Investment in people-oriented innovation and technology key SADC’s transformation

Lazarus Sauti

Commenting on innovation and technology, John Stossel, an American consumer television personality, author, and libertarian pundit, once reminded humanity that “people acting in their own self-interest are the fuel for all the discovery, innovation and prosperity that powers the world”.

From Stossel’s aide memoire, one can easily infer that innovation and technology are cross-cutting issues for the SADC region, and can therefore serve as a catalyst for economic transformation.

Sharing same views, Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, the Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme, believes people-oriented innovation and technology is an essential constituent for the revolution of African economies.

“Innovation is a key determinant of the ability of economies to sustain growth, and is critical to improving socio-economic conditions. Socio-economic transformation in Africa requires both adaption of existing technologies, and the development of home-grown innovations,” he says.

People-oriented innovation and technology, without doubt, is what make one to move to a different stage of development, but this does not happen automatically.

It requires investment.

Accordingly, countries within and across the Southern African Development Community must seriously invest in people-oriented innovation and technology through improved policy and institutional conditions.

Policy decision-makers, business leaders, economists and academics in the region must, as a matter of necessity, harness knowledge and innovation to advance the adoption of new technologies as well as to augment Africa’s economic makeover.

Investing in people-oriented innovation and technology will secure future for youths. Carlos Lopes, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Africa, believes so.

“Investing in people-oriented innovation and technology –oriented will present youths significant building blocks to protect their future,” he says.

Lopes goes on to say that in today’s knowledge-driven global economy, innovation and technology-oriented education is vital for sustained economic performance and competitiveness.

“Innovation and technology-oriented education also gives our youths critical building blocks to secure their future as it ensures their integration into the more productive sectors of the economy, and gives them the capability to generate new sectors and products,” says he.

Arnold Boateng, author of “The African Youth Question” and “The Dreams of our Youth”, concurs: “There is no doubt people-oriented innovation and technology is critical in harnessing the resources available to create jobs for our youth. This notwithstanding, it would take education to direct, empower and encourage the youth and the society to tap into the vast opportunities innovation offers.”

Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, African Union Commission Chairperson, adds: “Investments in skills, technology, knowledge, and innovation will ensure democratic and responsive governance that can deliver effective public services and facilitate universal access to basic services, such as food and nutrition, water and sanitation, shelter, health and education.”

Significantly, governments, private sector, academia and the civil society in the region need to act as complimentary entities and not as competitors in the development process if the region it to invest in people-oriented innovation and technology.

They should set public policies and uniquely provide the resources to ensure solutions reach everyone who needs them.

Further, stakeholders should focus and learn the best practice in fostering technology transfer and identifying critical innovation barriers and gaps to achieve increased productivity and structural transformation of its economies. This is according to Demitu Hambissa, the Ethiopian Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology.

It is also critical for member states to fully implement the SADC Protocol on Science, Technology and Innovation and other international instruments on science and technology.

Governments, in line with relevant Protocols and international instruments, must also promote public understanding of innovation and technology by launching programmes to demystify science, technology and innovation.

Dieye asserts: “To leapfrog and sustain the resurgent Africa requires smart solutions anchored in people-oriented innovation and technology; and this means member states must advance in innovation centres, research and development budgets and institutes as well as linking up research centres with financial institutions.”

Frankly, SADC countries as well as other African countries cannot talk of people-oriented innovation and technology transfer without considering cultural practices and the mindset of the larger society.

Therefore, they should make innovation and technology a critical part of their culture and regional psyche.