By Jones Gadama
Minister of Higher Education, Jessie Kabwila, has emphasized the need for African nations to prioritize science, technology, and evidence-informed decision-making to drive sustainable development.
Speaking at the 2025 Evidence for Development (Evi4Dev) Conference in Nairobi, Kabwila highlighted the importance of homegrown solutions in addressing Africa’s pressing challenges.
Africa is grappling with numerous challenges, including climate change, youth unemployment, and weak health systems. Kabwila stressed that these challenges demand a bold shift toward locally funded development solutions, with science and evidence at the core.
This approach will enable African countries to develop innovative solutions tailored to their specific needs.
Evidence-informed decision-making is critical in shaping Africa’s future.
Kabwila emphasized the need for policymakers to rely on scientific evidence when making decisions. This approach will ensure that policies are effective, efficient, and sustainable.
The Evi4Dev Conference brought together policymakers, researchers, and development leaders to strategize on how to harness the power of evidence in driving development.
Kabwila also highlighted the need to include women and marginalized groups in development planning. These groups are often excluded from critical decision-making processes, despite being disproportionately affected by development challenges.
By including them in the planning process, African countries can ensure that their needs are taken into account, leading to more equitable and sustainable development outcomes.
The conference was organized by AUDA-NEPAD, AFIDEP, and the Science for Africa Foundation.
It provided a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in harnessing the power of evidence for development.
Building Africa’s science capacity requires broader, fairer collaboration. According to Jan Palmowski, secretary-general of the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, Africa’s share of global science production currently stands at just 4%.
To address this, the African Union has identified investments in science, technology, research, and innovation as key to its Agenda 2063.
The Evi4Dev Conference aimed to develop a unified framework for defining, assessing, and enhancing education system resilience, promote evidence-informed decision-making, and foster collaboration among stakeholders.
Kabwila’s call to action emphasizes the need for African nations to invest in science, technology, and evidence-informed decision-making.
By prioritizing these areas, African countries can develop innovative solutions to their pressing challenges, leading to sustainable development and improved livelihoods for their citizens.
The Evi4Dev Conference marked an important step towards achieving this goal.
Prioritizing science, technology, and evidence-informed decision-making is crucial for Africa’s sustainable development.
By working together, African countries can develop innovative solutions to their pressing challenges, leading to a brighter future for their citizens.
