EAC Regional Research Initiative

EASTECO holds Regional Consultative Workshop on the EAC Regional Research Agenda

The East African Science and Technology Commission, in consultation with regional stakeholders, is developing a Regional Research Agenda and Management Framework for the East African Community. The aim of the research agenda is to provide an agreed research direction that responds to development priorities and shared social-economic aspirations of the region. A common regional research agenda will promote closer collaboration among institutions and researchers; support broader and deeper regional networking; ensure judicious allocation and use of resources; and eliminate duplication of efforts for accelerated regional integration and socio-economic development.

A regional consultative workshop was held on 27- 28th June 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya, and brought together representatives from Ministries responsible for East African Community Affairs and Science, Technology and Innovation; National Commissions /Councils of Science Technology and Innovation; Universities and other higher learning institutions; National Research Institutions; Industrial Research Institutions; Civil Society and other relevant stakeholders. The aim of the regional consultation was to consolidate proposals from the national workshops and come up with regional research priorities in order to provide agreed research direction for accelerated knowledge-based solutions to regional challenges.

Research Agenda is to provide an agreed research direction that responds to development priorities and shared social-economic aspirations of the region.

The workshop identified 6 regional research priorities:

1. Agriculture, productivity, food security systems and animal industry
2. Health & Nutrition
3. Energy, Industrialization & Trade
4. Natural Resources Management and Climate Change
5. Indigenous Knowledge and Technologies and,
6. ICT and Digital Economy

Thematic teams further elaborated priority sub-themes to guide the research agenda. The workshop also made improvements to the regional management framework with a view to increase efficiency and effectiveness in research coordination.

Participants at the Regional Consultation Workshop on the EAC regional Research Agenda & Management Framework in Nairobi, Kenya