The Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Road Map Conference in Nairobi

The Fourth Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmaps for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda conference Co-organized by DESA, the World Bank, UNCTAD and UNESCO and Co-hosted by European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC) in collaboration with the Government of Japan, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and the National Commission for Science, Technology & Innovation (NACOSTI), Kenya will be held on April 1-3, 2019 Nairobi, Kenya at the United Nations Complex in Gigiri.

In the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, adopted in July 2015, the United Nations Member States committed to “adopt science, technology and innovation strategies as integral elements of our national sustainable development strategies” (para 119). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, unanimously adopted by developing and developed countries, reaffirmed STI as key means of implementation and launched the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) to support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The TFM is composed of the collaborative Multi-Stakeholder Forum on STI for the SDGs (STI Forum), Online Platform, and the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Team on STI for the SDGs (IATT- STI) together with a group of 10 high-level representatives from civil society, the private sector and the scientific community (10-Member Group). STI roadmaps and action plans to help realise the SDGs have been among the central topics through the first three STI Forums.

The STI Forum in 2017 highlighted that “… the STI roadmaps and action plans are needed at the subnational, national and global levels, and should include measures for tracking progress. These roadmaps incorporate processes that require feedback loops, evaluate what is working and not working, and produce continual revisions that create a real learning environment.”

STI Forum in 2018 concluded that “the work of the inter-agency task team subgroup on science, technology and innovation for Sustainable Development Goal roadmaps and action plans is encouraged, to support the development of multi-stakeholder science, technology and innovation action plans for implementing the Goals.

International support, Member State engagement and partnerships with civil society and the private sector will be needed to develop capacities and to formulate science, technology and innovation for Sustainable Development Goal road maps at the national and sub-national levels and to fill the critical gaps in data, finance and effective implementation.”

To advance on this initiative, the group has launched a series of Expert Group Meetings (EGM) on STI roadmaps led by the United Nations IATT-STI, attended by both the members of the IATT-STI and the 10-Member Group, as well as the experts and/or practitioners from Member States.

Three EGMs have been successfully concluded, in New York (March 2018), Tokyo (May 2018), and Brussels (November 2018).  The fourth EGM, by drawing upon the fruits of the previous three EGMs, will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on April 1st to 3rd, 2019, with specific focus on engaging African stakeholders.

One of the main outputs that resulted from the collective work and consultations during the EGMs, is the Guidebook on Development of Science, Technology and Innovation roadmaps. Furthermore, the IATT sub-group has formulated a “Global Pilot Programme on STI for SDGs roadmaps” engaging countries in piloting the approach and methodology, as elaborated in the Guidebook.

The overarching objective of the Expert Group Meetings (EGM) on STI roadmaps is to cultivate peer-learning environment, strengthen the capacities and shape consensus/partnerships among member states and the UN System on STI roadmaps, action plans, and strategies.

For more information contact the secretariat members:

• Caroline Bwire: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Prof. Tom Ogada Migun : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Mr. David Onyango: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Dr. Moses Rugutt: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.