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Science, Technology, Innovation and Business Incubation in Africa; Challenges, Opportunities and Future Prospects ISBA 6th Annual Conference 17-19 March, Pune, India Tilahun Zeweldu (PhD) Regional Advisor Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program (ABSP) in East and Central Africa MD-North West Investments Ltd. [email protected] I. Introduction Africa Africa Compared Map Some hard Facts on Ethiopia and Uganda Current Facts on Ethiopia Current Population ◦ 2050 estimated to grow to Population growth Life Expectancy at Birth Surface area ◦ Covered by water ◦ Land locked Forest area Per capita income > 85 million 170 million 3.2% 55.8% (53 M; 58 F) 1,119,683 sq km 7,444 sq km ??????? 1-2%; ?????? 170 USD Cont’d 46% of Ethiopians are under 15 years of age 51% 15-64 years 2.7% above 65 years 6.07 children Total fertility rate 78 deaths per 1000 live birth Average caloric intake about 1700 kcal vs. 2300 kcal recommended globally Up to 57 % of Ethiopian children are stunted 62% Ethiopians are victim of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) >40% of Ethiopians are suffer under Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) Vit A deficien Agriculture is the largest employer in Ethiopia with 83% workforce in the sector Cont’d Key problems Food, nutrition, clean water and other basic needs Quality education Health care service Energy Access Raw material (industry and service) Increasing environmental degradation and associated costs Infrastructure Current Facts on Uganda • Population – 2050 estimated to grow to • Population growth • Life Expectancy at Birth • Surface area 32 million 105 million 3.2% 50 years 241,000 km2 – 20% of it is water body – Land locked • • • • Forest area GDP (2006) GDP Growth (2006) Per capita income 36,000 km2 9.3 Billion US$ 5.3% 300 US$ Cont’d 50% of the population under 15 years Average caloric intake is about 1900 kcal which is below recommended amount 2300 kcal About 35% of Ugandan Children are stunted 65% Ugandan Children below 5 year and 30% Ugandan women are iron deficient 28% of Ugandan Children and 52% women are Vit. A deficient Only 12% of rural households in Uganda are significant net food sellers, 66% are net buyers Agriculture is the largest employer in Uganda with 83% workforce in the sector Women account 3 out of 4 agricultural labor force and 9 out of 10 food producing labor in Uganda. Cont’d Agriculture accounts for 40% GDP; generates 85% export earning Over 85% Ugandans and 96% of the poor live in rural areas 400,000 Ugandans enter the labor market every year; but only about 100,000 are able to find employment in formal sector; where are those 300,000 going ??????????? With current population growth, Uganda needs to create 850, 000 jobs a year by 2022 and 1,520,000 jobs a year by 2037 II. Challenges Mega Challenges • Food, Nutrition and Health • Technology Development, Access and Application • Practical training and innovation (education system) • Knowledge taping and management (knowledge transfer) • Enterprise creation and development • Infrastructure Building and Maintenance • Road, communication, Institutions • Energy Generation and Use • Hydro, bio, fossil • Resource Harnessing and Management • Natural, financial, human, infrastructural etc Fundamental Problems in Africa Lack of food and nutrition Lack of knowledge/ low level of education Poverty Low innovativeness therefore high unemployment High health risk III. Future Prospects and Opportunities What is needed to be done urgently? Systematic Problem Mapping and prioritization Prospecting, validation, access, use and management of technology and knowledge Setting strong innovation systems Increased investment in applied science and technology Dynamic S&T Policy Action Strategic Cross Border Partnership Building for Entrepreneurship Development Partnership Models Public-Public (for basic cross cutting public service) Public-Private (improved and swift public service) Private-Private (for mutual benefit) Public-Public-Private (in strategic sectors) Partnership model for SMEs Development SME NPOs PSO GO Business Incubators in Africa Supported by Information for Development Program (InfoDev) www.infoDev.org InfoDev provides financial and technical support to 24 Business Incubators in ten African countries. Organized under African Incubator Network (AIN) which was established in 2004, has ten member countries (Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda) Target Population of AIN Rural Poor Urban Poor Women Youth 13% 24% 31% 32% Target Sector of AIN Agriculture ICT International Manufacturing Mixed use Textile 10% 46% 3% 20% 18% 3% Opportunities Rich Natural Resources (biodiversity, water, land and more unexplored potential) Increasing market potential for goods and services Opportunity to short cut technological gaps and learn from advanced countries Concluding Remarks Create strong public private partnership for Entrepreneurship development (universities, R&D Institutions, private enterprises, NGOs ) Setup clusters of applied technology and business incubators and network Establish funding mechanisms for STI and SMEs Development Foster regional and international partnerships for technology prospecting, selection, access transfer, innovation and business development NWI Ltd. Core Focus • • • • Health, Food and Nutrition Training (Institute) Integrating Agriculture and Health Service in Rural Settings Natural Resources Conservation and Mgt. (Permanent Forest Development as Climate change mitigation) Applied Technology and Business Incubation “Commitment to Serve Humanity and Shape a for All Better Future should be the Fundamental Duty of every Human being; and then we can have lasting peace and prosperity in the World”