Assessing the impact of research in the water sector for the implementation of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024)

Abstract

For the realisation of the Science Technology and Innovation goals across water sector in Africa, the need for frequent assessment of existing scientific research in water programmes under the auspices of the African Union remains paramount. Notwithstanding the voluminous policy efforts and strategies, or the commitment to research under the Pan African University [PAU] Programme, a failure to establish existing link between the Science Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-24) with the Research in Water Sector for Africa, will keep widening the gap to research and policy connected implementation results. In assessing existing research in water sector for Africa towards the implementation of the STISA-24 policy, this paper seeks to establish well actionable links between the STISA Policy and PAU water research works; Assess the available water research thesis work in Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences, including Climate Change [PAUWES] between the First and Fourth cohorts [years 2016-2019], and design a working theory of change model for research in water sector towards technology and innovation in Africa’s water sector. By critically conducting detailed analysis of existing STISA policy documents and PAUWES Research agenda and policy documents, an analysis of 93 master’s thesis in water sector for Africa, this paper will be presenting the statistical trends and analysis of the available research in water sector across Africa towards the realisation of the Science Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024. The Science Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-24) presents the African Union’s ten years strategy established to make innovation a key driver to accelerate Africa’s transition from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy (STISA, 2014) (AOSTI, 2014). This paper provides analyses to drive results for water sector innovation across Africa through knowledge-based research under the R&D scholarship programme of the African Union. It prepares a working Theory of Change which has as its overall impact target to be the realisation of Evidence-based technology and innovation in Africa’s Water sectors across Africa”. It concludes by giving suggestions that can be applied at institutional levels.