AU Specialized Technical Committee discuss responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and appreciated UNESCO support

The Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science and Technology (STC-EST) 3 convened a virtual bureau meeting on 9th April 2020 to discuss the Education, Science and Technology responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uganda and chair of the STC.  In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, highlighted the current interruption of learning and academic activities across Africa that will set our young population back even further, widening the gap unless we act fast and innovatively.

The Bureau expressed appreciation to UNESCO for the commitment to support the African Union in: water purification, provision in collaboration with the ACDC of facial protective shields obtained from 3D printing; and mobilizing UNESCO’s Networks- Category I and II Centers and Chairs in Microbiology and Life Sciences- opening sciences and outside Africa to exchange scientific information, data, and collective intelligence, and to pool ideas for African scientists, with a view to finding solutions to the current COVID-19 outbreak.

The Chair of STC-EST 3 emphasized that COVID-19 is challenging the research community to evolve and innovate solutions.

For the full communique of the Burea, please click here