Policy Recommendations for Reviving the S&T System in Sudan

Nouralla Yassin Ahmed

Sudan - Ministry of Science and TechnologyMobile: +249 122635284

E-mail: nouralla60@hotmail.com

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Background Information

Geographic coordinatesGeographic coordinates22 and 38 East and latitudes 4 and 22 North22 and 38 East and latitudes 4 and 22 North

Area:Area:Total: 2,505,810 sq km Total: 2,505,810 sq km Water: 129,810 sq km Water: 129,810 sq km Land: 2.376 million sq kmLand: 2.376 million sq km

Climate:Climate:Tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to Tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October, average annual 0 October, average annual 0 -- >1000 mm)>1000 mm)

Natural Resources:Natural Resources:Forest and Pasture, Petroleum; iron ore reserves, copper, Forest and Pasture, Petroleum; iron ore reserves, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropowerchromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower

Current Environmental Issues:Current Environmental Issues:Inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threaInadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened tened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drby excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought ought

1. Introduction• In January 2009 a workshop was held in

Khartoum on Reviving the S&T System in Sudan.

• The workshop is sponsored jointly by ministry of science and technology and UNESCO.

• Sixteen papers were presented in the workshop addressing various issues related to science and technology

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The aim of the S&T reform …

Four possible aims

• Direction setting

•Determining priorities

•Identification of emerging trends

•Consensus generation

Themes around which S&T is discussed

Sustainable development.Poverty alleviation and realization of the millennium development goals.Good governance and the rule of law.Institutionalization, capacity – building, monitoring and evaluation.Information, Communications and Technology.Development of scientific research in the country

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Some of the presented facts related to S&T

1. Agricultural productivity

2. Cost of Industrial product

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Productivity (Per fed) in the Irrigated Sector with and without Technological Packages

Source :Sudan Options for the Sustainable Development of the Gezira Scheme .World Bank (2000)

Percentage Average Farmer

Productivity

Highest Farmers

Productivity

Research Productivity

Crop

28%4.51216Cotton

28%51418LS cotton

25%5.51822MS cotton

24%0.622.5Wheat

32%0.82.32.5Sorghum

42%1.222.8Ground nuts

50%81216Onion

Cost differences between Locally produced and imported industrial product

Percent of cost increase

Cost of Imported Cost of locally Produced

Product

57%0.461.08Sugar

31%0.520.76Flour

44%1.963.47Oils

22%0.520.67Biscuits

47%1.853.48Jam

56%1.312.97Matches

17%0.050.06Fridges

24%0.130.17Cement

14%3.614.20Paints

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Institutional Structure of science and technology In Sudan

A – Research Centers (Under MOST)

B - Universities (Public and private)

Agricultural Research

Experimental and seed propagation farms

Specialize laboratories in representative areas

Central veterinary laboratories

State veterinary laboratories

Animal production Research Stations

Meat Technology laboratory

Fisheries & Wildlife Laboratory

Animal Research C.

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12

NCR

Computer Laboratories (documentation and information center, Socioeconomic research, Remote sensing, Tropical medical research)

Chemical analysis Labs

Photography Labs.

Plant Chemistry & pharmaceutical labs

Pharmaceutics and Toxicology

Bulb and paper labs

Animal production and fisheries lab

Insecticides alternatives and environmental pollution labs.

Nitrogen fixation lab.

Parasitology and microbiology lab.

Genetic Engineering and Tissue culture lab.

Herbarium of Medical and Aromatic plants.

Industrial design studios.

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AEC

Nuclear and Radiology labs.

Radiation and Waste Safety lab.

Radiation Protection Safety lab.

Radiometric investigation lab. In the Red Sea.

Non-destructive Testing Lab

IRCC

Pilot Plant.

Industrial and Quality Control labs.

Chemical Testing Lab.

Food Testing Lab.

Quality Control & Specification lab

State Universities

14

6

11 1214

23 2426 26 26 26 26 26 26

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

90 92 94 96 98 2000 2002

Private UniversitiesPrivate UniversitiesPrivate Universities

15

11 12 1316 16

1821

2325

30

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002

Private Centers (Biotech)

Institution Staff ActivitiesPh D MSc

Lina Tissue culture company 1 1 Private sector for plant tissue culture

Date Palm production company 2 4 Private company for plant tissue culture

Manpower resources

Personnel Distribution in the various units of the Ministry of Science &Technology

Supp. StaffTechnicians

R. Assistants

MscPh.D

150100224Head Quarter

2626251115241136ARC 6533691749978ARRC

3311625713165NCR 15236196514IRCC

21750115SAS 911140979SAEA44192236ESRB44263493CL

1823704371Metr. C.

42941432444705321Total

Personnel Distribution in the various units of the Ministry of Science &Technology

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

HeadQuartar

ARC ARRC NCR IRCC SAS SAEA ESRB CL Metr .A

Supp.Staff Tech R.As Msc Ph.D

Funding

•Gross domestic product of the Republic of Sudan (SDG)

=10,197,480,000

•Feeding to the ministry of Science and Technology (SDG)

=20,100,000

•Ratio of the feedings of the to MOST , OF THE GDP= 0.2%

•1% OF THE(GDP) (LOCATED TO SCIENTIFIC RESERCH)=101,974,800

•The share of the ministry of science and technology of the allocation for scientific research=20,100,666

The feeding to MOST as percent of the proposed (1% of GDP). 20 %

The Recommendations are centered around :

•Enabling Policies

•Funding S & T

•Human Resources and manpower development

•General recommendations

Enabling Policies

1. Introduce the concept of sustainable development to the education and research curricula.

2. Aggressively pursue market-driven innovation to capture short�to�medium term opportunities to create jobs and wealth; And to continue to actively support and facilitate technology�driven innovation for medium to long term benefits

3. Facilitate “take to market” activities (especially global) by providing a portfolio of incentives.

4. Expand services already being provided to the private sector to facilitate access to global markets, including collaboration with foreign companies and experts, and ready access to extensive and up-to-date market intelligence.

5. Facilitate acquisition of technology by private sector (bothlocally and globally) through mitigation of funding risks (Examples in Agric. Biotech)

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Funding S & T1. Allocating a percentage that should not be less than 1% of the gross national

product (GNP) for funding scientific research projects and programs with the aim of reaching 2% by the end of the Five-Year Plan (2007-2011).

2. Considering private sector disbursement on scientific research to the tune of 10% of its expenditure or revenue exempted from income-tax.

3. Develop the S&T Infrastructure with advance R&D equipment & devices

4. Strengthen cooperation at the National, Regional & International Levels.

5. Providing funds to support and develop the framework and mechanisms of scientific research, capabilities and direct its outputs to pivotal issues in the Five-Year Plan.

Human Resources and manpower development

1. Attracting scientists and professionals and exerting more efforts to build a national intellectual and knowledge think tank.

2. Provide a particular portfolio of incentives (including fiscal and other measures) to create a conducive environment to attract global talent to fill critical gaps, and transfer skills and knowledge.

3. Incentives to build a national intellectual and knowledge think tank.

4. Formulating policies to entice and encourage migrant experts andresearchers to return and settle and work in the country.

5. Attracting the contribution of the Sudanese experts and scientists working in the field of scientific research outside the country and in particular those working with regional and international organisations.

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