EAC Regional Strategy for Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

The EAC development agenda recognizes the role that science, technology and innovations play. The leadership of the Partner States are fully aware of the need to promote science, technology and innovation as a means to attaining social and economic transformation.

Therefore, the regional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strategy has been developed as a guide for the Partner States to align policies and programs in such a way that the regional priorities and targets in STEM are met. It is aimed at contributing to the overall growth and development agenda of the region. The strategy is in line with the mandate of the East Africa Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO). It is to steer the regional STEM agenda towards the needs, commitments and priorities of the region and ensuring that STEM is brought as quickly as possible to be at par with international standards and best practices.

The Strategy is also anchored on the regional STI policy and those of individual Partner States. It is assumed that successful implementation of this strategy will lead to significant improvements in the performance of various priority sectors. Especially, the areas identified in the EAC Vision 2050, which embodies the region’s economic and social transformation agenda. These sectors are Agriculture, Health, Education, Trade, Industry, Transport, Energy and ICT, among others. In order to achieve the above goals, this strategy proposes a number of key strategic priority areas which must be the collective focus of the different stakeholders during the next ten years.

The pillars representing these strategic priority areas are as follows:

Pillar One: Identify and simulate STEM needs in the EAC to achieve Vision 2050.
Pillar Two: Enhance the teaching and learning environment for STEM at all levels (pre-school, primary, secondary, universities, colleges and TVET) levels.
Pillar Three: Strengthen the linkages between institutions of higher learning (universities, colleges, TVETs and research institutions) and industry (employers) players.
Pillar Four: Raise general awareness of STEM and coordinate the efforts to implement the STEM strategy. Under each pillar, a number of key interventions are proposed for their implementation.

Some of these are interventions at the regional level while others are to be implemented at the national or even at local/school level. Furthermore, the strategy outlines framework for coordinating STEM projects, programs and initiatives in the region. The expected overall outcome is to ensure that STEM plays the expected role. However, there will be a need to undertake further planning at regional level and at national level to detail the manner in which each intervention will be implemented. In addition, there is need to mobilize resources, enhance collective planning, coordination and commitment of national, regional and global stakeholders at all levels to the implementation of the strategy. An estimated 15,420,000 US is projected for implementation of the strategy for the 10-year period.