Events

Press Release Nº 255/2013

AU Commission Holds an Experts’ Workshop on Designing an African Space Strategy

Johannesburg, December 19, 2013 –Following the 2012African Ministerial Conference of Science and Technology (AMCOST) which established a Working Group on African Space Policy and Strategy, African experts drawn from fields of Earth Observation, Astronomy, Space Physics, Metrology, and Navigation an Positioning; and Communication met in South Africa from 19 to 20 December 2013 to brainstorm and articulate the elaboration of a continent wide space strategy. The strategy is being derived from the draft space policy that was developed by this working group. It will enable Africa to benefit from its abundant and untapped space resources. The Director of Human Resources, Science and Technology, Dr. Abdul-Hakim Rajab Elwaer who opened the workshop, underlined that this workshop is a historic and visionary move which will ensure the development of a sustainable and fully effective space program for Africa, that will better serve its citizens through the improvement of quality of life and the creation of wealth.
Indeed, Space Science and Technology presents a unique opportunity as it contributes towards a better proactive management of disease outbreaks, natural resources, environment, natural hazards and disasters, weather forecasting, climate change mitigation and adaptation, agriculture and food security, peacekeeping missions and conflicts, and maritime activities, among others.
The African Space Policy and Strategy is thus a guiding framework for the formalization of the African Space Agenda. It will be complemented by a Plan of Action with the goal of addressing user needs, ensuring the access to space services, developing the regional market, coordinating the African space arena, enhancing space governance, and promoting international cooperation.

Science and Technology: key for Africa’s Socio-economic advancement
Winners of 2013 Kwame Nkrumah Award ceremony announces
Addis Ababa, 09 December 2013- As part of the year-long celebration of the commemoration of the OAU/AU 50th year anniversary, the African Union Commission (AUC), through its Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology, (HRST) opened the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) week. It also witnessed the three winners of Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Regional Award, today 08 December 2013, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

During the opening ceremony H.E Demitu Hambisa, Minister of Science and Technology, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, considered Science and Technology as the most effective means to enhance growth and socio-economic development of nations. “Technological development has a profound and long-term impact on income distribution, economic growth, employment, trade, environment and industrial structure”, she added.

“The AU's approach to the post 2015 development agenda and the forthcoming Agenda 2063 highlight the promotion of STI as a key driver of change and recognizes that "Africa's sustained growth, competitiveness and economic transformation will require investments in new technologies and innovations." At the same time, the AU Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024) places science, technology and innovation at the centre of Africa’s social and economic development”, said Ambassador Gary Quince, Head of Delegation of the European Union to the African Union.

Officially opening the STI week, H.E Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, stressed the need for strategic coordination, knowledge sharing and commitment in advancing science and technology for the overall socio-economic development of the continent.

The Director of Human Resources, Science and Technology, at the AUC, Dr. Abdul-Hakim Rajab Elwaer argues that science, technology and innovation has to occupy a pivotal and central position in Africa’s social and economic development dynamics. “We have a strong conviction that science, technology and innovation is a tool for economic growth, wealth creation, food security, as well as political stability”, he added.

Following the end of the opening session, the STI week, under the theme Science and Technology’s contributions towards AU Agenda 2063, announced the three winners of Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Regional Awards:

Professor Isabelle Adolé GLITHO-AKUESON- currently Professor of animal Biology, specialty in Entomology, Director of the Laboratory of Entomology and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Lomé (Togo). She is holder of the UNESCO Chair "Women, Science and Sustainable Water Management in West Africa”, President of the Regional Experts Commission of West Africa AUF Office (BAO/AUF), President of the association "Togolese Women for Science & Technology Advancement", and Board Member of Research Management and Applications n° 2 IRD (CGRA2/IRD).

Dr. Yvonne Bonzi-Coulibaly- the first professor in Chemistry at Ouagadougou University. She taught chemistry at Chemistry Institute of Ouagadougou University from1987-1988), and at the Science Faculty and Pharmacy department of Abidjan University from 1989-1992. Her areas of expertise are in Organic Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry and Pollution.

Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim- Professor Abdool Karim is an Honorary Professor in Public Health at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine at University of KwaZulu-Natal, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia University in New York and Associate Scientific Director of CAPRISA – Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa. Her research has changed the face of HIV prevention by providing the first effective technology, tenofovir gel, that women can use and control in order to protect themselves from acquiring HIV.

The African Union (AU) Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards program is one of the several bold steps taken by the AU Commission to boost and popularise Science and Technology in Africa through empowering African scientists, celebrating their achievements and promoting all efforts to transform scientific research into economic growth.

For media inquiries please contact:
MTS/WM
Molalet Tsedeke Directorate of Information and Communication, AU Commission; molalett@africa-union.org ; +251-911630631

Brussels Belgium, 29 November 2013, The EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue is a platform that was endorsed in 2010 by the 3rd EU-Africa Joint Summit and launched in October 2011, it was created within cooperation on science and technology of the EU-Africa Joint Strategy 2007 with the major objective to build better common understanding, mutual trust and ownership of joint programmes between the two continents and above all to strengthen the overall cooperation.

In this context the European and African Union Commissions are holding the 2ndHigh Level Policy Dialogue with a special focus on the role of science, technology and innovation in ensuring “Food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture (including water)”. An integrated approach is taken recognising the important cross-cutting nature of innovation/ entrepreneurship, research infrastructures and technical competence building.

Agricultural sector occupies a pivotal and central position in Africa's social and economic development dynamics. The dialogue expressed a strong conviction that science and technology can bring about enhanced productive and efficient food and agricultural sector on the continent which is central for economic growth, wealth creation, food and nutrition security, as well as political stability. In 2003 the Heads of State and Government launched the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), as a common framework for boosting agriculture on the continent, through strategic investment plans and programmes.

One of the key Pillars of CAADP is Pillar 4, which aims to improve agricultural research and systems in order to disseminate appropriate new technologies and improve the Agricultural Sector. Through the reform of Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidation Plan of Action (CPA), the continent has placed strong impetus on eradicating hunger, and achieving food and nutrition security in the continent. The new decadal AU Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa – 2024 (STISA -2024) defines a new period for research and development in Africa, within the overall and broader AU Agenda 2063. Africa needs a strong, dynamic and sustainable research enterprise capable of translating scientific discoveries into products, services, and processes that are required for our sustainable development.

For more information, kindly contact:
Dr. Abdul-Hakim Rajab Elwaer

Director
Human Resources, Science and Technology Department
African Union Commission
Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00
Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44
E-mail: AElwaer@africa-union.org

Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

Press Release Nº 232/2013

Consultations on Development Cooperation between the African Union and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 20 November, 2013: The AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST), Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga, on behalf of the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, signed a Memorandum of Understanding together with Mr. Christoph Rauh, Head of Division of Regional Development Cooperation with Africa in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the head of the Delegation, together with the German Chargé d’affaires, Mr. Thomas Terstegen.

The Consultations are follow up to a continued political dialogue between the AU and the German Government.

The Commissioner Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga opened the ceremony by welcoming the Delegation and expressing his satisfaction with the work that has been done during the three-day consultations.
Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga also spoke about the priority areas of cooperation between the AU and Germany and highly commended the cooperation.

Mr. Christoph Rauh gave a brief about the German cooperation with Africa. Half of funds are to go to Africa for development and cooperation as Mr. Rauh said. The total volume of funding for technical and financial cooperation projects and programmes thus totals 45 million Euro. Hence the total volume of bilateral commitments in 2013 is 173 million Euro.

Mr. Christoph Rauh commended the African Union Commission efforts in coming with AUC Strategic Plan (2014-2017) to achieve a high level of Excellence and new ways of financing activities of the AU and sheds light on African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and African Peace Facility (APF).

The German side took note of the AUC-HRST proposals regarding education, science and technology, biodiversity and youth programme. Both sides agreed to consider whether they could fit into the Pan African University (PAU) cooperation or under one of the pillars of the cooperation.

The next negotiations on development cooperation between the African union Commission and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany are scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, November 2014

/GAAK

MEDIA ADVISORY

3rd International Conference on Family Planning-Youth Pre-Conference THEME: “ INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE: ADDRESSING FAMILY PLANNING WITHIN THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS OF YOUTHFUL AFRICA”

INVITATION TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

When: 10-11 November 2013

Where: The African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the Medium Conference Hall

Who: Department of Human Resources Science and Technology of the African Union Commission (AUC).

Why: The case of sexual and reproductive health rights in Africa has been a topic highly discussed. The AU and its partners are taking up the responsibility and challenge to ensure the good health of the youth by delivering on their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). SRHR provides skills to adolescents to prevent unsafe sexual behaviour.

There is a huge risk, that if countries do not address the needs with in the extremely young age structure through such investment as scaling up Family Planning, young people will not achieve their full potential for economic growth, and subsequently the opportunity that comes through a demographic dividend.

Objective: the objectives of the Youth pre-conference on Family Planning include the following:
1. Position family planning and fertility management within continental youth health data and youth & SRHR commitments and the African Common Position on the post-2015 development agenda.
2. Prioritize family planning and fertility management actions and investments that will have the greatest positive impact on youth health
3. Identify and agree on key actions to be taken by regional economic communities and AU member states to realize these priorities and investments.
4. Recommend to the AUC a framework for measuring progress on youth family planning and fertility management within broader SRHR.
5. Agree to mechanisms through which youth participate in and contribute to young people’s SRHR discussions in the Post 2015 development Agenda at continental level.
6. To acknowledge and celebrate the progress made in improving the SRHR of African youth at regional, national and community levels.
Methodology: The Youth pre-conference on Family Planning will be structured in such a way that will be plenary sessions, breakaway parallel discussions, official conference opening which all will funnel into a final plenary discussion to consolidate all the key issues, actions and recommendations.

Outcome: The pre-conference is expected to be highly interactive, in view of the items to be discussed. Recommendations adopted, shall guide the African continent in addressing youth FP challenges within the health sector and other key sectors that impact on the health of young people. Through sharing of challenges/experiences, the lessons learnt will be used to tailor the FP interventions on the continent.

Background: The African Union recognizes that family planning in Africa is a key indicator of the overall health status of the continent and remains central to human capital development which is critical for equitable and sustainable socio-economic growth and development.

It is estimated that 90% of the global 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 to24 live in developing countries and each year, births by adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 account for 16% of all births in sub-Saharan Africa.These figures are a major concern given that teenage pregnancies impact negatively on the development of the young mothers, with the major implications including dropping out of school, curtailed personal development and increased vulnerability to exploitative sexual relationships. Children of teenage mothers are also usually caught in a vicious circle of poverty and disadvantage To a large extent the high adolescent pregnancy rates and unintended pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed to low contraceptive prevalence among young people,lack of knowledge about contraception, health concerns, high costs, limited supplies, and cultural or personal objections to using contraception (Bulato, 1998; Swartz, 2003; Cooper et al, 2004)

Africa is one of the youngest continents in the world and, with the exception of North Africa; adolescentsand youth numbers in the continent are expected to grow to 436 million by 2025. Youth 15-24 are currently estimated at 209 million -- the largest number of young people to ever enter the productive and reproductive ages in the region. The nations of the continent have the opportunity to usher them into healthy and economically productive adult citizens who will lead Africa’s renaissance through on-going democratization, increasing human development, well-being and equity, and participating in socio-economic development and global integration.

Within SRHR policy framework, Africa has developed or adopted a number of treaties and agreements most notably, theMaputo Plan of Action for the Operationalisation of the Continental Policy Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the emerging African common position on the International Conference on Population and Development. With respect to youth, the African Youth Charter is the continent’s blue print for youth development and integration.

Within these continental commitments, Family Planning is an essential pillar of SRHR and overall youth health and development. It provided the mechanism for reducing health risks and improving youth opportunities for education and a productive livelihood and citizenship.

While these commitments place Africa centrally withinthe global movement to support youth development, they have not always been translated into policy or laws across the continent. Wherethey havebeen translated into national legislation, theyare not alwaysadequately funded, implemented or reported upon.Commitments also need to be accompanied by plans that form thebasis for resourcing and capacity building to promote policy implementation. When policy makers and those responsible for implementation are knowledgeable and comfortable with the issues, they are more likely to carry them through. (E. Green 2012)

Despite efforts and the significant progress made by Member States, it is clear that current progress still falls short of what is required for Africa to achieve the MDG 4 and 5 targets.

JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO COVER THE YOUTH PRE-CONFERENCE ON FAMILY PLANNING.

Attached is the draft work program

Media enquiries and requests for interviews should be directed to Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission, E mail address: yamboue@africa-union.org , Tel: +251 361185

For more information contact:
Dr. Raymonde Agossou
Head of Division of Human Resources &Youth Development
African Union Commission
Email: agossour@africa-union.org
Cc: nonkululekon@africa-union.org

Dr. Ademola Olajide
Head of Division - Social Affairs Department
African Union Commission
Email: olajidea@africa-union.org
Cc: kennetho@africa-union.org

Ms. Annick-Laure Tchuendem
Conference Coordinator,
Division of Human Resources &Youth Development
Email: secretariat@youthfpc.org