Gate offers science fund

Feb 14, 2005

Uganda is one of the three countries to benefit from the sh34b multi-billionaire, which Bill Gates has offered to develop science in Africa.

Uganda is one of the three countries to benefit from the sh34b multi-billionaire, which Bill Gates has offered to develop science in Africa.
Academies of Science in Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa will receive grants to boost their ability to provide their governments and the public with advice on science-related issues. The money will come from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
In line with the goals of the foundation, set up by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the programme will include specific efforts intended to improve policy-making on issues relating to human health.
“The goal is to enhance life for all Africans by making it possible for Africa’s scientific community to tap its potential more effectively, in meeting national needs and creating a strong science base for public policy,” Bruce Alberts, president of the US National Academy of Sciences, said in a statement.
Alberts says he is keen for African academies to play a role in providing science-based advice to top decision-makers.
Following the announcement of the grant from the Gates Foundation last year, seven African countries were visited by a small team to assess their ability to absorb extra funding and use it effectively. In addition to the successful candidates, the team also visited Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya and Senegal.
According to the academy, the science academies in Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda were chosen as the focal points of the new programme “based on their vitality and potential for success, the willingness of each country’s government to take up scientific expertise in decision-making and available scientific talent.”
Although the NAS says it intends to guide such efforts during their early stages, for example by carrying out various joint activities, it is eventually hoped that each nation will create its own capacity to carry out such activities, under the leadership and support of the African academies.
“Some of the preliminary activities will therefore centre on helping the three academies develop the skills to plan and conduct scientific studies, organise major conferences, raise and manage funds, create and implement administrative procedures and build lasting relationships with government officials and other stakeholders in their countries,” the NAS said in a press statement.

Scidev.Net

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