Terms
- The AU Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024) is the first decade incremental strategy that is designed to address Africa’s challenges within the context of the AU Agenda 2063 with the ultimate goal of contributing significantly to the AU vision “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven and managed by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena”.
- On the Wings of Innovation, the STISA-2024 places science, technology and innovation at the epicentre of Africa’s socio-economic development and growth. Unlike its predecessor the Africa’ Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) which focuses on the specific projects and concrete actions the STISA 2024 was designed to lead and accelerate the transition of African to an Innovation led knowledge based economy. A good example on the implementation of the CPA and its projects is the Book of Lighthouse projects.
- Four pillars define the STISA, four prerequisite pillars to ensure the realization of its goals and objectives. These pillars are Upgrading/Building Research Infrastructure; Enhancing Technical and Professional Competencies; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Providing an Enabling Environment for STI Development in the African Continent
- To ensure that AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities are informed on the systems needed for the domestication and implementation of the strategy, the African Union Scientific Technical Research Commission (AU-STRC) engaged in the development of a policy analysis for the STISA-2024 to ensure its smooth implementation. The analysis was developed within the considerations of STIs for economic development in Africa. As such STISA 2024 was subjected to critical analysis considering present, past and future based on the needs and gaps that yield all the pre-requisite and required systems and mechanisms including policies and institutions needed.