Science & Innovation Committee

The activities of this Committee are divided according to the six priority areas defined in the STISA 2024 as follows:

Eradicate hunger and ensure food and nutrition security

- Research on technologies/practices to improve food production (indigenous tech).

- Research on tools and methods that can assist in developing and preserving plant varieties, seed varieties and availability.

- Research to improve soil quality, soil preservation and soil protection.

- Research on technologies to minimize post-harvest loss and to improve food preservation.

- Research to improve and enhance nutrient fortification and food nutrition (food quality)

- Research to improve Livestock productivity.

- Research on impact of pesticides (quality, practices) on soils, environment, quality of food and health.

- Research on the nexus and the interlinkages between food, energy, water and climate to address the SDGs.

- Research and development of tailored Agro-climate information services to reduce the vulnerability of farmers and the agricultural sector to climate changes and also, for informed efficient decision-making process.

Prevent and control diseases and ensure well-being

- Research on technologies to improve water sanitation and preservation (encourage adapting the best available technology to the African context).

- Research on the application of telemedicine (eHealth) in medical diagnosis.

- Research on methods to combat common diseases (and other “neglected” diseases) like malaria, asthma, typhoid…

- Research on methods of integrating traditional medicine with orthodox or modern medicine.

- Research on enhancing traditional medicine methods (quality, metrics, efficiency, toxicity…)

- Research on improving access to affordable or generic drugs.

- Research on mechanisms to control proliferation of counterfeit drugs.

- Research on methods to improve health literacy and education.

Communication (physical and intellectual mobility)

- Research on methods of reducing costs of land miles.

- Research on methods of allocating sufficient/efficient ICT resources.

- Research on methodologies of improving linkages across borders, seaports, and airports.

- Research on application and use of emerging technologies (Digitalization, artificial intelligence, big data…) to improve access to data and information.

Protect our space (including climate change)

- Research on innovative methods of improving water treatment and water recycling.

- Research on innovative methods to improve waste management and waste recycling (plastic waste, electronic waste, etc).

- Research on innovative methods of combating climate and environmental related diseases (ecological diseases).

- Research on innovative ways to reduce migration due to adverse environmental change.

- Research on methods to improve the earth observation systems, to assess natural and environmental risks and disasters and to develop early warning systems.

Create Wealth

- Research on methods of improving mining resource preservation and value addition of mining technology (beneficiation) in line with the African Mining Vision.

- Research on innovative methods to improve water resource management and allocation.

- Research on innovative methods of improving water/rainfall harvest and artificial recharge in a context where rainfall is going to increase in the future in several areas.

- Research on innovative methods of developing sustainable renewable energy systems (solar, hydro, bio, wind…).

- Research on innovative actions to create jobs for youth (avoid migration and keeping/preserving skills) and women.

- Research on innovative methods to develop skills acquisition tools for employability.

Cross-cutting research areas

- Research on fundamental science to underpin the applied and innovative research methodologies listed above.

- Implement Data Center to address big-data issue and computational high-performance infrastructure (HPC).

- Support e-Network in all regions (Ubuntu, WACREN, AFRICACONNECT) and at national levels (NREN).

- Promoting Open Data and Open science.

- Innovative research methods that lead to leapfrog development pathway.

- Support the development of large research infrastructure and excellence specialized centers that can welcome scientists of Africa and from the diaspora to perform research addressing the African priorities.

- Support initiatives of Pan African University on eLearning for mass education.