Background and mandate

• The collaborative multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals was established pursuant to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as part of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism. The Mechanism was established under the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and was launched by the 2030 Agenda to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The global forum is organized by the United Nations inter-agency task team on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, with the support of a 10-member group appointed by the Secretary-General drawn from the private sector, the scientific community and civil society.
• The global multi-stakeholder forum is convened once a year, as indicated in paragraph 70 of the 2030 Agenda, “to discuss science, technology and innovation cooperation around thematic areas for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, congregating all relevant stakeholders to actively contribute in their area of expertise”, and to “provide a venue for facilitating interaction, matchmaking and the establishment of networks between relevant stakeholders and multi-stakeholder partnerships in order to identify and examine technology needs and gaps, including on scientific cooperation, innovation and capacity-building”. All these measures are expected to facilitate the development, transfer and dissemination of relevant technologies for the Sustainable Development Goals.
• The African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum was established by the Conference of Ministers, in its resolution 961 (LI) of 15 May 2018, calling on the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Union Commission and other partners, to take all steps necessary to organize on a regular basis a multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation as an input into the work of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.
• The first African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum was held in Marrakech, Morocco, on 16 April 2019; the second on 24 February 2020 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; and the third Forum was hosted by the Congo in Brazzaville on 25 and 26 February 2021. The forums are co-organized with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Department of Science and Innovation of South Africa, together with the host country.
• The Forum has grown into the preeminent continental platform for the exploration of complex and innovative issues of science and technology, showcasing emerging developments in that area, instilling technical and entrepreneurial skills in young people and forging long-lasting partnerships and alliances. In 2020, over 800 delegates representing African member States, United Nations agencies, the academic sector, civil society, youth, marginalized groups, the private sector and people living with disabilities were in attendance. In 2021, the Forum was organized in a hybrid format and brought together over 600 registered participants.
• Since 2020, a youth innovation bootcamp has been organized as part of the Forum. The bootcamp attracts young people from across the continent and beyond to collaborate in the design and development of innovative solutions and learn new technologies, such as rapid prototyping using 3D printing, genomics, robotics, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology, and also introduces them to entrepreneurship concepts and competencies.

Theme of the fourth African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum

As noted above, the theme of the eighth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development is “Building forward better: a green, inclusive and resilient Africa poised to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063” with a focus on Goals 4, 5, 13, 14 and 17.