A total of US$ 600,000 has been made available for six months of activities to prepare comprehensive studies and develop proposals for long-term funding.

Dr. John Mugabe, head of the NEPAD Office of Science and Technology, described the grant as a major commitment to initiate long-term programme development.

The Gates Foundation has started working with NEPAD to stimulate the implementation of Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action adopted in Senegal, Dakar in September 2005.

Dr. Mugabe was a keynote speaker at the second annual meeting of the Grand Challenges in Global Health Program of the Gates Foundation in Washington DC, where he spoke about the importance of building strong foundations for science institutions in Africa.

“Confronting Africa’s health challenges and securing this millennium’s technological opportunities require sustained investments in the production and use of scientific knowledge”, Dr. Mugabe emphasised.

The Gates Foundation plans to work with NEPAD to develop regional regulatory frameworks for clinical trials, to strengthen the participation of African universities in international science programmes, to increase the involvement of the Diaspora in the implementation of African technology projects, and to support the strengthening of African political leadership for science and technology.

Source : nepad news - october 13, 2006