Emerging issues in science and technology for food security and sustainable development in Africa : parliamentary documentation

Abstract

Achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs) and sustainable development in Africa represents major challenges, given the weak science and technology capacities of most African countries In fact, meeting the various development challenges in the area of poverty reduction, food security, health, water and sanitation, globalization, productivity and International competitiveness, requires strengthened scientific and technological capabilities on the African continent. A new scientific and technological regime is needed to meet these challenges indeed, the underlying principles of the sustainable development paradigm, which underpins development goals and strategies, command policies that are, among other things, pro-environment, pro-poor and pro-innovation progressing simultaneously in many areas of science and technology policy in order to achieve sustainability and competitiveness appears to be the most viable strategy available to African policy makers at this particular juncture. This document captures some of the ongoing work within ECA In the area of science and technology for food security and sustainable development.