Preamble

This Communiqué is the result of the 'Conference on Basic Sciences for Development of Eastern and South Africa', which was held at Arusha, Tanzania, 1-3 March 1999.

The conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology, the Third World Academy of Sciences and the International Science Programmes of Uppsala University, Sweden, with support from Sida, Sweden. The Conference brought together delegates from twelve countries in Eastern and Southern Africa: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, representatives of UNESCO, African Academy of Sciences, SIDA, and organisations promoting basic sciences in the subregion.

We the delegates to this Conference on Basic Sciences for Development in Eastern and Southern Africa:

Recognising the indispensable role that science and technology plays in national development;

Further recognising that national development depends to a great extent on the application of endogenous science and technology knowledge;

Realising that science is a powerful intellectual resource that enables mankind to understand natural phenomena and convert them into usable resources for socio-economic development and a sustainable environment;

Convinced that science and its application is a major factor for socio-economic development in the subregion and that the future of the development of any one nation in the subregion, is more intricably dependent on the generation, dissemination and effective use of scientific knowledge than any other development factor;

Acknowledging that basic sciences (Matematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) are fundamental to the understanding of natural phenomena, natural and man made disasters, discovery of new products and techniques and to the application of science and technology for socio-economic development;

Considering that the status of basic sciences, education and research capacity in the subregion are inadequate to enable science to play its full role in the national development;

Appreciating that the onus of improving the status of the basic sciences in the subregion lies individually and collectively with the countries in the subregion;

Further appreciating that international cooperation plays a significant role in the promotion of science and that there are already a number of basic science programmes in existence receiving international support in the subregion

Recommended to our Governments, national and international partners as follows:

SCIENCE EDUCATION

That each nation initiates and promotes science popularisation programmes aimed at cultivating a science culture.

That each nation should enhance and adapt, in a specified time frame, science education and research at all levels of the education system with particular emphasis on gender equity.

That each nation establishes a conductive environment that will attract talented students into basic sciences, recognise students, teachers and researches and reward achievements, and strenghten postgraduate education

R & D

That the status of basic sciences education and research be explicitly stated in national science and technology policies.

That funding mechanisms be established within a specified period with emphasis on indigenous resources, private sector partnership and collaboration with other partners in order to avail the minimum of the equivalent of the country's 1 per cent of gross domestic product to the development of science and technology within a decade.

COORDINATION AND COOPERATION

That systems of coordination be established and nurtured among and between nations in the subregion that will ensure the efficient utilisation of existing and future capacity and capability and providing opportunities for exchange programmes.

INFORMATION

The urgent steps be taken by each nation of taking advantage of newer and emerging information technologies for the efficient access and exchange of knowledge.

FOLLOW UP

That scientists in the subregion individually and severally have a responsibility of assisting in the improvement of the status of basic sciences.

That the organisers of this conference serve as the interim secretariat for the coordination of the existing focal points in science and technology in each country until the next conference is convened in two years' time.

That the current status of basic sciences be clearly defined and documented in each country and the findings widely disseminated. The future achievements and status and be reviewed biennually in follow up conferences to be convened by the interim secretariat.