UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT

Southern Africa
The National Science and Technology Policy of 2002 envisaged
the establishment of a National Commission for Science and
Technology to advise the government and other stakeholders
on science and technology-led development. Although the
Science and Technology Act of 2003 17 made provision for
the creation of this commission, it only became operational
in 2011, with a secretariat resulting from the merger of the
Department of Science and Technology and the National
Research Council. The Secretariat of the National Commission
for Science and Technology reviewed the current Strategic
Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (2011–2015) but,
as of early 2015, the revised STI policy had not yet met with
Cabinet approval (UNESCO, 2014a).
Among the notable achievements stemming from the
implementation of national STI policies in recent years are the:
n establishment, in 2012, of the Malawi University of Science
and Technology and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture
and Natural Resources (LUANAR 18 ) to build STI capacity.
This brings the number of public universities to four, with
the University of Malawi and Mzuzu University;
n improvement in biomedical research capacity through the
five-year Health Research Capacity Strengthening Initiative
(2008–2013) awarding research grants and competitive
scholarships at PhD, master’s and first degree levels,
supported by the UK Wellcome Trust and DfID;
n strides made in conducting cotton confined field trials,
with support from the US Program for Biosafety Systems,
Monsanto and LUANAR (see Box 18.2).
n introduction of ethanol fuel as an alternative fuel to petrol
and the adoption of ethanol technology;
17. A Science and Technology Fund was also established by the Science and
Technology Act of 2003 to finance research and studies through government
grants and loans; it was not yet operational by 2014 (UNESCO, 2014b).
18. LUANAR was delinked from the University of Malawi in 2012.
n launch of the ICT Policy for Malawi in December 2013,
to drive the deployment of ICTs in all economic and
productive sectors and improve ICT infrastructure in rural
areas, especially via the establishment of telecentres; and
n a review of secondary school curricula in 2013.
MAURITIUS
Competing with South Africa as an
investment hub
Mauritius is a small island nation with 1.3 million inhabitants.
Unemployment is low and the country counts the secondhighest
GDP per capita in the SADC; it grew by more than
17% over the period 2008–2013. Mauritius also ranks
second-highest in the SADC region for human development
and has the third-best score in the Corruption Perceptions
Index (47th out of 175), behind Botswana (31st) and
Seychelles (43rd). In 2012, there were almost twice as
many students enrolled in higher education as in 2006
(Table 19.4).
The economy is driven by tourism, textile manufacturing,
sugar and financial services. There has been a rapid
diversification of the economic base towards ICTs,
seafood, hospitality, property development, health care,
renewable energy, education and training, which have
attracted both local and foreign investors. Mauritius’
status as an investment hub for new businesses has also
provided significant opportunities for offshore companies.
This diversification is largely due to the government’s
determination to move the economy up the value chain
towards an economy based on high skills and technology.
The strategy has worked: in 2013, Mauritius overtook
South Africa to become the most competitive economy in
sub-Saharan Africa.
Chapter 20
Box 20.2: The Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund
The Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund
(MICF) is a new competitive facility,
through which businesses in Malawi’s
agricultural and manufacturing
sectors can apply for grant funding
for innovative projects with potential
for making a strong social impact and
helping the country to diversify its
narrow range of exports.
The fund is aligned on the three
clusters selected within the country’s
National Export Strategy: oil seed
products, sugar cane products and
manufacturing.
The MICF provides a matching grant
of up to 50% to innovative business
projects to help absorb some of
the commercial risk in triggering
innovation. This support should
speed up the implementation of new
business models and/or the adoption
of technologies.
The first round of competitive bidding
opened in April 2014.
The fund is endowed with US$ 8
million from the United Nations
Development Programme and the
UK Department for International
Development.
Source: AfDB press release and personal
communication; authors
551