Higher Education in Science and Technology is Critical for Africa’s Development

KIGALI, March 12, 2014—As Sub-Saharan Africa develops rapidly, it is estimated that the continent will need millions of engineers just to reach a single Millennium Development Goal, that of access to safe water and improved sanitation. However, there is a serious shortage of engineers—and also of scientists, health professionals and technicians—in nearly all of Sub-Saharan Africa’s 48 countries.

To help address this gap, the Government of Rwanda, a champion of science and technology, and the World Bank, one of Africa’s largest partners in higher education, are co-hosting a high-level forum on Higher Education for Science, Technology and Innovation in Kigali this week.

The time is right to focus on science, technology and innovation because African economies have been growing, partly due to demand for raw commodities. With more graduates in the applied sciences and technology, these economies could add value to raw commodities and compete in the global market for processed products and high-quality services.

Well trained graduates in science- and technology based disciplines can also help their countries find effective, cost-efficient, homegrown solutions to pressing development problems that are related to poverty, food security, climate change, urbanization and health.

Live from Kigali: How higher education systems can be upgraded across Africa

Themed Accelerating Africa’s Aspirations, the forum brings together senior representatives from governments, academia, development partners and the private sector. They will discuss priorities and solutions as part of a “big push” to upgrade higher education systems across Africa, making them more relevant to the needs of its fast-growing economies.

H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, and Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice President for Africa will address public sessions of the forum on Thursday, March 13. Speeches and high-level panel discussions will be livestreamed through the day at www.livestream.com/worldbankafrica

“What we are gathered here to do has profound implications for young people in Africa,” said Tawhid Nawaz, World Bank Director for Human Development in Africa, addressing ministerial delegations and technical experts today. “Essentially, young people can take advantage of economic opportunities only if they have the right knowledge and skills.”

"No country can prosper in the long run without paying attention to human capital"
      Tawhid Nawaz
      World Bank Director for Human Development in Africa

- worldbank.org