Inside

Issue No. 19Jan. - Jun. 2006

The Newsletter of

African Technology Policy Studies Network

Scientific Revival Day of Africa 2006

Biotechnology, Trade and

Sustainable Development

Activities and Events Pictorial

African youth interested in agriculture,science, technology and innovation finallyhave a medium to harness and channel theirideas to contribute to relevant policies.

Hon Clement Eledi, the Deputy Minister forFood and Agriculture, Ghana launched theAfrican Youth Forum on Science andTechnology (AYFST), a caucus that aims to

provide a united voice for the youth onscience and technology issues in Africa,with pomp and dance during a ceremonythat marked the end of the Second AfricanRegional Youth Congress on Science andTechnology that was held on 26-28 June2006 at La Palm Beach Hotel in Accra,Ghana.

YOUTH

A Pan-African Youth Forum on Science andTechnology is Launched in Accra

Key dignitaries including Dr Yaa Difie Osei,the Chairperson of the ATPS-GhanaChapter Board of Trustees; Prof EmmanuelOwusu-Bennoah, the Director General ofthe Council for Science and IndustrialResearch (CSIR); Dr George Essegbey,Director, Science and Technology PolicyResearch Institute (STEPRI) and the NationalCoordinator of the ATPS-Ghana Chapter

YouthCongress

Pomp and jubilation from the youth as Hon Clement Eledi, Deputy Ministercuts the cake to officially launch African Youth Forum on Science and Technology (AYFST)

2 ATPSNEWS

and Ms Sheila Maina, the ATPS Research andTraining Manager and Acting ExecutiveDirector witnessed the historic launch ofAYFST and its website. The youth congresswas co-sponsored by the African TechnologyPolicy Studies Network (ATPS) and theTechnical Centre for Agriculture and RuralCooperation (CTA).

The forum is a culmination of effortsinstigated during the inaugural YouthCongress and Exposition held in Nairobi,Kenya in 2005 that, amongst other issues,agreed on the need to institutionalize theAfrican Youth Congress by making it anannual event for young Africans to discussand suggest interventions on major science,technology and innovation (ST&I) inthe continent. An African youth forum inscience and technology is important toensure coordination and organization of theyouth's views and voices in order to be takenseriously as a constructive force that can beincorporated in the policy processemphasized Mr Maurice Bolo, ATPSResearch Officer and Coordinator of theAYFST, during the launch.

The vision of AYFST is to enhance livelihoodsby empowering the youth to activelycontribute to Africa's socio-economicdevelopment through greater participation inagriculture, science, technology andinnovation (ASTI). It is also envisaged thatAYFST will achieve its major mission ofbuilding the capacity of African youth andempowering them to participate in policyformulation and advocacy for development.

The objectives of the AYFST are tostrengthen the capacity of African youththrough training, information sharing,networking and dialogue in relevant topicaland developmental issues; promote greaterinvolvement of the youth in ASTI; create anadvocacy platform for lobbying forcurriculum improvement and participation innational, regional and international policydebates; and promote youth-led researchand development activities in ASTI. Some ofthe planned activities to achieve these

issues

objectives include workshops and trainingseminars, annual congresses, the webportal for information exchange andagricultural or science-based scholarshipsfor African youth.

The idea to form AYFST was strengthenedby an e-discussion group to promoteexchanges and sustain communicationamongst African youth interested inagriculture and ST&I. The e-group wasinstrumental in sustaining communicationover time and has culminated into a fully-fledged AYFST website to facilitateknowledge exchange and empower theyouth on development matters.

There were intensive debates amongmembers of the e-group about theproposed mission and vision of AYFST andthe critical issues around food security and

health that resulted in the theme of the

Besides the e-group, the youthrecommended that the congress becomesa stand alone sub-programme of theinstitution with a mandate to harmonizeand coordinate the activities of youthinterested in agriculture, ST&I. The vision,mission and objectives of the AYFST wereset to enable AYFST become sustainableand attract donor support.

Soon after the Steering Committeemeeting in Nairobi, CTA sponsored twomembers of AYFST, Maurice Bolo andWinnie Alum, a Steering CommitteeMember, to a Strategic Planning Workshopof the Young Professionals' Platform forAgricultural Research for Development

Second African Regional Youth Congress onScience and Technology: Food Security andHealth for Sustainable Development inAfrica.

(YPARD), an international network of youngagricultural practioners and professionals, inWageningen, Netherlands from 2-5 May2006. The AYFST representatives assistedYPARD to design and formulate its goals,mission and vision. They also networkedwith other young professionals in agriculturearound the globe and learned from theprocess of goal setting to enable them setregional goals for AYFST. The launch ofAYFST, therefore, marks the beginning of along journey with set milestones.

AYFST is housed at the ATPS Secretariat andenjoys strong support from CTA and ATPS,both of which are committed to Africanyouth and are valued partners in the effort toenhance participation and contribution ofyouth in the development of the agriculturaland rural sector in Africa

In a speech read on her behalf at the launch,Judith Francis, Senior ProgrammeCoordinator, CTA declared that CTA hadvery high expectations of the AYFST andwould use the exuberance and commitmentof the youth to tap traditional knowledge anduse it to advance the development andabsorption of innovations. This contributionwould transform the agricultural sector andrural life and make science more relevant tosociety. Sheila Maina reiterated ATPS'commitment to youth activities and called onthe youth to consult with ATPS nationalcoordinators to ensure that they are involvedin ATPS activities in their countries.

Hon Clement Eledi also urged the Africanyouth to take their destiny into their ownhands and challenged them, as youngscientists, to venture into politics becausethat is where resource allocation isdetermined.

Prof E Owusu-Bennoah stated that he wasoverwhelmed by what the youth hadachieved in the short period. He encouragedthem to stay in the continent and embracescience and technology, which is the onlyvehicle that could take Africa's socio-development forward. We are passing a

Cont’d on page 14

ATPSNEWS 3

Annual African Youth Congress Debates the Integral Roleof Science, Technology and Innovation in Development

The African continent is intensely weighed down by the twinpredicaments of endemic food insecurity and complex healthchallenges that greatly undermine its quest for rapid andsustainable economic development.

African youth can reverse these trends by applying science,technology and innovation (ST&I) in agriculture and health toaccelerate the continent's socio-economic development.

Youth interested in agriculture, science and technology convenedduring the Second African Regional Youth Congress on Scienceand Technology from the 26 to 28 June 2006, at La Palm BeachHotel in Accra, Ghana to discuss the opportunities and inclusion ofAfrican youth in eradicating health challenges and food insecurity inthe continent.

The meeting under the theme Food Security and Health forSustainable Development in Africa was sponsored by the AfricanTechnology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) in collaboration withthe Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA),the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and theAfrican Youth Forum on Science and Technology (AYFST). The aimwas to discuss the challenges of food insecurity and ill-health facingAfrica with a special emphasis on youth perspectives.

Young professionals, scientists, researchers, youth leaders andrepresentatives from 16 African countries attended the congressthat was officially opened by Hon Major Courage E.K. Quashigah,

the Honourable Minister for Health, Ghana. In his keynote speech,Major Quashigah expressed a deep conviction that research,agriculture, health and youth hold the key to Africa's renewal. He alsoconfirmed that African youth have a great opportunity to be changeagents that would convert the continent's ancient wisdom intocontemporary language through research, science and technology.

A frica does not lack in terms of the productive capacity of its land.The varied ecological zones in Africa rather present an opportunityto grow diverse foodstuffs to meet all our nutritional requirements,he said. What we lack is the full commitment of Africa to engage insustained research that addresses locally relevant areas, leading tosocio-economic development, he added. Major Quarshigah alsoaffirmed that, Research looks back into our past traditionalecological knowledge and has much to teach, even if the future runson the engines of the present.

Hon Major Quashigah urged the youth to turn away from the glitzyattractions of urban living and instead concentrate on achieving foodsecurity through agriculture. He declared that scientists andresearchers are key to solving most issues that retard Africa'sdevelopment, asserting that there are numerous opportunities toengage in applied research and find solutions to problems along theagricultural production chain.

Reading a speech on behalf of Hon Ernest Debrah, the GhanaianMinister for Food and Agriculture, Hon Clement Eledi, DeputyMinister for Food and Agriculture, said that he was confident that

YOUTH

Seated: second from left, Maurice Bolo, Hon Clement Eledi, Ms Sheila Miana, Hon Major Courage Quashigah, Prof Owusu-Bennoah, Dr Yaa Difie Osei and Dr George Essegbey and participants ofthe 2nd African Regional Youth Congress on Science and Technology held in Accra Ghana

properly-practised agriculture, using appropriatescience and technology, can help Africa to achievefood security and economic development.

Dr Osita Ogbu (right), the Chief Economic Advisorto the Nigerian President, and Executive Director,ATPS, took time off his busy schedule to meet theyouth. He emphasized that the youth were themissing link in Africa's development, adding thatthey needed to be mentored to follow the right path.He further stressed that there was urgent need toinvest in equipping young Africans with relevant knowledge andleadership skills. Other key speakers at the meeting included Prof EOwusu-Bennoah, the Director General, Council for Science andIndustrial Research (CSIR), and Dr Yaa Difie Osei, Chairperson of theATPS-Ghana Chapter Board of Trustees.

The overall objective of the congress was to empower the youth byaccording them the opportunity to learn, network, debate, exchangeideas and add their collective voice to policy discourses on how bestto tap science and technology for food security and improved healthin their countries and the continent.

The youth cited lack of capacity, and lack of access to microfinanceand loans to engage in agri-business as hurdles impeding their activeinvolvement in agriculture and ST&I. They also pointed out that theywere often ignored and excluded from development strategies, suchas the poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSP) process despite thefact that 50% of Africa's population comprises youth under 25 yearsold. Moreover, they disapproved of the exclusion of young people indecision making and policy making. Youth inclusion fordevelopment is often preached but rarely practised in Africa, theysaid.

However, the youth assented that the application of ST&I inagriculture holds the key to transforming African economies. Theyalso agreed that the increasing disease burden in malaria,tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, to which the youth are most vulnerable,is slowing down the pace of socio-economic development in Africa.The participants pointed out that these impediments could beovercome through capacity building, access to finances andscholarships to pursue agricultural education, mentoring by senior

scholars and leaders, regular forums fordiscussion on science and technology,consultation and involvement in policy anddecision making. They added that African youthcould also agitate for regular curriculumupdates, advocate for youth-friendly creditfacilities from donors, engage the media tohighlight youth-driven agriculture projects andchampion attitudinal and behaviour changeamongst fellow youth.

The speakers and senior participants urged them to create aplatform to share ideas in agri-business and health and be willing tochange their attitudes towards agriculture. The speakers furtheradvised them to lobby for mainstreaming youth programmes inpolicy discussions and struggle for good governance byparticipating in political processes. Paramount issues that wereconveyed include cessation of negative and retrogressive activitiesoften associated with the youth, and the need to change thesociety's negative perception about the youth. They were advisedto invest energy, zeal and enthusiasm into achieving Africa's socio-economic independence.

The youth challenged the African Union (AU) and the NewPartnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) to spearheadpolicies that promote agriculture and agricultural educationamongst the youth as a high priority sector for Africangovernments. They also urged the two institutions to create linkswith international partners to monitor policies and problems thataffect agriculture. Key initiatives should include establishingcentres of excellence that focus on agriculture across the continentto consolidate the use of scarce resources.

The Accra congress was a follow-up to the successful inauguralYouth Congress and Exposition held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2005 andwhose focus was on Wealth and Employment Creation and YouthLeadership for HIV/AIDS Management . During that Congress,about 70 youth leaders and representatives from 21 Africancountries emphasized the need for an annual Youth Congress toprovide an opportunity for the youth to exchange views, expertise,experiences and learn from each other for the good of thecontinent.

4 ATPSNEWS

African youth can reversethese trends by applyingscience, technology andinnovation (ST&I) inagriculture and health, andaccelerating the continent'ssocio-economic development

2006SCIENTIFIC REVIVAL DAY OF AFRICA

ATPSNEWS 5

Saharan Africa is lagging behind in technological content

that is vital in a globally competitive world. Publishing a

brief on nanotechnology, therefore, is the next big step

towards keeping in step with the developed world that is

well advanced in biotechnology. Ms Maina said that Africa

needs to improve its technological capabilities to match,

and even surpass those of its global competitors. She

beseeched Africa to be on the front line of making the most

of the emerging technologies at the same pace as the rest

of the world.

Dr Yaa Difie Osei, Chairperson, ATPS-Ghana Board of

trustees and Lecturer, Biochemistry Department, University

of Ghana, Legon presented a lecture on Biotechnology:

Hope or Disaster for Africa. According to Dr Osei, Ghana and

Africa in general need to focus on the real issues in science

and technology so that the continent is not always lagging behind in such areas as

GMOs and nanotechnology. The West, she continued, had already embraced GMOs and

is now studying nanotechnology. Dr Osei was disappointed by the low number of

students willing to take up science as a career. She pointed out that there is a

progressive general tendency to steer the youth towards business related careers that

are currently seen to be in . Dr Osei further warned that unless African

governments made emphatic efforts to entice students to study science by offering

scholarships, then Africa would always depend on the developed world for

technological assistance. African indigenous foods, such as, cassava and plantains, she

said, were currently taken for granted even though they were diminishing in

production. Dr Osei urged Africans to take the initiative to improve on African

indigenous foods.

The ATPS-Ghana Chapter has been at the fore front of stimulating a science-friendly

environment in the country. In addition to organizing lectures on science advocacy, the

members have also been urging the Ghanaian government to move towards science,

technology and innovation.

During the same event, Dr George Essegbey, National Coordinator, ATPS-Ghana

Chapter took the opportunity to appreciate and thank the chapter members for their

support. Awards were also presented to deserving members.

vogue

ATPS-GHANA CHAPTER HONOURS MEMBERS

Dr George Essegbey took the opportunity to appreciate the support extended to the chapter by the Board of Trustees. He said that due to this support the

chapter had won various awards over the years including Best Overall Chapter presented during the 2005 ATPS Annual Conference and Workshop held in

Mombasa, Kenya. Dr Essegbey also acknowledged support from all the chapter members and issued deserving members with various tokens of

appreciation for their time and effort in supporting the chapter. Members who received awards included:

The ATPS-Ghana Chapter presented awards to deserving chapter members during the 2006 Scientific Revival Day celebrations.

Dr Joseph Gogo (former Chair, Board of Trustees 1998-2004)

Prof Abeeku Brew-Hammond (former National Coordinator, ATPS-Ghana)

Dr Peggy Oti-Boateng Dr Kenneth Aikins

Ms Patience Damtey Dr Stella Aikey

SCIENTIFIC REVIVAL

DAY WITH A

DIFFERENCE:

ATPS GHANA CHAPTER

LAUNCHES TECHNOPOLICY

BRIEF SERIES

“ICT, biotechnology and nanotechnology or the so-called

frontier technologies are causing peculiar challenges for

Africa” said Prof E. Owusu-Bennoah, Director-General,

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Prof Owusu-Bennoah, the Guest of Honour, was speaking

during the 2006 Scientific Revival Day of Africa

celebrations hosted by the Ghana Chapter at the La Palm

Beach Hotel, Accra, on 30 June 2006. The highlight of the

ceremony was the launch of a technopolicy brief on

nanotechnology. The purpose of the pioneer brief is to reach and inform a range of

stakeholders about science and technology application and development. The brief is

intended to stimulate discussion and debate on relevant policy issues for Ghana and

Africa.

The title of the first book in the series is,

by K. Anane-Fenin, Lecturer at the Department of

Physics, University of Cape Coast. Dr Anane-Fenin is an active member of the ATPS

Ghana Chapter.

Prof Owusu-Bennoah said that marking the day by launching a policy brief was a

reminder to all African countries about the importance of science and technology in

development. He also said that observing the African renaissance day was making a

statement that the continent has had a history and tradition of science and technology.

“The word ‘renaissance’ or ‘revival’ simply means that there has been at one time or

the other a scientific Africa that needs to come alive again” he said

Ms Sheila Maina, Research and Training Manager and Acting Executive Director, ATPS

presided over the launching of the new ATPS-Ghana Chapter technopolicy brief series.

Speaking before the official launch, she congratulated the chapter on this impressive

step in history. She quoted a UNCTAD paper Africa's Technology Gap, stating that sub-

Nanotechnology: the developmentsand implications for Africa

6 ATPSNEWS

Key Players in Eastern Africa DiscussPolicy-Making in Biotechnology, Trade and Sustainable

Development in Jinja, Uganda

Recent years have witnessed a rapid expansion in the global area of biotech crops, with production largely concentrated in a few countriesand crops. This substantial growth has been accompanied by entrenched opinions on biotechnology's risks and benefits that have divided thesupporters and opponents of the technology.

International trade is increasingly bringing these differences into contact at a multilateral level, adding important economic interests to analready charged debate. While some countries want to see trade in biotech products flow as freely as possible, others are virtually closing offtheir markets by putting in place stringent import regulations.

Many developing countries are still in the process of formulating their public policy objectives related to biotechnology and translating theminto national and regional approaches and multilateral negotiating positions. However, the need to respond and adapt to the internationaldevelopments including a myriad of trade interests, obligations and pressures threatens to dominate national agendas. This raises theurgent need for understanding and asserting the space for domestic policy-making in biotechnology supportive of the countries' self-definedsustainable development objectives.

As part of this effort, the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), the African Technology Policy Studies(ATPS), the African Union (AU) and the New Patnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) organized a policy dialogue from 14-17February 2006 in Jinja to support the formulation of coherent, informed and inclusive policies on trade, biotechnology and sustainabledevelopment at the national, regional and multilateral levels. After two days of deliberations the participants who included key players inbiotechnology in eastern Africa and representatives of ICSTD from Switzerland drew up key recommendations for the various sectors.These are summarized below:

a. Formulating public policy objectives related

to biotechnology

The participants recommended that Africangovernments should be more proactive inanalyzing and identifying their short,medium and long term needs, policy gapsand priorities. These priorities should ideallybe developed with the participation ofrelevant actors in the public and the privatesectors. Countries' policies and strategies forbiotechnology development should be basedon clearly identified public policy objectives

that are specific and formulated throughparticipatory processes.

These policy objectives include ensuringfood security; increasing agriculturalproductivity, rural development andpoverty alleviation; promoting economicgrowth through diversification in high-value products and technologicaldevelopment; promoting public health andfood safety; and conserving, sustainableuse and equitable sharing of the benefits of

Participants of the Eastern Africa Dialogue on Policymaking in Biotechnology, Trade & Sustainable Development held in Jinja, Uganda

biodiversity.

Achieving these objectives will entailaddressing and integrating a range of policyareas and instruments to develop a coherentbiotechnology policy framework. Some areasand instruments for the government toaddress includes capacity building; scienceand technology development andmechanisms to identify and acquire strategic

Recommendations addressed to

governments

BIOTECH

ATPSNEWS 7

technologies; finance and resourcemobilization; education and human capital;consumer protection and safety; biosafetyand quality standards; and intellectualproperty rights.

Action on these policy instruments will berequired at both the national and regionallevels. At the national level, countries couldfocus on mechanisms for labeling to facilitateconsumer choice (incl. enforcement); anenab l ing po l i c y env i ronment fo rbiotechnology development; inter-institutional/ministerial collaboration; raisingpublic awareness; developing regulatory,human resources, institutional andinfrastructure development; fosteringpartnerships (public-private, private-private); and providing sufficient funding forresearch and access to the technology.

At the regional level, partnerships, such asNEPAD, and regional economic agreementsshould be considered as a means toachieving developmental goals. Commercialconsiderations should be balanced by social,environmental and cultural objectives.Governments and regional institutionsshould harmonize national policies andstrategies for a regional agenda; developjoint negotiating positions by providing acommon forum to formulate strategy,articulate and prioritize issues; and set up aprocess of consultations to promotecoherent interaction between national andregional actors.

Successful implementation of domestic,regional and international policies andregulations can only be achieved throughintegration, coordination and cooperationamong all stakeholders. This will involveraising awareness of the risks and benefits ofbiotechnology and promoting officialnational multi-stakeholder consultationprocesses that include networks of farmersassociations and civil society groups. Allparties concerned with science andtechnology industrial leaders andresearchers, academia, financial institutionsand the government should also beengaged to determine, over a period, the

Recommendations addressed to

national and regional actors

b. Ensuring public participation and

awareness

technological course and needs for theircountry.

There is a need to strengthen dialogueamong all national actors in thepreparation of national public policyobjectives and biotechnology policies.Governments should involve localgrassroot groups in reaching out tofarming communities by creating broadawareness-raising programmes using massmedia that target rural areas. To ensureinformed participation by the public,governments should articulate inunderstandable language the uses,benefits and underlying impacts ofbiotechnology and improve informationdissemination to all stakeholders.

To support technology upgrading ineastern African countries, governmentsmust put in place institutional mechanismsfor comprehensively evaluating and settingscience and technology priorities andmaking sure responsibility for relevantpolicies is coordinated between ministriesand institutions.

National and regional biotechnologypolicies will need to be integrated withtrade obligations (e.g. WTO rules) andtrade interests. Some concerns and issuesinclude WTO rules that do not necessarilyreflect national trade interest due tolimited capacities in developing countriesto formulate and promote nationalnegotiating positions; dumping of GMfood aid that can displace local producers;biotech standards in export markets thatcan constitute trade barriers and hindermarket access; and inadequate intellectualp ro p e r t y s y s t e m s t h a t f o s t e rmisappropriation of genetic resources andtraditional knowledge, and hinder the fairand equitable sharing of benefits arisingfrom their use.

The participants recommended thatgovernments enshrine policy coherencebetween the different areas of policy to

Recommendations addressed to

governments

Building coherence with trade policy

Recommendations addressed to

governments

c. Policy coherence in biotechnology

take in to account b iotechnologydevelopment and applications; entrust onebody with analyzing technology needsmonitoring implementation at the broadeconomic level of S&T strategies; harmonizegovernments' financial support and align itwith nationally or regionally defined publicpolicy goals; and devise a mechanism topromote coherent interaction between thenational, regional and multilateral policiesand trade regimes.

One of the main constraints affecting theimplementation of effective biotechregulations and the development ofbiotechnology has been inadequate funding.Governments should, therefore, review andadapt laws and commercial regulations toenhance funding for biotechnology policy-making and development.

should be reviewed so as to make them workin support of public policy objectivesthrough biotechnology development as anintegral part of national and regionalbiotechnology policies. There is a need foran agreement on a common underlyingvision for capacity building to providesustainable capacity support for specificneeds of the productive sector at variouslevels. Assessing local technologicalcompetence (SWOT analysis) to overcomeweaknesses would serve a valuable functionin raising awareness and building consensus.

Build capacity to ensure adequate humanand i n s t i t u t i on a l c apac i t i e s f o rbiotechnology development and mainstreambiotechnology policy by strengtheninglinkages and understanding between thescientific and policy-making communities;enhancing capacities needed to articulateand assess policy choices and optionsrelated to biotechnology; developing andputting in place a system to address issuesrelated to liability and redress; and taking anintegrated approach to biotech-relatedcapacity building by engaging a broad range

Recommendations addressed to

governments and financial institutions

Recommendations to governments,

regional actors and international

institutions

d. Technical assistance and capacity building

Capacity building policies and programmes

Dr Julius Mangisoni, Malawi making comments during the 2004 Annual Workshop and Conference

Mr Kouadion Stanislas, Cabinet Head, makes his opening remarks during the Technology Policy andIssues for Development Seminar held in Abidjan by the ATPS Cote d’Ivoire Chapter

Norah Olembo, ATPS Chair and Mr Carl B. Greenridge, Director, CTA welcome participants to theATPS/CTA/NEPAD workshop

PICTORIAL

Some of the participants of the 2nd Youth Congress who visited the legendary Elmin

Hon Major Courage Quashigah (standing) and Hon Clement Eledi, during the opening ceremony ofthe 2nd Youth Congress in Accra, Ghana

A break-away group during the regional consultative meeting for the Demand-led Research in theflower industry held in Limuru, Kenya

Zelalem Weduneh from Ethiopia Science and Technology Commission, receives a token from Dr YaaDifie, Chairperson, ATPS-Ghana Board of Trustees

Prof Zerubabel Nyiira, Eastern Africa Regional Coordinator, NEPAD, Muhedin Kamal,Representative AU/STRC, Prof Norah Olembo and Prof Joseph Obua, NationalCoordinator ATPS Uganda, during the Eastern African Dialogue on Policymaking inBiotechnology, Trade & Sustainable Development held in Jinja, Uganda

na slave castle in the main courtyard of the castle in Accra, Ghana

Prof Moni Wekesa (second right) gives his views during the Regional Seminar on Biotechnology,Biosafety and IPRs held in Dakar, Senegal

From left, Prof. E Owusu-Bennoah, Director General, Council for Science and Industrial Research(CSIR), Ms Sheila Maina among others prepare to see-off Hon Major Courage E.K. Quashigah,Minister for Health, Ghana (centre)

Participants of the ATPS Cote d’Ivoire seminar, Biotechnology: issues for Agriculture, Health andEnvironment seminar held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Mr Kennedy Auka, Finance and Administration Manager, ATPS, Prof Sam Wangwe,ATPS Board Member, Prof Norah Olembo, ATPS Board Chair, and Dr Osita Ogbu,confer during the Board meeting as Prof Oliver Saasa, ATPS Board Member lookson

10 ATPSNEWS

ATPS Côte d'Ivoire Holds a Biotechnology DebateThe ATPS-Cote d'Ivoire Chapter held abiotechnology seminar under the theme,Biotechnology: issues for Agriculture,Health and Environment on 21 June 2006 atthe Ivorian Association of AgronomySciences (AISA), Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Thechapter held the seminar in collaborationwith the University of Cocody, the CentreNationale de Recherché Agronomique(CNRA), the Ministry of Agriculture and theMinistry of Health and Environment.

During the opening ceremony, Dr ArseneKouadio, National Coordinator, ATPS Coted'Ivoire chapter said that biotechnology iskey to solving the main impediments tosustainable development. He also said thatthe seminar organizers had invited experts inagriculture, health, environment and the civilsociety to discuss the benefits ofbiotechnology to development. Dr Kouadioemphasized that it is time that Africanscientists expressed their views onbiotechnology so that Africa could movetowards food security like the United Statesand other developed countries that hadembraced biotechnology.

Dr Kouadio argued that biotechnology heldthe key to alternative solutions to famine,pollution, poverty, contagious diseases,pandemics and conservation of naturalresources. A frica, he continued, must

BIOTECH

improve the populations' livelihood byusing new technologies to guarantee thesurvival of future generations.

Dr Kouadio informed the participants thatorganizat ions l ike the CanadianConsultative Committee on Biotechnologycould assist African governments to createnational biotechnology institutionsbecause their mission is to counselgovernments on ethical, social, regulatory,scientific, environmental and healthaspects of biotechnology. He added thatsuch steps would help Africa identify themajor areas of focus in biotechnology andtake appropriate actions to form a credibleand responsible society.

The five themes addressed during thedebate were:- Biotechnology and Agriculture

- Food Biotechnology- Biotechnology and the Environment- Biotechnology to the Service of

Microbiology: The example of IPCI; -molecular techniques and the HIV virus- Biotechnology and Regulation

The participants were concerned about theultimate risks that biotechnology, especiallythe genetically modified organisms (GMOs)could present. However, some of themsupported the merits of biotechnology intheir areas of specialty. The precision withwhich the speakers presented biotechnologyresearch work was convincing to theparticipants, but the panelists requested thatfuture debates should not be limited toGMOs but should also address other areasof biotechnology.

The ATPS-Cote d'Ivoire Chapter has been inthe forefront of filling a void that policymakers often ignore. The chapter has soughtto allay the general concerns onbiotechnology through adapted solutions forthe present and future situations.

The seminar that was widely covered by thelocal media was honoured by the presence ofthe Minister for Health, Minister for HigherEducation and Research, Vice-President,University of Abidjan-Cocody, amongothers.

Dr Arsene Kouadio, National Coordinator, ATPS Côte d’Ivoireduring the biotechnology meeting

...biotechnology iskey to solving the

main impedimentsto sustainable

development...

ATPSNEWS 11

ATPS-Senegal Chapter Hosts the RegionalWorkshop on Biosafety and IPRS in Africa

BIOSAFETY

The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS)biotechnology programme seeks to provide a forum for Africanscientists, policy makers, civil society, farmers, private sectorplayers, religious leaders, researchers and the general public toobjectively debate the issues and voice their concerns on thepotential of modern biotechnology to solve Africa's problems.

In March 2006, ATPS continued with the series of regionalbiotechnology workshops in Dakar, Senegal. The participatingcountries covering western and Franco-phone Africa were Benin,Cameroon, Cote d Ivoire, Mali and Senegal. To achieve the desiredobjectives and realize the expected outcomes the workshop usedthe following questions to aid discussions and come up withrecommendations:a) Identify the challenges that face the conventional maize

production systems in your country. Can modernbiotechnology play a role in addressing these challenges?

b) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of introducing Btmaize into your country.

c) Identify the conditions necessary before Bt maize can beintroduced into your country. List also who is responsible forfulfilling those conditions

d) Identify and discuss the risks associated with introducing Btmaize into your country.

e) Discuss the risk mitigation, management and remediationstrategies available to your country (these should include thestrategies within country as well as those that could besourced from outside/abroad)

f) What other external assistance would your country require inorder to deal with risks associated with introducing Bt

maize? Where can such assistance be obtained and whoseresponsibility is it to seek such help?

g) In your view, what other conventional mechanisms (mainlytraditional/indigenous knowledge and technologies) can beemployed to: Manage the risks associated with modernbiotechnologies? Solve the constraints facing your country?

h) Since country X relies on food aid, what would you advicethe government to do in the wake of fears that the relief f o o dcould be GM contaminated?

g) How would accepting GM technology affect therelationship between your country and other ECOWASmembers and how should the policy makers deal with thelikely effects?

After these discussions the various parties agreed on the followingrecommendations to the various players:

Regional collaboration centres of excellence are established for East,Central, West and Southern Africa to facilitate exchange ofinformation and capacity building. A state of the art facility for riskassessment/testing could be set up in a similar manner.·The principle of comparative advantage is applied in the acquisitionof biotechnology. Countries that grow cotton, maize, sorghum,

On Regional Collaboration

Participants of the Regional Seminar on Biotechnology, Biosafety and Intellectual Property Rights held in Dakar, Senegal in March 2006

12 ATPSNEWS

bananas, potatoes should be encouraged to make use of theircomparative advantage.

African governments be urged to set aside funds for research anddevelopment based on their own priorities

Collaboration with the private sector (read: multinational companies)should be negotiated on fair and equitable terms

Governments are urged to ensure wider public participation in thebiotechnology debate. Existing experts on communication as well asestablished modes of modern communication should be used toinvolve wider public participation. The successful story of HIV/AIDSawareness should be emulated in this particular respect

African countries should be facilitated to develop a sui generissystem of intellectual property rights to recognize communityownership of property and benefits sharing and as a means to preventbio-piracy

African governments should be urged to carry out an inventory of theavailable genetic resources and create a gene bank (Regionally)

African countries should be enabled to beef up capacity in this fieldto facilitate protection of inventions and other forms of intellectualproperty rights and to expedite the process of negotiation for transferof technology

Inventions protected within the respective countries should be madeavailable on the website to stimulate scientific research and catalyze

On Research and Development

On Public Participation

On Intellectual Property Rights

further inventions. The current administrative roles assigned toAfrican Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) andOrganisation Africaine de la Propriete Intellectualle (OAPI) officesare insufficient

ARIPO and OAPI offices as well as National offices dealing withintellectual property be facilitated to conduct massive awarenesscampaigns on intellectual property rights.

Countries be enabled to make use of loopholes in the existinginternational legal frameworks on intellectual property rights fortheir own benefit

That African countries working in collaboration with trading blocsestablished within their countries, such as, COMESA, ECOWAS,EAC, PTA, and SADC should strive to harmonize their biosafetylaws to enhance trade amongst themselves and with other non-member countries

Structures for risk assessment and management should be set upboth regionally and nationally to minimize delays in the acquisitionof biotechnology and in trade

ATPS should be given a wider mandate to include serving as a linkbetween individual countries and other partners in matters ofbiotechnology

National ATPS offices be given legal recognition within theircountries

On Biosafety Regulations

On ATPS

... intellectualproperty rights to

recognize communityownership of

property, benefitssharing and as a

means to preventbio-piracy...

... intellectualproperty rights to

recognize communityownership of

property, benefitssharing and as a

means to preventbio-piracy...

ATPSNEWS 13

Demand-led Research in Kenya's Floriculture Industry

Local research institutions can participate indemand-led research to come up withsolutions that will benefit the flower industryand alleviate some of the major challengesfacing smallholder floriculture farmers.

The African Technology Policy Studies(ATPS) and the Technical Center forAgriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA) incollaboration with leading stakeholders, suchas the Horticulture Crops DevelopmentAssociation (HCDA), the Kenya AgriculturalResearch Institution (KARI), the Ministry ofAgriculture (MoA), the CAB InternationalA f r i c a and sma l l ho lde r f a rme r s 'representatives have been actively involved inbridging the gap between floriculture farmersand research systems in Kenya.

In 2004, ATPS conducted a national casestudy on Agricultural Science, Technologyand Innovations Systems: The case of Kenya'sfloriculture industry that indicated that, giventhe desirable conditions, there was a highpotential for small scale growers who makeup about 3% of the flower industry in Kenya.Principally, the study found that there wereweak interactions between the flower

RESEARCH

Participants of the regional consultative meeting for the Demand-led Research in the Flower Industry held in Limuru, Kenya

industry and the local research system,leading to under-utilization of researchcapacity and an over-reliance on costlyexternal knowledge from internationalresearch bodies.

The study further indicated that there wereweak linkages in the innovation system dueto poor collaboration between relevantactors in the system and recommendedcloser partnership between the localresearch system and the flower industry toallow farmers and exporters to set theresearch agenda.

To address these gaps, ATPS, CTA andCABI-Africa facilitated a one weektraining workshop, from 25-29 July 2005,at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi addressingthe theme Demand-led Research: Bridgingthe gap in the agricultural, science,technology and innovation systems. Themain objective of the training workshopwas to build the capacity of actors in thefloriculture industry and assist them toconduct demand-led research that wouldcontr ibute to strengthening theAgricultural Science Technology and

Innovation (ASTI) systems in Kenya

The participatory workshop recognized thevalue of farmers' experimentation,innovations and involvement in theprioritizing and implementing agriculturalresearch and development in Kenya. A keyoutput of the training workshop in line withthe recommendations of the ATPS 2004study led to an offer for further support byCTA for a follow up case study in Demand-led research in Kenya's floriculture industrythat ran from January to June 2006.

ATPS set up a multi-stakeholder taskforcethat would spearhead the study as a part of awider process intended to improve theinterface between farmers, policy makers,researchers and other stakeholders. Thetaskforce was selected to represent thedifferent categories of stakeholders in theflower industry, such as research and traininginstitutions (The Kenya AgriculturalResearch Institute (KARI)); regulatory andquality control institutions (The Kenya PlantHealth Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) andthe Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS));farmers and entrepreneur representatives

14 ATPSNEWS

(Karen Growers Ltd); marketing andinvestment bodies (HCDA), policy organs(MoA) and ATPS, as the overall coordinatingbody. The inclusion of over 50% of smallscale growers and technical representativesin each regional consultative meeting wasalso stressed.

The members of the ATPS floriculturetaskforce were Ms Nancy Muthoka, KARIThika; Ms Rachael Washisino, the DepotManager of HCDA-Limuru; Ms VirginaMwai, the Assistant Director, Flowers andOrnamentals, MOA; Mr Daniel Kisongwo,Karen Roses Limited and, Mr. Maurice Bolo,ATPS.

The first consultative meeting was held on 9March 2006 at KARI- Macadamia Center inThika, followed by the second consultativemeeting in Limuru on the 21 March 2006and the third and final consultative meetingin Naivasha on the 9 June 2006.Theconsultative meetings attracted multi-stakeholder participation to bring forwardpressing issues to the attention of therelevant stakeholders in the floricultureindustry.

Poor infrastructural networks, inadequatef inancing, cur rency f luctuat ions,stringent/limited market access, inferiorflower breeds, poor informationdissemination, pest and disease control inthe floriculture industry were some of thesignificant challenges identified duringthese meetings. The participants in theseconsultative fora suggested training onpost-harvest crop handling, developmentof new flower varieties, governmentsupport through subsidies to farmers andlower tax rates on inputs as solutions tosome the problems faced by floriculturefarmers.

Additionally, formation of cooperatives,information dissemination especially onmarket trends coupled with moregovernment involvement would move theindustry forward in Kenya. Small-scalefloriculturalists suggested the inclusion ofexporters, the Fresh produce Exporters'Association (FPEAK) and the Kenya FlowerCouncil (KFC) to have an integrateddemand-led research. Moreover, theparticipants suggested that farmers shouldknow about research findings through easy

access to information centers to buildcapacity and empower them.

Soon after the final stakeholder meeting, thetaskforce team presented a technical reportto CTA incorporating the recommendationsof small-scale farmers which will bedistributed to all the stakeholders. Thetaskforce addit ional ly produced atechnopolicy brief titled: Research prioritiesfor Kenya's cut flower industry: Farmers'perspectives. The study will culminate with anational dissemination seminar where theresults of the demand-led study will bepresented to a variety of stakeholders in thefloriculture industry.

Floriculture dominates Kenya's horticulturalsub-sector accounting for up to 60 per centof the total earnings from horticulture and 8per cent of the country's total exportrevenues. Data from the Kenya FlowerCouncil indicate that the floriculture industrycontributes about US$ 200 million toKenya's national economy every year,employs 100,000 people directly and afurther 2 million indirectly.

Cont’d from page 2

Venue

Jul 26

Aug 28 – 1 Sept

Sept 4-8

Sep 18-22

Nov 27 -1 Dec

Nairobi, Kenya

Finland

Mombasa, Kenya

Lusaka, Zambia

Maputo,Mozambique

Date

ATPS Calendar

Event

Dissemination Workshop

Science Parks - Study Trip

Water and Sanitation in UrbanAfrica: Emerging Approaches forReaching the Unserved Poor

Strengthening Journalism forAgricultural, Natural Resourceand Rural Development inCentral, South and EasternAfrica

ATPS Annual Workshop andConference

flawed baton to you but we hope that you willhand over a better baton full of brilliant ideas andachievements to the next generation he added.

Dr Yaa Difie Osei called upon the youth not to letthe congress be another talk shop but worktowards translating the mission vision, objectivesof AYFST into practical action

AYFST is envisioned to become a forum ofcontinued engagement amongst African youthon topical and emerging issues in S&T allowingfor communication, debate, and deliberation onvarious issues. Moreover, AYFST is expected toact as a vehicle through which African youth areempowered to actively contribute to Africa'ssocio-economic development through greaterapplication and involvement in agriculture,science, technology and innovation.

ATPSNEWS 15

APPOINTMENT

PROMOTION

ATPS BURKINA FASO CHAPTER

APPOINTMENT

In January 2006,, left, joined the ATPS Finance

and Administration Department as anRichard holds a

Bachelor of Education (Economics andAccounting) from Nairobi University anda Kenya Accountants TechniciansCertificate (KATC). He is a certified publicaccountant (CPA-K) and is currentlypursuing his MBA at the Nairobi

University.

Richard appreciates working in an environment that provideschallenges, encourages and supports professional development. Heseeks to support the growth of ATPS as a Network. PreviouslyRichard worked for Swift Global and X-com Kenya.

ATPS is pleased to announce thepromotion of to theposition of

with effect from 1May 2006. Lily takes greaterresponsibility in handling publicrelations, the publication processincluding the document peer reviewprocess, library, Website and developingthe institution's communication and

outreach strategy. Her dedication, knowledge, independence, hardwork, team spirit, and multitasking ability have greatly contributedto the growth of the Communication Department at ATPS.

Lily holds an MA in Communications Studies, a Post GraduateDiploma in Mass Communication and Bsc in Agriculture. She hasover 15 years experience in agricultural extension work, informationmanagement and science editing and writing with national, inter-governmental and international organizations.

ATPS is pleased to announce theappointment of ,National Coordinator Burkina FasoChapter to the post of

in June 2006. The Secretariat and theATPS Network congratulates Dr Kaboreand wish him the best for the future.

Mr Richard MurimiMuriuki

Accounts Assistant.

Ms Lily AdukeCommunications and

Outreach Manager

Dr Benoit Kabore

Director Generalof the National Employment Agency

INTERNSIn July 2005, joinedthe Research Department as an intern toassist with administrative matters andorganizing workshops and conferences.

During her time at ATPS Felicia acquiredexperience in the procurement process,making travel arrangements, maintainingpersonnel records, administration ofworkshops, handling insurance

correspondence and maintaining an efficient filing system. Feliciacompleted her Bachelor in International Relations and Managementin 2004 from the United States International University (USIU-A).Felicia has over 10 years experience in running her own business anda further 5 years in fundraising and charity events.

, left, joined theFinance and Administration Departmentin January 2006 as an informationtechnology intern. Frankline has been astudent at the Jomo Kenyatta Universityof Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)where he will graduate in July with aBachelor of Science in InformationTechnology.

His assignments at ATPS, among others, included handling softwareand hardware related problems in the local area network;maintenance of the systems logs; assisting staff members to backupdata on various media; creating and managing databases for theexisting and new systems among others.

Frankline is glad for the opportunity to work in a professionalinstitution like ATPS. He added that the internship boosted his limitedprofessional exposure and helped him gain commendable workexperience. Frankline aspires to be an IT Manager/Solution Developerin a major corporation.

In April 2006, left, joined the Finance and

Administration Department for a threemonth internship. Sylvia is currently asecond year student of Bachelor ofCommerce degree at the University ofNairobi. She is a certified public account,CPA (K). Sylvia acquired experience in theprocurement process, processing staffs'travel expenses statements, reconciling

the bank and cashbook balances, ensuring that internal controlprocedures for cash disbursements are followed.

Felicia Opakunle

Frankline Mutuma

Ms Sylvia WangechiWagura

APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTIONS AND INTERNSHIPS

STAFF

How you can reach usThe ATPS Secretariat is located on 3 Floor, The Chancery, Valley Road.

Telephone numbers 254-20-2714092/2714168/271498, Fax: 254-20-2714028,Email: info@atpsnet.org, Website:http:// www.atpsnet.org

rd

Editor: | Editorial Assistants: | Design & Layout: | Printed by:Lily Aduke Lucy Mwangi, Ruth Wanjala Sammy Mwirigi Majestic Printing Works

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Côte d'Ivoire

Ethiopia

Dr. Roch L. MONGBOSenior Lecturer & ResearcherFIDESPRA/Univ. of Abomey Calava and CEBEDES– XU dodo02 BP 778Cotonou, BeninTel: +229-21304139/95966446Email: rmongbo@intnet.bj orRochl_mongbo@yahoo.com

Dr. John MothibiLecturer, Faculty of Engineering & TechnologyUniversity of BotswanaP/Bag 0061Gaborone, BotswanaTel: +267 3554348Fax:+267 3952309E-mail: mothibij@mopipi.ub.bw

Dr. Benoit KaboreUniversité de Ouagadougou01 BP 4487Ouagadougou 01Tel: 226 812008/380715Email: kaboben@hotmail.com

Mr. Sylvester Ndeso AtangaLecturer, Epidemology & Public HealthFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of BueaP.O. Box 63South West ProvinceRepublic of CameroonTel: +237 7615755/984143Fax: +237 332 2270/71Email: lawrenkum@yahoo.co.uk

Dr Arsène Konan KouadioChief of DivisionResearch in EconomicsCentre Ivoirien de RecherchesEconomiques et Sociales (CIRES)Cocody, Boulevard Latrille08 BP. 1295 ABIDJAN 08Côte d'ivoireTel.: (225) 22 444 363 / 22448942Fax.: (225) 22 440829Email: arsenekk@yahoo.frarsenekouadio@hotmail.com

Dr. Dejene AredoAssociate Professor of EconomicsAddis Ababa UniversityP.O. Box 1176Addis Ababa, EthiopiaTel:+251 1 551163Cell: 251 9 227780Fax:+251 1 551399Email: aredodejene@yahoo.comEtpsa@ethionet.et

ATPS National CoordinatorsThe Gambia

Ghana

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Malawi

Mr. Ernest R. AubeeFase ProgrammeUNDPKofi Annan Street, Cape PointBakau, The GambiaTel:+220 495071/74/89Fax: +220 494758Email: ilo@qanet.gm

Dr. George Owusu EssegbeySenior Scientific SecretarySTEPRI/C.S.I.R.P.O. Box CT 519,Accra, GhanaTel: +233 21 773856Fax:+233 21 773068Cell:+233 243 753314Email: goessegbey@hotmail.com

Mr. Alex R. GacuhiEnvironmental ConsultantGreen-Globe FoundationP.O. Box 537-00200Nairobi, KenyaTel: +254 20 2733335/ 722 294786Email: alexgacuhi@yahoo.com

Prof. Zacharia A. MatselaRetired Professor of EducationNational University of LesothoP.O. Roma 180LesothoTel:+266 340601Fax:+266 340000Email: zamatsela@yahoo.co.uk

(Vacant)

Dr. Julius H. Mangisoni (Acting)Senior Lecturer, Agricultural Economics/ NaturalResource andEnvironmental Econ.University of MalawiBunda College of AgricultureRural Development DepartmentP.O. Box 219,Lilongwe, MalawiTel: +265 01277434/419/222Fax: +265 01 277364Email:mang@sdnp.org.mwor jmangisoni@yahoo.co.uk

Mali

Mozambique

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Dr. Sidiki Gabriel DembéléAgrochimie/Agroforesterie et Fertilité des solsBureau Ouest-Africain d'Appui Organisational etde Technologies AppropiéesB.P. E 3730, Bamako, MaliTél. : (223) 226 2012Fax : (223) 226 2504Cell : (223) 71 3806Email: sidikigabriel@hotmail.com orousmanenia2000@yahoo.fr

Eng. Lourino Alberto ChemaneICT and Planning AdvisorExecutive Secretariat, ICT Policy CommissionBairro da CoopRua Particular Dr. Antonio de Almeida61 R/C Direito, MaputoMoçambiqueTel: +258 21 309398Fax: +258 21 302289Email: chemane@infopol.gov.mz

Prof. Michael C. MadukweProfessor, Department of Agricultural ExtensionUniversity of NigeriaNsukka, Enugu StateNigeriaTel: +234 42 771019Fax: +234 42 771500Email: madukwe@hotmail.com ormadukwe@hyperia.com ornatps@hyperia.com

Prof. Femi OlokesusiNigerian Institute for Socialand Economic Research (NISER)P.M.B 5 UI Post OfficeOyo Road, OjooIbadan, NigeriaTel: +234 2 8103345/8102904Fax: +234 2 2413121Email: femioloke@yahoo.com

Dr. Papa Alioune Sarr NDIAYEESP BP 15475 DAKAR FannSénégalTél : Bureau (221) 864 54 18Fax : (221) 864 21 43Domicile (221) 820 23 88Cellulaire (221) 634 58 88Email : pndiaye@ucad.sn

Mr. Chris SquireHead, Dept of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Sierra Leonec/o Computech, 22 Pultney St.P.O. Box 603Freetown, Sierra LeoneTel: +232 22 227831Fax:+232 22 227453Cell: +232 76 610600Email: chris@sierratel.sl orChris_b_squire@hotmail.com

South Africa

Swaziland

Tanzania

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Vacant

Dr. Musa DubeFaculty of AgricultureUniversity of SwazilandLuyengo CampusP. O. Luyengo, SwazilandTel: +268 5283021-3Fax: +268 83021/83441Email: madube@agric.uniswa.sz

Ms. Bitrina D. DiyamettSenior Scientific OfficerTanzania Council for Science andTechnology (COSTECH)P.O. Box 32183Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaTel: +007 222 700745/752Cell: +007 748 420850Fax: +007 222 775313Email: bitrind@yahoo.com

Prof. Joseph ObuaFaculty of Forestry & NatureConservationMakerere UniversityP.O. Box 7062Kampala, UgandaTel: +256 41 543 647Fax: +256 41 533 574Cell: +256 77 444 492Email: obua@foresmuk.mak.ac.ug

Ms. Charlotte M. WonaniLecturerDevelopment Studies Dept.University of ZambiaP.O. Box 32379Lusaka, ZambiaTel:+260 1252514/292884Fax:+260 1 253952Email: cmwonani@yahoo.com

Mr. Benson ZwizwaiDeputy DirectorInstitute of Development StudiesP. O. Box 880Harare, ZimbabweTel: +263 4 333341/3Fax: +263 4 333345Email: bmzwizwai@science.uz.ac.zw