BRIEFING ON THE ICSU-UNESCO REGIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP ON RIO+20 SUMMIT, PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (May 30-June 1,2011) and THE AFRICAN PREPARATORY CONFERENCE (OF MINISTERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS) TO DEVELOP THE “AFRICA CONSENSUS STATEMENT TO THE RIO+20 SUMMIT”,ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (October, 20-25, 2011) reported by Prof. Hilary I. Inyang Member ICSU Regional Committee for Africa Duke Energy Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering and Science University of North Carolina Charlotte, NC, USA at the Roundtable Discussion on Science Messages for Rio+20 United Nations Headquarters, New York March 20, 2012

THE AFRICA ICSU-UNESCO REGIONAL WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS A. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GREEN ECONOMY Market Incentives and Financing Improvement of STI Base at Appropriate Levels (artisan, mid- level and advanced levels) Development of Support Infrastructure for STI and Humanities Research (research parks, tech. incubation centers, libraries and data storage centers, etc.) Support for Local Entrepreneurship and Economy-of-Scale Projects Adaptation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Promotion of the Participation of Vulnerable Groups (Women, youth and the disabled) in the Green Economy.

THE AFRICA ICSU-UNESCO REGIONAL WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS B. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Promotion of Good Governance and Accountability in both the Private and Public Sectors Harmonization of Numerous Development Policies and Action Plans Stock-taking of STI Intellectual Resources and Facilities in Africa Development and Integration of National Science and Technology Policies, and Creation of Science Advisory Boards

THE AFRICA ICSU-UNESCO REGIONAL WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS C. PRIORITY ISSUES AND EMERGING CHALLENGES FOR AFRICA Food Security (Land re-distribution, indigenous seed/crop varieties) Biodiversity and Ecosystem Losses (Deforestation, erosion) Climate Change and Security (eg. Coastal sea level rise and migration) Water Scarcity and Use (Need for greater exploitation of groundwater, water harvesting) Energy Crisis (Need for clean energy) Health security (High Disease burden) Natural and Human-induced Hazards and Disasters (droughts, flooding, tropical cyclones, pests and diseases) Desertification Human Migration

THE AFRICA PREPARATORY CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (OCTOBER 20-25,2011 ) ORGANIZED BY 1. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa 2. African Development Bank 3. African Union OBJECTIVES 1. To deliberate on the objectives and themes of Rio+20 and substantive matters of importance to Africa. 2. To arrive at a consensus on Africa’s key priorities and concerns to be reflected in the outcomes of Rio+20.

THE AFRICA PREPARATORY CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (OCTOBER 20-25,2011 ) PARTICIPANTS 1. The Public Sector (Ministers and Others) 2. The Private Sector 3. Civil Society 4. Youth Groups 5. Trade Unions 6. Academia 7. Regional and Sub-Regional Institutions 8. The Science and Technology Sector (ICSU-ROA and UNESCO)

JOINT-UNESCO/ICSU-ROA LOBBYING POINTS IN ADDIS ABABA FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE AFRICAN CONSENSES STATEMENT FOR RIO+20 SUMMIT S &T Delegates: Dr. Edith Madela-Mntla (ICSU-ROA),Prof. Hilary I. Inyang (ICSU-RCA) and Dr. Felix Toteu (UNESCO) Incorporation of scientific advise into decision-making processes at all jurisdictional levels, to accelerate the continents sustainable development. Improvement of S&T base at appropriate levels, to support novel industrialization that the green economy requires. Creation of more S&T facilities and operational systems, such as research parks, entrepreneurship centers, satellite observation systems, and data storage and transfer centers to intensify economic activities in Africa. Creation and support of high-level networked academic institutions modeled after successful systems elsewhere, but with innovative modifications to suit African circumstances. Creation of an African Research Foundation and Fund with an endowment to harvest talent and ideas from a broader set of innovators for African development.

KEY SECTIONS OF THE AFRICA CONSENSUS STATEMENT TO RIO+20 THAT HAVE INCORPORATED THE ICSU-ROA/UNESCO AFRICA REGIONAL WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS I. THE PREAMBLE Paragraph 6, page 2: Recommendation of enhanced commitment to action on all the new and emerging issues that were identified and discussed in Pretoria. II. NEW AND EMERGING CHALLENGES Paragraph 7, page 2 : Recognition of most of the stressors on which action was recommended by the Africa S&T workshop participants. III. GREEN ECONOMY IN THE CONTEXT OF SD AND POVERTY EXTRADICTION Paragraph 25, page 5: Encouragement of the S&T community among other stakeholders, to play their rightful role in SD Paragraph 33, page 6: Call for the provision of technological and technical assistance to Africa. Paragraph 7, page 2 : Recognition of the need for the increase in access to technology and capacity building.

KEY SECTIONS OF THE AFRICA CONSENSUS STATEMENT TO RIO+20 THAT HAVE INCORPORATED THE ICSU-ROA/UNESCO AFRICA REGIONAL WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS IV. INSTITUTIONAL AND STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Paragraph 39,page 7: Recommendation to the Conference that the specific needs of Africa should be considered in addressing the implementation gap, capacity-building, technology transfer and linking of the science-policy interface of environmental sustainability. V. MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION Paragraph 39,page 10: Recognition of poor capacity-building and tech. transfer as hindrances to SD of Africa. Paragraph 57,page 10: Recommendation of the implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan of Technology Support and Capacity- Building, and the Chapter 34 provisions of Agenda 21 and JDPI Agreements tech. transfer.

KEY SECTIONS OF THE AFRICA CONSENSUS STATEMENT TO RIO+20 THAT HAVE INCORPORATED THE ICSU-ROA/UNESCO AFRICA REGIONAL WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS Paragraph 57,page 11: Recognition of S&T as being vital to the achievement of African development goals. Paragraph 59,page 12: Recommendation that technology transfer target appropriate and safe green technologies that can help Africa extract natural resources without undermining its sustainability Paragraph 59,page 12: Commitment in the consensus statement to: 1. Increase investment in science, technology and innovation 2. Promote and strengthen institutions of technology innovation 3. Introduce codes and standards to faster green development 4. Build partnerships within and outside the region. 5. Encourage industry-academia-government partnerships, and 6. Strengthen networking among institutions and centers of excellence within and outside Africa.