resources and works in a coordinated fashion to address a few fundamental development challenges: health, education, energy, food security, environmental manage- ment. We believe that Africa has the expertise, technologies and resources, or the ability to access all three to successfully harness the application of space science and technology for its socio-economic development.

Potential applications of space science and technology to Af- rica’s social and economic development are numerous:

• Economy wide scientific and technological spill-over ef- fects • Crop productivity monitoring and food security tracking • Improved health and education outcomes • Better management of biodiversity and natural resources The San Marco Launch Platform • Better control of natural and humanitarian distances off the Kenyan Coast • Environmental and climate change monitoring • Improved scientific image of the continent (i.e. to purge the image of the continent as a land of disease, ignorance and poverty. nancial and physical expenditures needed for a credible space • Reversing the brain drain from the continent or fostering programme; Africa’s limited resources, and competing socio- a ‘brain gain’

41 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN DRONES FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT AN INTERVIEW WITH MOSES GICHANGA By Dr. Haile Michael Teshome Demissie, Senior Research Fellow, ACTS

The military application of drones has thus far eclipsed their civilian use – both in popular imagination and in the level of technological advancement or sophistication. However, drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are multi-purpose use capable technologies with potentially significant civilian or development applications.

any UAVs for civil or commercial uses, including and air borders. Many of these are imported but development purposes are still in the early phases some countries are reported to be working on in- of design and implementation. Significant tech- digenous drones. Botswana, Senegal, Uganda and nical, infrastructural, financial and legal barriers Mauritania are in the process of acquiring UAVs. would need to be overcome if UAVs are to play sub- Drones have also been deployed for civilian uses in stantial roles in Africa’s economic development. Af- Africa, most prominently to track poachers at Af- M rica would need to train the necessary human capi- rica’s national parks and conservancies, especially tal or otherwise access it from elsewhere. Electrical in Kenya and South Africa, although both govern- innovations capable of powering drones for longer ments later banned use of private drones for anti- hours and distances would be necessary, drone pay- poaching activities citing security considerations. A load capacity might need to be increased and above lot of legal and legislative work with specific refer- all, bandwidth for processing live imagery would be ence to privacy, human rights, civil liberties and needed. All these are significant obstacles but they handling of data needs to be undertaken if the can and will likely be overcome by 2020. drone is to be safely and successfully deployed in Africa for both military and civilian uses. Numerous research and development projects de- signed to address some of these challenges are cur- In the meantime, research and development on rently underway globally. Perhaps among the best potential applications of drone technologies for known is the Swiss based, USD 10 million Flying development isn’t only happening outside Africa. Donkey Challenge. The Flying Donkey Challenge Among the many innovators leading this type of is a global technology contest that seeks to revolu- work in Africa is Moses gichangA of Kenya. Mr. tionize the transportation of goods in remote rural Gichanga is an aviation & robotics enthusiast and communities in Africa by connecting African coun- innovator. He is a Computer Scientist by training tries with cargo drones. The open challenge seeks to specializing in Software Engineering. His current create, by 2020, commercially viable cargo robots research interest focuses on autonomous aerial plat- or UAVs capable of carrying a load of at least 20 forms for environmental conservation and natural kilograms over a distance of 50 kilometres in less resource management. than an hour. Mr. Gīchangi. I grew up in Matūgūta Village in Many people will be surprised to learn that Africa Gīthūnguri, Kīambu, Kenya. He attended Gathirū- has been involved with the drone business, both for inī Secondary School in Central Kenya before join- national security and civilian or commercial pur- ing the Kenya College of Accountancy for a Diplo- poses for some time now. More than a dozen sub Sa- ma and Higher Diploma in Information Systems haran African countries – including regional giants and the Multimedia University for an International Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Ghana – already de- Advanced Diploma in Information Systems major- ploy surveillance drones to track pirates, militants, ing in Computer Science. He obtained his BSc in poachers and drug traffickers across their land, sea Computing and Information Systems with a major

42 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN ACTS’ Dr. Haile Michael Demissie sat down for an interview with Mr Gichanga to explore potential applications of drone technologies for development in Africa.

in Software Engineering from London worked with Rocketship Systems Inc. This is because the use of UAS whether Metropolitan University in the United (RSI) in Fort Collins Colorado since for military or civilian purposes raises Kingdom. 2011. I recently started my own aero- questions that are not generally appli- space initiative in Kenya known as Con- cation to conventional aircraft. For ex- H. T. Demissie: How did you be- trail Robotics. ample, concerns over privacy are rather come interested in drones – or specific to UAS. Secondly, because UAS to use the word you prefer, un- I have forged an alliance with RSI to lo- might compete with conventional air- manned aerial systems (UAS)? cally assemble UAS platforms with vari- craft for airspace, rules governing rela- ous capabilities and functions. Work on tions between UAS and conventional Mr Gichanga: I studied Computing the smart cane project was supported by aircraft, with particular reference to use and Information Systems in college and a grant that I received from the Kenya of air space are needed. majored in Software Engineering. In National Commission for Science, High School I was purely an electron- Technology & Innovation (NACOSTI) The current application of existing ics and hardware enthusiast. I fiddled in 2013. The design is meant to be regulation on aircraft to UAS in Africa with many electronic gadgets and built open source to encourage its adoption is stifling. Safety devices such as tran- transistor radios and switches. After by as many who need it as possible. The sponders that transmit location and at- my encounter with digital circuits and cane can receive and send SMS and titude data about an aircraft are bulky computing, I realised software is the email messages. It is also audio respon- and cannot be applied to small UAS. soul of hardware, and decided to study sive which means that a user can speaks Majority of UAS are no more than 8ft it in College to animate my inanimate to it and receive feedback via a haptic in wingspan. Smaller transponders have hardware. After a five year stint in the handle. been developed but they are prohibi- software world, I decided to return to tively expensive. Yet under the current my true passion. I am also a past recipient (2013) of a framework these are mandatory. grant by the international Institute of As a small boy my brother and I made Electrical and Electronic Engineers Concerns raised by many CAAs re- and flew a giant glider from a poly- (IEEE) through their Engineering in garding use of UAS especially in Africa thene sheet that we liberated from my Community Projects (EPICS) pro- is valid and can be addressed through father’s tea seedling nursery sparking an gramme. establishment of entities for the service interest in aviation. So naturally when provision of UAS and associated ser- I returned to hardware the first thing I I am currently exploring a number of vices for its citizenry. For instance, in the revisited was my work on the glider. I projects based on the UAS technology. conservation of wildlife, the UAS may built it out of locally available materials. I’m exploring search and rescue sce- be run by a government recognized en- Flying it, albeit for short distances, gave narios using UAS to identify distressed tity. In Kenya, that would be the Kenya me the confidence I needed to evolve persons in remote regions in Kenya. I Wildlife Service [KWS], which is legally better and sounder designs. am using a platform I developed for my constituted to address all issues related entry for the Australian UAV Outback to wildlife and their habitat. Similarly All the while I was blogging about my Challenge to find Joe, a dummy hid- the Kenya Forestry Service could run exploits, and an American aerospace den in the Australian outback. I am also forestry related UAS missions. Since engineer (and now a good friend) Coby working on various ways to perfect the these concerns are relatively easy to Leuschke asked about my purpose with use of UAS for environmental monitor- fix, they should not stand in the way of the design. At the time I was eyeing ing and natural resource management. R&D on UAS. wildlife conservation. Eventually we formed a partnership to build UAS for H.T. Demissie: The drone tech- H.T. Demissie: What is the future various purposes starting with wildlife nology is developing fast amidst of UAS in Africa? conservation. We’ve since explored vari- an ethical and legal vacuum. What ous other uses including forestry conser- are the main legal, regulatory or Mr Gichanga: The future of UAS will vation, geospatial and remote sensing safety challenges with the drone be characterized by increases in com- functions including mineral exploration technology in Africa? puting power, greater miniaturization, to mention but a few. reliability and affordability. Research is Mr Gichanga: Safety and security is a underway to develop ‘sense and avoid’ H.T. Demissie: What are your ma- key aim of many rules and regulations technology, including use of tran- jor achievements so far and what concerning aviation. While UAS are in- sponders for conventional aircraft and are you currently working on? deed aircraft, they should not necessar- UAS alike to declare their locations, as ily be classified as conventional aircraft. in Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems Mr Gichanga: I have developed sev- CAAs impose similar regulatory re- [TCAS]; use of radio detection and eral ‘smart devices’ including a ‘walking quirements to anything that flies as they ranging [radar], sound detection and guide’ device known as a ‘smart cane’ do conventional aircraft, greatly stifling ranging [sonar], visual detection using for the visually impaired. I have also de- design and development of UAS. We software and object detection, among veloped an Email and SMS delivering need to start from air safety and regula- others. All these developments will en- platform for the visually impaired and tions and then modify these to fit both hance the harnessing of UAS applica- an autonomous tractor for sustainable the nature and functionalities of various tions for socio-economic development food production. I’m privileged to have drone technologies. in Africa.

43 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN SHARING AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT TECH- INNOVATIONS By Winnie Asiti, Research Fellow, ACTS

“We need to stop being lazy analysts and take our challenges for ourselves; stop wasting resources and implement our own ideas,” Steve Kayizzi-Mugerwa, Acting Chief Economist and Vice-President AfDB

In this issue’s Africa’s Development Tech-Innovations we fea- Contact KilimoHub: ture ‘KilimoHub’. KilimoHub is a web based extension ser- [email protected] www.bunifu.co.ke vice where all extension service and market data is collected and stored in a website and users can access the information from the website and also through smartphone applications ‘Kilimo’ for young farmers. However, developers have also developed a server (Sikizi) where farmers without internet access can Swahili meaning for farming; access this information from normal SMS platform. Kilimo- Hub also links farmers to buyers. ‘Bunifu’ Swahili meaning for innovative! KilimoHub was developed and is being used in Baringo County, Kenya. It was developed by Bunifu Technologies, a Africa’s Development Tech-Innovations local company, together with Baringo Change Makers and features innovations and technologies that are the Baringo County Department of Agriculture, livestock transforming the continent. and fisheries. Have something to share or would like to be featured? Send us a brief profile of your tech innovation at: [email protected]

44 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL IMPACT INVESTMENT IN AFRICA By Dr. Janice Golding

sity of Cape Town’s Graduate School Secondly, without well-defined frame- of Business reports acceleration of this works and methodologies, the ac- investment type in Africa’s two big- countability of corporate stakeholders gest economies. Its survey of 1,200 will undoubtedly fall into question. funds finds that impact investments in Designing and using fit-for-purpose South Africa constitute 41% of funds investment tools are required, and en- (USD 67 billion) and 34% in Nigeria vironmental, social and governance (representing USD 2.3 billion), mainly (ESG) factors must be integrated into private equity and asset management. identifying risks over realistic time- Given Africa’s social, economic and frames. Fund managers can insist on environmental development needs, the recalibrating exposure profiles of in- continent could be a gigantic impact vestment portfolios according to ESG investment hub, serving as the world’s criteria and doing away with blanket experimental test case for implement- approaches on how risk and growth ing a values-driven investment frame- performance is monitored and man- work. aged. Also, using verifiable ESG data rather than narrative assumptions in However, that would depend on a investment scenario mapping and oth- number of measures at global, regional er forecasts will be required. At pre- ocial impact investments appear to and national levels. While the concept sent, these new methods remain frag- have come of age in 2014. Within the of impact investing is not new to Af- mented and incoherent, and greatly last three years, even Pope Francis, rica, few investors in Africa are either in need of consolidation by academic as well as UK Prime Minister David aware or self-identify with the concept. investment scientists and practitioners. Cameron and former US Treasury S The Economist has characterized the This implies drawing in multi-discipli- Lawrence Summers, have provided G8 Report as a “special pleading for nary expertise and data. convincing arguments for social im- a market that cannot stand on its own pact investments. A report commis- two feet.” Many still view impact in- Thirdly, training and capacity build- sioned by the UK Prime Minister at vestment as a “slippery concept” be- ing are required on investment floors the G8 Summit in 2013 and released cause for the most part it rests on case as well as in university and college on 15 September 2014 (The Invis- studies from the developed world. curricula in order to build a new co- ible Heart of Markets), follows these Overcoming the structurally amor- hort of company boards, investment leaders in explaining the potentially phous nature of impact investments managers and analysts. In tandem, powerful role that impact investing is important, else they may amount shareholder education and public can play in poverty alleviation, social to nothing more than an ideological awareness campaigns about the non- inclusion, environmental protection brand at odds with itself, causing harm financial derivatives of impact invest- and good corporate and public gov- despite good intentions. Widespread ments will help stimulate the market ernance. agreement exists that successful invest- base. It would auger well for bilateral ments in emerging economies depend investors such the Chinese, and pro- Social Impact Investments are those on first-mover strengths and analytical spective players on the continent, such that intentionally target specific social advantage. But major barriers prohibit as the BRICS’s New Development objectives along with a financial re- impact investments from becoming a Bank, to take inspiration from the G8 turn and measure the achievement of mainstream phenomenon, and here, report and inculcate this new invest- both. Impact investing refers to mak- the devil is in the definition and the ment paradigm. ing investments that generate posi- detail. Social impact investing can take off in tive impact beyond financial return Africa. However, it will require com- - to include social and environmental Firstly, fiduciary duties obligate inves- prehensive analytical and policy work returns, for example. According to tors to maximize risk-adjusted finan- by academics, private sector, govern- a 2010 study by JP Morgan and the cial returns to beneficiaries. However, ments and civil society before an ena- Rockefeller Foundation, impact in- it is unethical and unsustainable no bling institutional framework is estab- vestments are an alternative asset class matter how much money and social lished. that could grow to represent a global impact is made from returns gener- market of US$ 500 billion by 2020. ated from crushed mountains and *Dr Janice Golding works in economic co-op- The implications for Africa could be child labour, corrupt practices and un- eration at an embassy in Pretoria. She writes considerable although few compre- sustainable consumption. Clarifying in her capacity as an independent consultant. hensive assessments of the opportuni- contracts of fiduciary responsibilities She holds a PhD from Oxford University ties and risks posed by impact invest- of trustees across the investment value (Environmental Change Institute) and is an ments in Africa have been conducted. chain and revisiting the regulatory set Honorary Research Associate (Plant Conser- The 2014 African Investing for Im- up with governments are key. vation Unit) of the University of Cape Town. pact Barometer Report by the Univer-

45 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN ACTS’ CRYSTAL BALL 2015

KEY TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS TO WATCH IN 2015

ACTS TOP TEN STRATEGIC TECH- are net-oil importers, the fall in oil prices will be a positive 5 NOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT development to African economies overall. TRENDS IN AFRICA IN 2015. Development Analytics or Data for Development: In- creasing policy debate and use of big data analytics to inform and/or influence development policy making 1 Mobile Applications, Technologies and Solutions: For ex- ample, MPesa, Mkopa, Msoko, Mhealth, Mservices, Med- and practice. Expect more push towards open data ac- ucation, etc. The mobile revolution is only getting started cess policies; quality collection, analysis and presentation in Africa. Mobility based technologies and solutions will of conventional data (i.e. national statistics) and nascent continue to grow, evolve and adapt in 2015. Kenya likely moves to link big data analytics to national statistics in a to remain a leader here but expect more competition from few countries (i.e. data interoperability). Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda and Senegal.

Next Generation Computing: Big Data, Cloud Comput- 6 ing, Data Localisation, Mobile Computing, High Per- 2 Increasing Computing Access: Partly powered by the success of the mobile revolution and increasing afford- formance Computing (i.e. Supercomputers), and Smart ability, more African governments, cities and institutions Machines. will join the effort to provide Free Wifi in public places; free or subsidized computers/ laptops/tablets to African primary or secondary schools. Increasing affordability of Cyber Security, Internet Governance and Information smartphones will result in their continued growth and use 7 Rich Democracy: Cyber Security Legislation and Policy in Africa. with specific reference to privacy, trust and connected enterprises; some effort to monitor and or control social media or internet use by citizens; growing calls for de- 3 New Trade Agreements with the European Union and mocratization of the internet and social media and the with the USA: Game changing trade agreements, espe- creation of information rich democracy. All three likely cially with the EU fully coming into effect in 2015. The to result in tension between governments and civil liberty African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) must also be and human rights advocacy groups. renewed or replaced by an alternative agreement by Sep- tember 2015. Both agreements likely to impact African economic fundamentals from 2015 onwards. 8 Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resource Man- agement – The continent will have to do something sub- stantive about poaching and wildlife trafficking in 2015. More countries to lean towards the ‘Addis Ababa-Kigali The impetus for this will continue to come from the 4 Consensus’ Model of Development’: Some ‘Big Push’ outside. External country actions to watch: China, US, infrastructure development projects, extractive sector de- UK, EU and the G8. African countries to watch: South velopment (oil and gas, mining and mineral projects); Sus- Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and tainable Development Goals (SDGs); Chinese influence Botswana. (i.e. the ‘Beijing Consensus’) in African policy making and practice likely to increase. Key African economies to watch: Nigeria (elections 2015); Ethiopia (elections 2015); Big Science: e.g. space science and technology; nuclear South Africa (the political and economic system needs to 9 power projects; technology or science parks. Countries to regain some level of ‘optimism’ and confidence); Ghana watch: South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya. (needs to come out of economic crisis); Ebola hit countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia (might suffer signifi- cant economic contraction); oil exporting countries (espe- 10 Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience: A number of cially, Angola, Gabon and Nigeria) – likely to be affected African countries likely to enact/change/revitalize their by fall in oil prices. Since a majority of African economies climate change adaptation and resilience policies, legisla- tion and practice in 2015.

4646 THETHE AFRICAN AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN TECHNOPOLITAN The first issue of this Magazine provided highlights of ACTS’ research, policy engagement and capacity building activities in the first half of 2014 (Jan-June). This section highlights ACTS’ research, policy engage- ment and strategic partnership activities in the second half of 2014.

POLICY ENGAGEMENT ACTS Convenes the Kenya Climate ACTS Joins Kenya in Marking the Science, Technology and Policy International Day of Persons with Roundtable Disabilities On the 26th of November 2014, ACTS convened a High On 3rd December 2014, ACTS joined the National Level Climate Science, Technology and Policy Roundtable Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Ken- at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi to review the Kenya Climate ya, the Government of Kenya, the UN, private sector, Change Bill 2014. The Roundtable featured a distinguished NGOs, civil society and members of the public to mark panel of experts: the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the • Hon. Dr. Wilbur Ottichilo, Member of Parliament, Emu- Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi. haya Constituency • Dr. Alice Kaudia, Environment Secretary, Ministry of En- The theme of the 2014 International Day of Persons vironment, Water and Natural Resources with Disabilities was: Sustainable Development: The • Dr. Saleemul Huq, Senior Fellow, IIED Promise of Technology. ACTS teamed up with Contrail • Dr. Richard Munang, Climate Change Programme Coor- Robotics to showcase a number of ‘assistive technolo- dinator, Regional Office for Africa, UNEP gies’. A GPS enabled Smart Cane, a wheel-able Energy • Dr. Cosmas M.O. Ochieng, Executive Director, ACTS Saving Cook Stove, and Disability Friendly Agriculture • Dr. Arthur Mugisha, Head of Country Office, IUCN technologies were particularly popular and yielded de- Uganda mands for mass production or fabrication. • Prof. Erastus Gatebe, Chief Research Scientist, Kenya In- dustrial Research Institute (KIRDI) • Mr John Kioli, Executive Director, Green Africa Founda- tion and Chair, Kenya Climate Change Working Group • Mr Vincent Nzau, Senior Economist, Ministry of Devolu- tion and Planning

The Roundtable drew participants from academia, public service, private sector, NGOs, civil society and the media. The chief message coming out of the Roundtable was the importance of evidence informed policy making and practice in climate change legislation, policy making and project im- plementation. The Kenya Climate Science, Technology and Policy Roundtable is a project funded by the Vakayiko grant from the International Network for the Advancement of Sci- entific Publications (INASP).

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Hon. Kazungu Kambi (centre) tours ACTS’ exhibition stand at Keny- atta International Conference Centre during the In- ternational Day of Persons with Disabilities. Dr. Saleemul Huq answers a question at the ACTS Climate Science, Technology and Policy Round Table.

47 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN of vigorous shaking. The condition, once diagnosed, can ACTS Attends the Planet Earth Institute be effectively controlled with the use Anti-Epileptic Drugs (PEI) Science Africa Festival in London (AEDs) in most cases. There is no fixed or pre-set dosage in epilepsy treatment. Each prescription has to be individually tailored and adjusted. Many people can outgrow this con- dition and enter permanent remission after which the treat- ment can sometimes be reduced and finally discontinued.

An estimated one million Kenyans suffer from epilepsy. A majority of these never get to see a doctor due to lack of knowledge about the disorder or social stigma. As a con- sequence, many people continue to have seizures, which could otherwise be controlled through the available medi- cation. People who are at greater risk of epilepsy include those with a history of febrile seizures, head trauma, birth trauma and neonatal and infantile infections.

What can you do to help in this campaign? Lord Paul Boateng addressing delegates at the Planet Earth Read more about epilepsy and spread the facts about it. Institute Workshop on Data for Development in London, 18th For more information, please contact: info@ekarcommunica- November, 2014. tions.com

ACTS hosted two workshop sessions on Harnessing Big Data for Sustainable Development in Africa at Planet Earth Insti- ACTS Attends the World Bioenergy tute’s Science Africa Festival in London on November 18th, 2014. The Workshops explored ways through which Africa Forum, India can harness the data revolution – big data, open data and the digital revolution – for accelerated economic development. The Planet Earth Institute (PEI) is an international NGO that is working for the scientific independence of Africa. They aim to lead Africa to scientific independence through promoting higher education, technological innovation, and policy and advocacy.

ACTS Participates in the Kenya National Epilepsy Awareness Month! Millie Ocholla, ACTS Communications Officer

ACTS Director of Programmes, Dr. Ben Muok (first right) at the World Bioenergy Forum in India.

The World Bioenergy Association (WBA) is the global or- ganization dedicated to supporting and representing the wide range of actors in the bioenergy sector. Its members include national and regional bioenergy organizations, institutions, companies and individuals. The purpose of WBA is to promote the increasing utilization of bioenergy globally in an efficient, sustainable, economic and environ- mentally friendly way. Since its foundation in May 2008, WBA has been working to address a number of promising issues including certification, sustainability, standardiza- tion, bioenergy promotion and debates about bioenergy’s Kenya marked the National Epilepsy Awareness month in impact on food, land use and water supply. November 2014. The theme of the year was, “Angaza Kifafa” or ‘‘shining the light on epilepsy’’. The objective was to create ACTS Director of Programmes Dr. Ben Muok is a Board public awareness of the disease, which is still surrounded by Member of the WBA. The WBA Board held two board mystery and often associated with supernatural forces in Ken- meetings in 2014 (June 2nd 5nd in Jonkoping, Sweden ya. ACTS joined the National Epilepsy Coordination Com- and Kolkata, India on 25th to 27th November). The In- mittee (NECC) Eskar Communications and Kenyans from all dia meeting was followed by a Bioenergy Roundtable co- walks of life to help create awareness on the causes of epilepsy organized by WBA and India Chamber of Commerce. Dr. and how to manage the disease. Ben Muok gave a presentation on Bioenergy policy devel- opment in Africa. Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that is physically manifested For more information, please see: http://zeenews.india.com/ or characterized by repeated seizures. These seizures are can news/eco-news/africa-needs-indias-cooking-stove-solar-know-how- vary from brief nearly undetectable episodes to long periods think-tank_1505345.html

48 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN ACTS RESEARCH ACTS Contributes to ACTS Contributes to the the Development of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Natural Capital Protocol Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem - A Harmonised Services (IPBES) Regional Assessments Framework for Valuing Natural Capital in Business Operations.

The Natural Capital Coalition is running a project to draft a harmonised framework for valuing natural capital in busi- ness decision making to enable better measurement, manage- ment, reporting and disclosure. Fragmented methodologies and practices are underway regarding the valuation of natu- ral capital in the private and public sectors. A key challenge in scaling out the uptake of natural capital valuation is the lack of a harmonised approach to be used in typical business applications: internal management, reporting and disclosure. Dr. Joël Houdet, ACTS Senior Research Fellow and Head of Such a harmonized framework would constitute a Natural Natural Resource Economy Programme has been nominated Capital Protocol. The Natural Capital Coalition (NCC) has by the Republic of South Africa to participate in the develop- selected two consortia to develop the Natural Capital Proto- ment of the scoping document for the regional / sub-regional col. The World Business Council for Sustainable Develop- assessments for consideration to the third IPBES Plenary in ment (WBCSD) , of which ACTS is a member, leads one Bonn in January 2015. The Intergovernmental Science-Poli- consortium while the International Union for Conservation cy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) of Nature (IUCN), leads the other. Dr. Joel Houdet, ACTS’ aims to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity Senior Research Fellow and Head of its Natural Resource and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable Economy Programme belongs to the consortium led by the use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustain- WBCSD. Funding for the project is provided in part by the able development. The decisions of the IPBES Plenary in Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Swiss Econom- will provide supporting and enabling mechanisms for African ic Ministry (SECO) to IFC at the World Bank. academics, civil society and business representatives to get ac- tively involved in the African regional and sub-regional assess- The Natural Capital Protocol will be an open source, global ments on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. multi-stakeholder framework for understanding, measuring and valuing the impacts and dependencies on the natural en- For more information, please visit: http://www.ipbes.net/ vironment, as well as understanding the risks and opportuni- ties presented for businesses when natural capital is accounted for in business decision making. Through a consultative ap- ACTS joins the Ecosystem Services proach, it will bring together and harmonise the multitude Partnership (ESP) of methodologies that exist around the world into one frame- work; this will serve as the basis for future standard setting and methodologies in this field. The Natural Capital Protocol is intended for use by, and will be pilot tested and developed in collaboration with, business. It is expected that a fully tested first version of the Protocol can be presented by December 2015.

The WBCSD’s consortium is composed of Accenture, AR- CADIS, The B Team, Climate Disclosure Standard Board, Conservation International, Deloitte, eCountability Ltd, eftec, ERM, GIST Advisory, Imperial College, ACTS, Inte- ACTS recently joined the Ecosystem Services Partnership grated Sustainability Services and Synergiz, Natural Capital (ESP). ESP is a global platform that brings together research- Project, PwC, Sustain Value, The Nature Conservancy, World ers from multiple countries and disciplines to work towards Resources Institute and WWF US. IUCN’s consortium in- developing a better understanding and application of the cludes the IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands, concept of ‘ecosystem services’ in policy making. ACTS’ Ernst and Young, Trucost, Institute of Sustainability Leader- Natural Resource Economy Programme will Working Group ship (CISL) at the University of Cambridge, True Price, In- 5: Ecosystem Services in Business. Working Group 5 already dustrial Ecology Research Services (IERS), and the Food and has over 30 academics and policy analysts as its member. We Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). invite you to join us in the ESP.

For more information on the natural capital coalition, please For more information on the ESP, please visit: http://www. visit: http://www.naturalcapitalcoalition.org/natural-capital-proto- es-partnership.org/esp or Working Group 5: http://www.es-partnership. col/project-coordination-team.html org/esp/81939/5/0/50

49 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN ACTS CAPACITY BUILDING THE AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ALASTID)

ACTS has long been a premier capacity building institution ships, summer schools, policy master classes, staff placements in harnessing applications of science, technology and innova- and curriculum development in ALASTID will be undertak- tion policy for development in Africa. Through partnerships en in collaboration with global and African universities, re- with leading global universities, research institutes, national search institutes, national councils for science and technology, councils for science and technology, government ministries government departments and agencies, private sector, NGOs and departments, we have provided doctoral, MA and cer- and civil society partners. tificate level training in science, technology and innovation policy for development to hundreds of African graduates and UNDER THE PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 2015, policymakers. ALASTID PLANS TO OFFER THE FOLLOWING COURSES AS POLICY MASTER CLASSES, EXECU- For the last ten years, ACTS has offered these types of courses TIVE COURSES OR SUMMER SCHOOLS: through the ACTS Science and Technology Policy Institute • Low Carbon Economy Development in Africa (STPI). ACTS has also undertaken other capacity building • Big Data Analytics and Economic Development initiatives (e.g. internships, modular or curriculum develop- • Climate Compatible Development Policy and Prac ment, online courses, faculty training or mentorship, PhD tice in Africa fellowships, PhD academies, scholarships, policy Master • Harnessing Applications of Nanotechnology for Classes, Executive Courses, Summer Schools and other non- Sustainable Development in Africa degree training through its various projects and programmes). • Harnessing Applications of Space Sciences and Technologies for Socio-Economic Development in To allow us to continue offering cutting edge, high quality, Africa demand-driven, timely and regular capacity building services • Harnessing Applications of Nuclear Sciences and and support in harnessing applications of science, technol- Technologies for Socio-Economic Development in ogy and innovation policy for development in Africa, ACTS Africa has now consolidated all its capacity building efforts into a • Local Content Development in the Extractive In new programme or initiative: The African Leadership Acad- dustry Sector emy for Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable • Africalics PhD Academy Development (ALASTID). The purpose of ALASTID is to • Innovation and Development equip current and future policymakers, the professoriate, • Gender, Youth and Climate Change leaders of industry and civil society with skills to harness ap- • Research, Academic Writing and Publishing plications of science, technology and innovation for sustain- • Proposal Writing and Fundraising able development in Africa. ACTS, through ALASTID, will also co-supervise a number Consistent with our mandate, ALASTID will emphasize ca- of PhD and Masters Students in collaboration with a number pacity building emerging but strategic technologies in which of Northern and African universities. Africa relatively lacks research, technical and analytical or policy capacity. The Leadership Academy will also focus on To participate in the above Courses – or in ALASTID - as capacity building in ‘mature’ technologies with the largest po- a Student, Faculty, Partner or Sponsor, please contact us at: tential for positive social, economic and ecological impact in [email protected] Africa. Courses, internships, mentoring, fellowships, scholar-

The Executive Director of ACTS Dr. Cosmas Milton Obote Ochieng with Dr. Parto Terehani Kroenner and Dr. Guelay Caglar, both of Hum- boldt University, meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. ACTS and Humboldt University are currently co-supervising three PhD students under a Gender and Horticultural Value Chains in East Africa Project, funded by Humboldt University.

50 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN ACTS WELCOMES DISTINGUISHED AND NON- RESIDENT RESEARCH FELLOWS ACTS is very pleased to welcome two Distinguished Policy Fellows and thirteen Non Resi- dent Research Fellows under its 2015-2017 Work Programme. The two Distinguished Policy Fellows are Hon. Dr. Wilbur Otttichilo, Member of Parliament for Emuhaya Constituency, Kenya and Dr. Alice Akinyi Kaudia, Environment Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Wa- ter and Natural Resources, Kenya.

ACTS Distinguished Non-Resident Research Fellow

Hon. Dr. Wilbur Ottichillo

Hon. Dr. Wilbur Ottichillo Dr. Alice Akinyi Kaudia

ACTS Distinguished Non-Resident Research Fellow ACTS Distinguished Non-Resident Research Fellow

Hon. Dr. Wilbur Ottichillo is the Member of Par- Alice Akinyi Kaudia (PhD, EBS, and HSC) holds a Bachelor liament for Emuhaya Constituency, Kenya and of Science in Agriculture from the University of Nairobi, the sponsor of the original Climate Change Bill and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Forestry, Extension in Kenya. From 2002-2008, he was the Director and Development from the University of East Anglia, United General of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Kingdom. She is the Environment Secretary in the Ministry Resources for Development (RCMRD), an af- of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, a position filiate institution of the United Nations Economic she has held since 2008, being the first holder of that office Commission for Africa (UNECA). He holds a in Kenya. She was previously the Regional Director of the PhD in Environmental Science from the Institute IUCN East Africa Regional Office; Assistant Director of the of Geo-Information and Earth Sciences in the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI); Associate Re- Netherlands. search Officer at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and Assistant Programme Officer at the African Academy of Sci- ences. Dr. Kaudia sits on the boards of the World Resources Forum; Green Growth Knowledge Platform; Kenya Agricul- tural Research Institute, among others.

51 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN ACTS NON-RESIDENT RESEARCH FELLOWS

Dr. Chris Huggins Dr. Philip M. Osano Mr. Prajwal Baral

ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow

Adjunct Professor, Institute of Af- Dr. Osano is currently involved in the Prajwal Baral joined ACTS as a non- rican Studies, Carleton University. preparation of the African Union Strat- resident Research Fellow with effect Chris Huggins is a researcher, lec- egy for the Accelerated African Agricul- from October 2014, where his research turer, and trainer with more than tural Transformation Goals to guide the focuses on climate resilient economy and 15 years’ experience on land and continent-wide implementation of the green growth in Africa. With a strong natural resources rights in Africa. He CAADP (Comprehensive African Agri- background in climate policy, his re- was previously based in Nairobi as a cultural Development Programme) for search extends to energy policy, clean Research Fellow with ACTS, and in the 2015-2025 decade. He is a multidis- technology, international trade and im- Kigali as Rwanda Researcher for Hu- ciplinary scholar with a diverse research pact investment. man Rights Watch. He has consulted and academic interest at the science-poli- with U.N. agencies, bilateral donors, cy interface in environment and develop- Mr. Baral previously worked with World policy think-tanks, International ment. He has published and lectured on Trade Organization (WTO), CGIAR Non-Governmental Organizations, topics that span a range of disciplines, Research Program on Climate Change, and for-profit institutions. He has a including environmental policy and gov- Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) PhD in Geography (specialization in ernance, biodiversity and livelihoods in and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) political economy), and is co-author African dry lands, sustainability science, in different capacities in South Asia and (with Scott Leckie) of Conflict and ecological economics, climate change Europe. He has also worked extensively Housing, Land, and Property Rights: adaptation, environmental-security link- with NGOs and CBOs in Nepal and In- A Handbook on Issues, Frameworks, ages, agricultural development, and sus- dia, and conducted training sessions on and Solutions (Oxford University tainability education. He also serves as sustainability issues in Bangladesh. He Press, 2011) and-editor (with Jenny a reviewer for several international peer has consulted for a number of organi- Clover) of From the Ground Up: reviewed journals. He has worked and zations on projects related to climate Land Rights, Conflict and Peace in consulted for several organizations and change adaptation and climate finance. Sub-Saharan Africa (African Centre universities, including Birdlife Interna- for Technology Studies/Institute for tional, United Nations Environment Pro- Currently, he works at Global Challenges Security Studies, 2005). Dr. Hug- gram (UNEP), International Livestock Division of World Intellectual Property gins lives in Ottawa, Canada, and is Research Institute (ILRI), the Florida Organization (WIPO) in Geneva where married with two young children. He Gulf Coast University (USA), and the he is playing a crucial role in advancing enjoys hiking and mountain biking in Swiss Federal Institute of Technology a multi-stakeholder platform for the ac- the nearby Gatineau hills, and watch- (ETH) – Zurich, among others. A Fellow celerated transfer of clean technologies ing live music performances. He trav- of the Sauvé Scholars Program (Canada), to developing and emerging economies. els frequently to Africa. he holds a PhD degree in Geography from McGill University, Canada, an MSc He has an academic background in En- degree in Conservation Biology from the gineering from Maulana Azad National University of Cape Town, South Africa, Institute of Technology (MANIT), In- and a BSc degree in Environmental Sci- dia, and Environmental Management ence from Egerton University, Kenya. from University of Oxford. A keen run- ner, swimmer and cyclist, he strongly be- lieves in low carbon lifestyle.

52 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN Dr. AKANIMO ODON

ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow

and provided advice on strategy, capacity building, policy de- velopment and market entry for their Nigerian operations. As a Local Content expert, he was recently asked to support in Dr. Akanimo Odon is an international business and strategy the development the Local Content Policy for the Extractive development expert who has gained experience working in Industry of the Tanzanian Government and also leads Local several capacities to several global and international bodies. Content Strategy for First Exploration and Production Nige- With a specialization in education, energy and environment, ria Limited, an indigenous Nigerian operator. He has worked oil and gas, media, charities and government, he has an in- as a Strategy Consultant for the National Centre for Ener- depth understanding of global issues but with special refer- gy and Environment under the Energy Commission of the ence to Africa. He was an Adviser to the British Government Presidency, Nigeria and was recently appointed an Editorial on developing international education policies under the Na- Board Member for the first International Journal on Energy tional Student Forum, International Ambassador for Lancas- and Environment in West Africa. ter University for two years, On-call Education Partnership Consultant for British Council, Nigeria for three years, Busi- Currently, he is the Principal Consultant/CEO of Envirofly ness Development Consultant for the Grow Creative Scheme Consulting Limited UK (www.envirofly-group.com) which is under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) a strategic and sustainable solutions company with expertise for two years and Africa Adviser for several UK and African in bridging the competence gaps between Africa and the rest organisations. of the world using different capacity building and knowledge transfer models. He has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Rehabilitation from the University of Wales UK and a Doctorate Degree Dr. Odon is also the Co-Founder of Xn Foundation (www. in Environmental Management from Lancaster University. xnfoundation.org), a UK, Canada and Nigerian based NGO, Recently, he was appointed the African Strategy Adviser for and currently the UK Country Director (voluntary) of the Lancaster Environment Centre, one of the most reputable same and has helped develop several charitable projects aimed Environmental Centers in Europe. He has also been the Afri- at youth and community development including the Interna- can Strategy Adviser for Scada Access US (www.scadaaccess. tional Conference of Nigerian Students (ICONS), which is com) – oil and gas communication monitoring and field opti- the single largest programme for African Students in the UK. mization Company and Smart Metering Solutions Ltd (www. In the past eight years, five UK Universities, involving liai- sms-plc.com), an international gas and electricity metering son with over 20,000 African students, the delivery of over 40 company. workshop seminars to over 3000 students, and garnered over 100 top profile speakers, have hosted this programme. Dr. Odon also holds enterprise and business development certifications from Judge Business School of Cambridge Dr. Odon is a seasoned poet, novelist and international award University UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technol- winning author, who has published two outstanding liter- ogy (MIT), USA under the Enterprisers Programme and an ary works in London. The first being a book of poetry titled International Fellowship Award from Stanford University ‘Rhymes from the Heart’ (www.amazon.co.uk) and the sec- Business School, USA under the Round-table for Entrepre- ond being a fiction novel titled ‘A Parallel trail’ (www.amazon. neurship Education (REE) programme. He is a multi- award co.uk), with best seller reviews including full features in the winner with awards including the DFID Scholarship Award, media. Recently, he was one of the Producers of an interna- the British Council best UK international student Shine tional feature length movie titled DRY, which tackled the issue Award, Stanford University REE Fellowship Award and the of Child Brides and VVF in Africa, a global human right and Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) Award in a programme health crises with over 2.5 million women suffering from this sponsored by BBSRC, Unilever, BIA, Lonza and a host of in Africa alone – www.themoviedry.com. other reputable companies. Akan, as he is usually called, currently lives in Lancaster, UK, For two years, Dr. Odon was the Local Content Adviser for with his wife Ifeyinwa and they have a daughter, Kaela and a one of the world largest Oil and Gas firms (BG Group, UK) son, Kanaan. He plays the bongo drums and football.

53 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN Dr. Jackson Maogoto Dr. Elvin Nyukuri Dr. Justin Muhoro Nyaga

ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow

Dr Jackson Maogoto holds a Bach- Dr. Elvin Nyukuri is a researcher in Dr. Justine Nyaga is a Lecturer and elor of Laws with First Class Hon- climate change adaptation, resilience Head of Department, Embu Univer- ours from Moi University (Kenya); and social protection. She is also a sity College, Kenya. He is also a Visit- three postgraduate degrees from the Lecturer at the Centre for Advanced ing Scholar, University of Colorado University of Cambridge (Masters in Studies in Environmental Law and at Boulder, CO, USA. Mr. Nyaga has Law with Hons), University of Tech- Policy (CASELAP)-University of also been a Research Scientist at the nology Sydney (Masters in Law) and Nairobi where she is developing a South Africa National Biodiversity University of Melbourne (Doctorate course curriculum on Environmen- Institute (SANBI) and a Programme in Law). Jackson is currently a senior tal diplomacy. For nearly a decade, Officer, Tropical Biology Associa- lecturer at the University of Man- Elvin actively engaged in multi-dis- tion/East Africa Natural History So- chester. His teaching and research ciplinary research including environ- ciety. interests are in Public International mental governance and policy, cli- Law. His international law interests mate change, and food security while Dr. Nyaga has served as a Pro- encompass the fields of international working at African Centre for Tech- gramme Manager, Volunteers for criminal law, international humani- nology Studies (ACTS). Africa (VFA) Organization and as a tarian/use of force, human rights Consultant /E.I.A/E.A Expert, Re- law, transitional democracy, and At ACTS she coordinated the Inter- source Planning Consultants (Repcon space and cyber law. national Agricultural Assessment for Associates). He has also served as an Science and Technology Develop- Evaluation and monitoring officer, Jackson has published extensively in ment (IAASTD)-sub-Saharan Af- Environmental Friendly Services. his fields of teaching and research rica, Community Based Adaptation interest. He is the author of seven to climate change(CBA), Ecological Dr. Nyaga holds a Ph.D. in Botany books, a dozen book chapters and sources of conflict in the Horn and from the University of Cape Town dozens on articles in general and East Africa, Pan-African Programme and an MSc. In Biodiversity and specialist Australian, American, Eu- on Land and Resource rights, and the Conservation Biology from the Uni- ropean and African journals. He has CLACC mentorship programme for versity of the Western Cape, South participated and delivered numerous East Africa. Elvin has consulted for Africa. conference papers in regional and various international organizations international fora. His professional including the AU, UN IIED and In- affiliations include: American Soci- ternational universities. She contin- ety of International Law, Asian So- ues to inform policy through research ciety of International Law, Australia and teaching. & New Zealand Society of Interna- tional Law, International Law As- sociation, International Institute of Space Law, International Society for Military Law & the Law of War and the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

54 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN Mr. Tobias O. Nyumba Florence Gathoni Mr. Suresh A. Patel

ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow

Mr. Tobias Nyumba is a Ph.D. Student in Florence is a PhD Fellow at the Uni- Mr. Suresh Patel is a results-fo- Geography at Churchill College, University versity of Copenhagen, Denmark. cused professional/entrepreneur/ of Cambridge. He holds a Master of Phi- She is working on a project on manufacturer with multi-industry losophy (MPhil) in Environment, Society “Economic Assessment of Innova- experience with environmental and Development from Downing College, tive Drainage Filter Technologies” improvement bias covering stra- University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of under the Sustainable Phosphorous tegic business planning, research, Science (BSc) in Environmental Science from and Nitrogen Remediation Tech- process management, marketing, Egerton University, Kenya. nologies (Supremetech) Project- public relations, training and di- (http://www.supremetech.dk/). versifications. He enjoys the chal- He has over nine years’ experience in re- She holds a MSc. in Agricultural lenges presented by new situations, search, conservation and management of the Economics specializing in Agribusi- opportunities and problems arising African elephant (Loxodonta africana). He ness and Food Economics from the out of Climate Change regime. He has worked previously with specific reference same university and a BSc. In Ag- is well versed with environmental to the mitigation of negative impacts of in- ricultural Economics from Egerton and natural resource related issues teractions between elephants and people; el- University, Kenya. for businesses and industries, both ephant ecology and behaviour; conservation from legal and technological points policy; and, public awareness and education. Florence has over 10 years’ cumu- of view. Tobias first worked as a research assistant lative experience in: agricultural for the Darwin Initiative funded project un- business development, agricultural Mr. Patel is a Chemical Engineer der the University of Cambridge’s Depart- value-chain coordination and mi- with a First Class degree in Chemi- ment of Geography titled: Building Capac- cro-economic research focusing on cal Engineering from Gujarat ity to Alleviate Human-Elephant Conflict agriculture, natural resources and University, India. He is a Certified in North Kenya. Subsequently, he became environment. Her current career Energy Manager (CEM), and a Na- Project Manager for Space for Giants Trust interest is in economic analysis of tional Environment Management in Kenya. agricultural and environmental Authority Lead Expert. technologies. His research focuses on the social and eco- logical implications of human and wildlife interactions, especially within human domi- nated landscapes. He is particularly interest- ed in both applied and practical perspectives, including research and development of tools and policies to sustainably mitigate the direct and hidden negative impacts of human el- ephant interactions.

His PhD research explores the “hidden” as- pects of the interactions between humans and African elephants (Loxodontaafricana) within a heterogeneous land use mosaic in Trans Mara District, Kenya.

55 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN Dr. Julius Ecuru

Mr. Brian Omwenga Grace Muthoni Mwaura Dr. Julius Ecuru

ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow ACTS Non Resident Research Fellow

Brian Omwenga is a Computer Sci- Ms Grace Muthoni Mwaura is a Co- Julius Ecuru is a Chemist and Sci- ence doctoral candidate at the Uni- convener of the IUCN-wide Task ence Policy Analyst. He is currently versity of Nairobi, School of Com- Force on Intergenerational Partner- the Assistant Executive Secretary at puting and Informatics. He holds a ships for Sustainability (IPS) and a the Uganda National Council for Sci- Master of Science in Engineering Steering Committee member of the ence and Technology, a semi-auton- Systems, Technology and Policy IUCN Commission on Education omous government agency that aims from the Massachusetts Institute of and Communication (CEC). Prior to to advise, develop, and implement Technology and a Bachelors in Busi- these, she served as a Global Coun- policies and strategies for integrating ness Information Technology from cil member for IUCN (2010-2012) science, technology, and research de- Strathmore University, Kenya. Brian advancing the engagement of young velopment in Uganda. is an adjunct lecturer at the Univer- professionals and intergenerational sity of Nairobi. partnerships within the Union. Mr. Ecuru’s research focuses on bio- science innovation systems, direct He has previously worked for Micro- She co-founded the African Youth payments during HIV research, and soft and Nokia Research Centre. He Initiative on Climate Change (AY- the morality of research in develop- is an appointed official champion of ICC), where she still serves as an ad- ing countries. the Africa Innovation Foundation’s, visor on policy and communications. Innovation Prize Africa. He is also She holds a bachelor’s degree from He has previously worked for BIO- currently the chairman of the Soft- Kenyatta University (Environmental EARN, a program aimed to build ca- ware Engineering technical commit- Sciences), an MPhil from University pacity in biotechnology in Ethiopia, tee (TC94) that sets national software of Oxford (Nature, Society & Envi- Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda and engineering standards at the Kenya ronmental Policy) and is currently promote appropriate research and Bureau of Standards as well as the undertaking a doctoral programme related policies. Mr. Ecuru has also chair of the Kenya National Work- at the University of Oxford in Geog- been instrumental in building a co- shop on electronic waste standards. raphy &the Environment. herent research management system in Uganda including national frame- Her doctoral research ‘Educated works for human and animal experi- Youth, Livelihoods, and Politics in mentation, biosafety and access to ge- Africa’ examines the meaningful en- netic resources, and benefit sharing. gagement of young people amidst the global economic restructuring. She is particularly interested in new and emerging opportunities to ad- dress global environmental crisis in a youthful African continent.

56 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN ACTS RECOMMENDS 12 TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BOOKS FOR 2015 We live in a world of rapid economic, • THE BOY WHO HARNESSED • AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT IN technological and climatic changes. THE WIND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Nowhere are these changes faster and By William Kamkwamba and Editors: Emmanuel Akyeam- more likely to have greater impacts than Bryan Mealer pong, Robert H. Bates, Nathan in Africa. Many of the world’s fastest Publisher: William Mr (2009) Nunn, James Robinson, growing economies over the last decade Publisher: Cambridge University Press have been African. However, this eco- (2014) nomic growth is characterized in many countries with high income inequality and Africa is yet to achieve the much needed economic structural transfor- mation – meaning that any gains from recent economic growth are still easily reversible.

According to the 2014 Global Competi- tiveness Index (GII) Sub-Saharan Africa has seen the most significant improve- ment of all regions in the GII rankings. A truly inspirational autobiography Some of the best students of African According to the report, among ‘‘low- of Malawian boy, born into poverty, development get together to grapple income countries displaying above par- who, at age 14, defied all odds to in- with the question of the root causes performance, the Sub-Saharan African vent an electricity-producing wind- of Africa’s underdevelopment or region now makes up nearly 50 percent mill (from spare parts and scrap) to persistent. They explore the impacts of “innovation learner” economies’’. power his home. His story highlights of slavery, colonialism, culture, dis- ‘Innovation learners’ are economies a fact often missed in Africa: innova- eases, demography, and institutions that perform at least 10 percent higher tion happens everywhere, often out- of and economic and political gov- than their peers for their level of gross side ‘formal’ institutions such as uni- ernance on Africa’s development in domestic product. Africa is bubbling versities, research institutes, public or historical perspective. with innovation and creative energy. private laboratories. The continent has over 50 Innovation Hubs and co-creation labs or online • CHINA’S SECOND CONTI- • THE SIXTH EXTINCTION: laboratories (ilabs). NENT: HOW A MILLION AN UNNATURAL HISTORY MIGRANTS ARE BUILDING A By Elizabeth Kolbert These range from large, Big Science-lite NEW EMPIRE IN AFRICA Publisher: Barnes and Noble (2014) technology parks such as the Botswana By Howard French Innovation Hub to small but vibrant Publisher: Alfred A, Knopf (2014) ihubs and ilabs dotted all over the con- tinent. A new generation of African scientists, inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs are busy transforming ideas into development solutions – from medical tablets that enable heart exami- nations to be performed in remote rural locations (i.e. Cameroon’s Cardiopad) to phone applications that enable early, non-invasive malaria diagnosis with a customized piece of hardware or Ma- tiscope (i.e. Uganda’s Matibabu). Nev- ertheless, Africa is also the region likely The relationship between Africa Africa is the region of the world, to suffer the most from the impacts of and China might be one of the most likely to be most affected by the im- climate change. important geopolitically in the 21st pacts of climate change. That upto century. How that relationship has 50 percent of living species (plants Our top 15 recommended books in evolved over the last 10 years has and animals) could be lost within sustainable development and technol- been the subject of considerable de- this century should be a wake-up ogy reflect this duality of opportunities bate. Howard French, a former New call to all to take action both against and challenges facing Africa post 2015. York Times Bureau Chief in Shang- climate change and in favour of bio- We would strongly recommend them to hai and West Africa brings a fresh, diversity conservation. A reminder, students of African development, policy rich and critical insight into this de- if any was needed, that Africa must makers, technocrats, donors and others bate. take the fight against wildlife poach- with an interest in global sustainable ing very seriously indeed. development, science, technology and innovation.

57 THE AFRICAN TECHNOPOLITAN EMERGING AFRICA: HOW • DEADLY CHOICES: HOW THE • ARCHITECTS OF POVERTY: THE GLOBAL ECONOMY’S ANTI-VACCINE MOVEMENT WHY AFRICAN CAPITALISM ‘LAST FRONTIER’ CAN THREATENS US ALL NEEDS CHANGING, PROSPER AND MATTER By Paul A. Offit By Moeletsi Mbeki By Kingsley Moghalu Publisher: Basic Books (2011) Central Books (2009) Publisher: Bookcraft (2013)

In recent years, a number of anti- vaccine movements have emerged in both developed and developing Moeletsi Mbeki, one of South Af- countries. In this methodical work, rica’s sharpest political economists infectious diseases expert, Paul Offit warns Africa’s political elite, espe- examines the origins, influence and cially in South Africa and Zimbabwe Sound policies, strong institutions impact of the anti-vaccine move- to re-think their economic systems and political will are critical to Af- ment in the United States and dem- and political governance. The book rica’s ability to transform current onstrates that it is not only based on is now 5 years old but its central mes- opportunities to lasting economic ‘pseudoscience’ it constitutes a grave sage is as absolutely spot on today as gains. Kingsley Moghalu, a former danger to the entire global public it was five years ago. deputy governor of the Nigerian health system. Anti-vaccine propo- central bank argues. A welcome ad- nents in Africa, as well as their sup- • THIS CHANGES EVERY- dition to the growing literature on porters and critics, would do well to THING: CAPITALISM VS THE the ‘Africa rising’ debate. read this book. CLIMATE Naomi Klein • AFRICA 2050: REALIZING • WHAT’S GONE WRONG? Simon and Schuster (2014). THE CONTINENT’S FULL SOUTH AFRICA ON THE POTENTIAL BRINK OF A FAILED STATE- Editors: Theodore Ahlers, Hi- HOOD roshi Kato, Harinder, S. Kohli, By Alex Boraine Callisto Madava, Anil Sood Publisher: New York University Press Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2014 (2014)

The sheer number of revered icons of the anti-apartheid movement Before world leaders, including Afri- coming forward to warn that South can leaders head to the UN Confer- Africa is headed in the wrong direc- ence of Parties in Paris in December tion should force the country’s politi- this year, they should take time to (re) cal, economic, intellectual and civil read Naomi Klein’s This Changes society leadership to hit the ‘pause Everything. The global climate crisis button’ and to engage in the seri- is transformational. It will remake ous national self-examination and global economic and political sys- course correction that the coun- tems, either voluntary (i.e. countries try bequeathed to the world in the choosing to change their economic This book falls within the genre of 1990s. In this book, Alex Boraine, a and political systems in order to miti- long term visions of Africa’s devel- clergyman, Member of Parliament gate and/or adapt to the impacts of opment (e.g. AU Agenda 2063). It and deputy chair of the National climate change) or involuntarily. As provides a framework of action and Truth and Reconciliation Commis- the continent likely to suffer the most a vision – not a prediction – of what sion joins the legendary Archbishop from the impacts of climate change, Africa could look like by 2050. Desmond Tutu, in warning his coun- African leaders and students of Af- try that it is on the verge of betraying rican development would do well to its promise of 20 years ago. read this book.

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