The meeting is expected to promote partnership and explore resource mobilisation options to strengthen the capacities of the AU Commission and NEPAD in delivering the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST) Consolidated Plan of Action and the 2nd Decade of Education Plan in ADB’s regional member countries (RMCs).

During the two-day meeting, presentations will be made on the following issues :

Implementation of the AU 2nd Decade of Education Plan ;

AU/NEPAD Science & Technology Consolidated Plan of Action ;

Capacity strengthening needs in the AU Commission and NEPAD ;

Science and technology investment needs in ADB’s RMCs ;

Lessons learnt in the mobilisation of resources for similar continent-wide initiatives ;

ADB resource mobilisation and financing framework for science and technology development in Africa.

Participants include Prof. Nagia Essayed, AU Commissioner for Human Resources and Science and Technology, Prof. Mamadou Ndoye, Executive Secretary, ADEA, and Dr. John Mugabe, Director, Science and Technology, NEPAD.

The meeting is being chaired by Vice President Zeinab El Bakri, of the ADB. Source : NEPAD, july 2007