By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
The National Commission on
Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) has hosted the 4th Steering Committee
Meeting of the Innovation Agencies in Africa (IAA) Network in Windhoek,
bringing together representatives of national innovation agencies to strengthen
coordination, financing and implementation of innovation initiatives across the
continent.
The meeting was held on the
sidelines of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Annual Forum, with
NCRST participating as a co-lead of the IAA Network. Eleven of the Network’s
twelve member agencies were represented.
Opening remarks were
delivered by Prof. Anicia Peters, Chief Executive Officer of NCRST, while the
meeting was chaired by Ms Stella Soi Langat, Acting Chief Executive Officer of
the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) and Head of the IAA Network Secretariat.
Representatives included the
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) of South Africa, the Tanzania Commission for
Science and Technology (COSTECH), the Uganda National Council for Science and
Technology (UNCST), the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST)
of Malawi, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia, the Botswana
Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH), the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF), the
National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) of The Gambia, and the Fonds pour
la Science, la Technologie et l’Innovation (FONSTI) of Côte d’Ivoire.
The Committee reviewed the
Network’s longer-term standing, how innovation on the continent can be financed
and resourced, how programmes are delivered and agencies strengthened, as well
as the workplan and budget for the year ahead. The Secretariat also reported on
work completed since the previous meeting.
The International
Development Research Centre (IDRC) participated in the meeting, acknowledging
the progress the Network has made since its inception and outlining the pillars
it would like to support in the next phase.
As part of the Steering
Committee discussions, Professor Brando Okolo, Head of Science, Technology and
Innovation at AUDA-NEPAD, highlighted the need to strengthen coordination
across Africa’s fragmented STI landscape to support effective implementation of
STISA 2034 and meaningful impact on quality of life.
Professor Brando Okolo
outlined key STISA 2034 and Agenda 2063 priorities and identified the IAA
Network’s role in advancing innovation and coordinated action among national
innovation agencies.
Building on engagements and
the June 2026 joint webinar with AUDA-NEPAD, the Steering Committee agreed to
formally advance the partnership through a technical workshop scheduled for 1
October 2026 in Windhoek.
