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Using scienceand technologyto accelerateAfrica’sdevelopmentprocess2nd Science with AfricaConferenceAddis Ababa, Ethiopia23 June 2010The Science with Africa conference was born out of our stronglyheld belief at ECA that along with improved economic managementand governance, the proper use and application of science,technology and innovation was an indispensable ingredient in theAfrican development process. This view was informed by the realisationthat scientific thinking and discovery must underpin thestructural transformation of African economies as evidenced bythe experience of other parts of the world, especially the emergingeconomies of Asia and Latin America. The positive response by thescientific community and other stakeholders to the first conferenceshowed that similar views were shared.There have been several key developments in the global environmentsince we first met for Science with Africa. This conference istaking place against the continuing background of the global economicand financial crisis from which many of our economies are yetto recover. The crisis has put at risk the hard earned gains in improvingthe living conditions of our people and in meeting the globallyagreed Millennium Development Goals. The recovery remains shakyas some countries face huge debts and deficits. The global crisis willhave undoubtedly also impacted on science and technology investmentsin Africa, which were already relatively low. It will no doubtalso impact on the support that Africa receives for its research anddevelopment activities through grants and collaborative projects.46 Part One