State and Government in SADC countries
6 July 2006
We, the Heads of State and Government of:
The Republic of Angola
The Republic of Botswana
The Democratic Republic of Congo
The Kingdom of Lesotho
The Republic of Madagascar
The Republic of Malawi
The Republic of Mauritius
The Republic of Mozambique
The Republic of Namibia
The Republic of South Africa
The Kingdom of Swaziland
The United Republic of Tanzania
The Republic of Zambia
The Republic of Zimbabwe
1. Motivated by the objectives of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) Common Agenda to achieve sustainable and equitable socio-economic growth
and development in the Region and the eradication of poverty.
2. Recalling the critical importance given to science, technology and
innovation by SADCâs Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and
the need to strengthen the Regionâs ability to coordinate collaboration in
science technology and innovation.
3. Acknowledging that the ability of our nations to create, acquire,
accumulate, diffuse and utilise scientific and technological know-how is a
major determinant of our capacity for industrial development and growth and to
compete successfully in the global knowledge economy and thus improve the
quality of life within our communities.
4. Mindful of the fact that the income disparities between poor and rich
countries can largely be accounted for by the differences in the acquisition,
accumulation, diffusion and utilisation of science, technology and
innovation.
5. Realising the crosscutting relevance of science, technology and
innovation in supporting the implementation of the Regional Indicative
Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the New Partnership for Africaâs
Development (NEPAD), the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD).
Hereby commit to:
1. Champion at the highest level of our respective governments, science,
technology and innovation as priority instruments for achieving sustainable
social and economic development.
2. Develop within our governments adequate political and official structures
to provide oversight, formulate policies, implement and monitor the success of
programmes on matters related to scientific research and technological
development.
3. Establish adequate and sustainable public funding modalities for science,
technology and innovation and create favourable policy environments and
incentives for the private sector and foreign investors active in our countries
to contribute to the development of endogenous research and technological
capabilities.
4. Promote the coordination of policies and programmes involving science,
technology and innovation between the different sectors of government within
our countries and to promote active dialogue and cooperation among all
stakeholders.
5. Establish and strengthen national programmes for promoting public
understanding of and participation in science, technology and innovation and
encourage coordination of these efforts at SADC Regional level.
6. Pursue, within our countries, all means possible to increase public and
private expenditure on research and development to at least one, percent of GDP
per annum, within the timeframes and terms of the commitments made by our
countries in forums such as the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group and
African Union (AU)/NEPAD.
7. Work towards increasing the levels of enrolment, particularly that of
girls and women, in science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies,
in our basic, secondary and tertiary educational institutions.
8. Build consensus within the Region in order to address common interests
and concerns relating to new technologies, including biotechnology,
nanotechnology and information and communication technologies.
9. In recognition of the need to secure within the SADC Region, sustainable
institutional and structural mechanisms to service joint regional programmes on
science, technology and innovation, we further commit ourselves to the
following specific actions.
10. Establish and sustain a Science, Technology and Innovation Unit within
the SADC Secretariat, with requisite human, financial and technical resources,
to coordinate and integrate science technology and innovation matters across
all programmes.
11. Support the institution and implementation of protocols and other
agreements that facilitate regional cooperation in scientific research,
technology development and innovation.
12. Constitute a Ministerial Standing Committee on Science, Technology and
Innovation to carry out functions to support regional initiatives and encourage
active participation in all established structures.
13. Promote the creation of regional networks to maximise the participation
of member countries in regional and continental programmes such as the AU/NEPAD
Africaâs Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
6 July 2006
