The Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have today signed a letter of intent outlining priority areas for collaboration to advance the use and application of science, technology and innovation in Africa’s sustainable development agenda.

SFA Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Prof Tom Kariuki and Director of UNESCO MRO in Nairobi Dr Alexandros Makarigakis signed the letter of intent following a meeting held at the SFA Foundation offices in Nairobi on 2 September 2024.

This partnership will contribute to accelerating scientific progress to enable the continent to achieve the UN SDGs and Agenda 2063 targets by:

• Creating opportunities for interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder discussions to promote the use of reliable, evidence-based information in response to Africa’s development challenges.
•  Enabling Africa’s innovation ecosystem through innovation policy and development of innovation platforms.
• Promoting gender transformative STEM education.
• Cooperating on open science, artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

 With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication, and information and overseeing more than 2000 world heritage sites, biosphere reserves and global geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training, and research institutions.

“The achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires transformation, a transformation that will lead towards sustainable societies and economies. Science, Technology and Innovation are essential components in this transformation process and a means of implementation of the SDGs. In this regard, UNESCO's partnership with Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) a pan-African, non-profit, organization created to support, strengthen, and promote science and innovation in Africa, is a significant step in advancing the use and application of science, technology, and innovation to promote Africa’s sustainable development.” said Alexandros Makarigakis, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa Director a.i.

The SFA Foundation is a pan-African, non-profit and public charity organisation that supports, strengthens, and promotes science and innovation in Africa and serves the African research ecosystem by funding excellent ideas in research and innovation; enabling interdisciplinary collaborations and building and reinforcing environments that are conducive for scientists to thrive and produce quality research that generates new, locally relevant knowledge. The SFA Foundation’s engagement in the partnership will be through its five-year organisational strategy, which is the vehicle through which the public charity reinforces the research ecosystem for scientists to thrive and produce quality research that generates new, locally relevant knowledge.

“The role of science and innovation in Africa’s journey to achieving the SDGs cannot be under emphasised. Our partnership with UNESCO will ensure the adoption of a collaborative approach to identify, prioritise and support science ideas that fortify Africa’s science ecosystem, contributing to improved lives and transformed economies,” said Prof Thomas Kariuki, CEO of the SFA Foundation.