UNESCO and SADC host virtual workshop to validate the Science, Technology and Innovation Training Framework

African governments are increasingly recognising the need to invest in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) capabilities in order to respond to the socio-economic challenges they face and to achieve the Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Agenda 2063. As such, a good number of African governments have put in place STI strategies and plans towards promoting economic growth and eradicating poverty in their respective countries but they still need to align these policies with the global agenda.

It is against this need, that UNESCO and SADC in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa, are hosting a virtual validation workshop for the draft Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) training framework from 26-29 May 2021. The objective of the workshop is to obtain inputs to the training framework from the key stakeholders such as SADC STI experts to serve as a key step towards enriching the draft STI Training Framework through identification of gaps and other areas for improvement. The expected outcome of the workshop is a robust gender sensitive STI training framework incorporating recommendations from the relevant key stakeholders, to guide the design, structuring and development of the STI training modules.

This draft training framework is in response to the directive from the SADC Ministers to UNESCO and its partners to design a regional capacity building programme on STI Policy and Governance for SADC policy makers and STI experts and to organize further training programmes on STI Policy and Governance.

As a follow-up to the validation workshop, a pilot training will also be conducted to assess the relevance of modules and various training components; and to determine the appropriateness, clarity, and flow of material. The pilot programme will provide valuable responses and viewpoints that will be incorporated into the training modules.