The government of Malawi has implored countries across Africa to prioritise science, technology and research-based policy-making for the nations to develop economically.
Minister of Higher Education, Dr Jessie Kabwila made the appeal Tuesday in Nairobi, Kenya during the opening of a three-day Evidence for Development (Evi4Dev) Conference being held under the theme, “Optimising the Role of Data, Evidence and Innovations in Africa’s Efforts to Create Wealth, Empower Citizens and Foster Responsive Governance”.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Kabwila implored African leaders and other concerned stakeholders to take a leading role in ensuring that citizens are taking ownership of the continent’s transformation.
She called on leaders to desist from implementing policies that are not properly backed by data and research.
“Our continent is at a crossroads facing challenges such as climate change impacts, fragile health systems, unemployment, rising debt and diminishing aid, challenges that require critical thinking,” she said.
The minister challenged leaders to act decisively, saying time for indecisiveness is over.
“I am calling upon leaders to use all the available data and evidence to implement strategies because these researches are not merely tools but a bridge between policy ideas and meaningful impact,” said Dr Kabwila.
The minister hailed the conference’s theme, saying it reflects the aspirations outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“As we are pushing for attainment of the Agenda 2063 goals, evidence-informed guidelines should be prioritised to build effective institutions capable of meeting the needs of citizens,” she added.
The Evi4Dev conference has brought together researchers, policymakers, development agencies and civil society leaders from across the African continent and beyond.
The three-day conference which concludes Thursday, has been organised by AUDA-NEPAD, The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) and the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA).
