ATPS, UNEP and Partners hold Key talks with President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, September 7, 2009

The President of the National Science Foundation of China, Yiyu Chen, held crucial talks today with the management of the ATPS, UNEP and key Partners under the umbrella of the African Academy of Sciences at the UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

A high-level delegation from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) accompanied the president. They included the Director General (Bureau of International Cooperation), Prof Jianghuo Han, Deputy Division Director (Bureau of International Cooperation), Dr. Zhang Yongtao, Deputy Director General (Department of Life Sciences) Prof Feng Feng, and Prof Yupeng Yao (Department of Earth Sciences).

The meeting was hosted by Jian Liu, Chief, Climate Change Adaptation Unit of UNEP. Dr Kevin Urama, Dr Sheila Ochugboju and Mr Marsden Momanyi represented the ATPS at the meeting. Among the partners present were key members of the African Science Community and scholars from the University of Nairobi. They included Prof Shem Oyoo Wandiga, Chairman of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences, Prof. Richard Odingo, a long standing member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Prof Laban Ogallo (IGAD and University of Nairobi), John O. Kokwaro (Taxonomy) and Dr Chris Oludhe (Meteorology).

The meeting discussed possible areas of collaboration between key African and the Chinese scientists. Dr Kevin Urama introduced the ATPS as the leading trans-disciplinary network of researchers, private sector actors, policy makers and civil society actors promoting science, technology and innovation (STI) for African development, environmental sustainability and global inclusion. He introduced several key programs which proffer opportunities for collaboration with the Chinese institution.

He highlighted the Climate Sense Program, (CSP) which is designed to create a common platform for Africa to translate complex climate change issues in ways that promote dialogue at all levels of African society and globally. He informed the meeting of the upcoming Training Workshop for Journalists, Creative Artists & Policy Makers in Africa slated for October 2009. Dr Urama who is also the Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the UNEP Global Climate Change Adaptation Network (GCCAN) in Africa said that the ATPS is working closely with partners to ensure Africa’s voice is heard in the ongoing global climate change debate.

He focused on ATPS Youth Innovation Challenge Program (Y I CAN) and the Women Innovation Challenge Program (WE CAN) as two initiatives that seek to address various challenges including such as climate change through building the STI capacity of the two marginalized groups. In responding to a question by the Chinese delegation regarding ATPS ‘s involvement in energy initiatives, Dr Urama said that in October ATPS will be collaborating with UN HABITAT on the "Sustainable Cities Program" which aims at building capacity in urban environment management and the use of renewable energy. He said that the ATPS is ideally positioned to take leadership on issues related to policy dialogue and technology transfer in Africa through its network in 23 African countries which is set to expand in the near future.

He encouraged the Chinese delegates to work with the ATPS as this collaboration would be mutually beneficial and cost effective in the long run. He encouraged bilateral relations between China and Africa with each partner bringing their comparative skills to the partnership and program initiatives and building synergies which will yield greater and sustainable policy impacts.

Like the ATPS, the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) has its headquarters in Kenya which is a hub of international organizations in Africa. In seeking possible avenues of collaboration, Prof Wandiga singled out the Lake Victoria region of East Africa as one of the key areas in dire need of resources for dealing with the effects of Climate Change. He added that investing in this region with a population of approximately 30 million, which holds Africa’s largest lake (68,000 square kilometers, but which is extremely susceptible to the effects of climate change) would have positive knock-on effects on other countries within the region that share the resource including Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. “On the one hand, the lake is the source of the River Nile which is the lifeline of Egypt and on the other, the River Kagera which originates in Burundi is the largest source of water for the lake,” said Prof Wandiga.  “This weaves together a complex dynamic of socio-political interests and potential cross boundary conflicts arising from issues of water demand management,” he added.

There was consensus over the need for China to partner with countries in Africa on several fronts.  Speaking to members present, President Chen stated that the premise of their visit was to understand the key issues related to Science and Technology in Africa and to gather the perspectives of African scientists. He said he hoped that the visit would yield potential avenues of interchange between the two constituencies, and to synergize ways of thinking that would be mutually productive and beneficial. He added that besides China's interest in Africa's science progress, the aim was to build a bridge that would strengthen the links between the two continents.

Adding his voice to the discussions, Prof Han said “the NSFC will continue to promote bilateral programs in science and technology between African and Chinese Scientists. In Africa, we have already signed an agreement with Egypt for cooperation and we are now looking to collaborate with Kenya and other African countries.”

He said that the NSFC promotes competitiveness of Chinese basic research through International Joint Research Programs, funding international journals and promoting public awareness. He said that the NCSF is committed to funding programs which promote shared learning between China and Africa. He added that the Chinese Academy of Sciences has also recently launched an International Research Fund for young scientists and called upon young African scholars to apply for the post doctoral opportunities in China that are available to students from developing countries. He said that currently the fund offers post doctoral positions from developing countries yearly. He added that he was optimistic that the program would be expanded this year to cater for a hundred positions per year.  He made reference to an earlier meeting with the UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner during which they agreed upon a series of scoping meetings to work out a framework of cooperation in several areas including climate change, agriculture and ecosystem management. He lauded the efforts of the ATPS and the African partners present in promoting STI as the engine for development in Africa and said that China too had a lot to learn from Africa.

Historically trade with China dates back to the 14th century when early Chinese sailors rounded the Horn of Africa. Dr Urama in his parting words said, “The ATPS looks to continue promoting dialogue on mutually beneficial partnership arrangements which serve the common interests of both continents.”