DECISION ON THE REPORT ON THE CONFERENCE
OF MINISTERS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Doc. EX.CL/224 (VIII)
The Executive Council:
TAKES NOTE of the Report;
ALSO NOTES the rationalization of the S&T programme of the Department of Science and Technology of the Commission and that of the S&T programme of NEPAD;
ENDORSES the Consolidated Plan of Action which seeks to undertake a research and development programme in Africa as adopted by Ministers of Science and Technology;
APPROVES that the Commission, the NEPAD Office of Science and Technology and Member States be responsible for mobilizing financial and technical resources to implement programmes and projects contained in the Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action.
ALSO ENDORSES the call upon Member States, by the Conference, to raise their national S&T budget to 1% of GDP, to ensure that their programmes and projects are implemented.
SUPPORTS the call by the Conference for effective and coordinated implementation of the Research and Development programme of Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action as well as effective mobilization of African Scientists around it.
FURTHER ENDORSES the establishment of a high-level AU-NEPAD-UNESCO- Working Group to prepare a comprehensive programme for the establishment and funding of Centres of Excellence in Africa for the implementation of Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action.