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President of The AFRICALICS Dr. Bitrina Diyamett Officiates The Kigali International Conference on Unpacking Systems of Innovations For Sustainable Development in Africa
19th November 2015 President of the African Research Network on Economics of Learning, Innovation and Competence Building systems (AfricaLics) Dr. Bitrina Diyamett officiated the International Conference on Unpacking Systems of Innovation for Sustainable Development in Africa in Kigali - Rwanda. Giving the opening remarks, Dr. Bitrina Diyamett who also heads the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Organization (STIPRO) said the 3 days Conference was the Second conference hosted jointly by Africalics and Rwanda University with major objectives of sharing and facilitating use of knowledge. Explaining other objectives of the Conference, Dr. Diyamett noted that the Conference was organized to determine the state of the art within research community in Africa working in the field of innovation and development and providing a much needed arena for researchers in Africa, particularly early career researchers, to build capacity in presenting and networking skills as well as learning about new methods and theories. She said innate in human is innovation and human beings, since time immemorial, had always endeavored to improve on their tools of production and modes of living. She however warned that under current environment of globalization, innovation had taken a new horizon – it is a tool for competitiveness, including survival. “Without innovation, the very existence of our firms and farms, and ultimately our nations are at stake. In this regard Africa does not have options other than implementing good policies to guide innovative activities in their own countries. But good policies require good knowledge produced through high quality research.” She says She further explained that in order for the African Continent to avoid marginalization, the Continent must address innovation knowledge imbalance by producing more knowledge that is relevant to its context; work more on connecting existing knowledge to use. She went on to say, that cannot happen in the absence of adequate capacity for such activities.
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Methodology Meeting for Research on South-South and Triangular Cooperation
Starting from 12th to 14th October 2015, The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organization (STIPRO) in collaboration with Southern Voice Network Secretariat, Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA) and Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) is hosting a three day methodology Meeting on South-South and Triangular Cooperation and strategy meeting on the Future of Southern Voice at White Sand Hotel in Dar es Salaam. The Guest of Honor (Pictured right) during a Southern Voice Workshop Eng. Happiness Mgalula (STIPRO) who represented Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Planning Commission delivering the speech. The meeting was organized following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Southern Voice is ready to embark upon the next lap as a network of 49 think tanks from Africa, Asia and Latin America, serving as an open platform to make contribution to the international discourse on the SDGs. South-South Cooperation (SSC) is recognized by stakeholders as a potential source of development inputs towards the implementation of the Post-2015 international development agenda. Triangular cooperation (Trc), in which traditional donor countries and multilateral organizations facilitate South-South initiatives has also become a theme of discussion. Speaking during that Workshop, STIPRO Executive Director Dr. Bitrina Diyamet noted that the Meeting aimed at discussing study methodology of the research programmes for harnessing the potential of South–South Cooperation in the context of implementing Post 2015 Development Agenda. She further explained that STIPRO andSouthern Voice network decided to bring together Think Tanks from Africa, Asia and Latin America to brainstorm on a Strategic Plan on the future of the Southern Voice Network inline with the 2030 development agenda. “STIPRO has been conducting different Research projects on how some Millennium development goals failed in Tanzania compared to other countries. Through this Meeting, we are now in a good position to discuss with other think tanks of the South-South about the areas in the implementation of the post-2015 international development agenda. This can help our research reports to be used by policy makers in our countries and adopt the evidence based decision making system.” - She said. For her part, the Guest of Honor Eng. Happiness Mgalula who represented the Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Planning Commission, said Tanzania is at the moment just two weeks after finishing 15 years of pursuing the full implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organization (STIPRO) Executive Director Dr. Bitrina Diyamet gives the opening remarks. “At this particular juncture, our hearts and minds are still full of memories and lessons we have gained during those past 15 years of implementing the MDGs. She noted adding that she was very optimistic about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and hope for a better future of South countries during the next 15 years. Chairman of the Southern Voice on Post 2015 International Development Goals Professor Debapriya Bhattacharya noted that, the time has come where the South-South should be well represented in the development agenda of the North. “As a chair of of the Southern Voice network, together with my fellow colleagues, we see that there is no way rather than to include the South countries in setting development agenda and goals for their society. This meeting will help us to predict sustainability of our cooperation together with their challenges” - He insisted. Chairman of the Southern Voice on Post-2015 International Development Goals Prof. Debapriya Bhattacharya (First right) takes some notes during a Southern Voice Workshop Dar es Salaam. Looking on are Representative of the Guest of Honor Eng. Happiness Mgalula and STIPRO Executive Director Dr. Bitrina Diyamet A cross-section of the Workshop participants A cross-section of the Workshop participants A group photo of Workshop participants at White sands Hotel - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Detailed information regarding the event can be obtained here: http://southernvoice-postmdg.org/southern-voice-to-explore-second-generation-issues-of-south-south-cooperation/ Click to view more photos of the event: DAY-1 | DAY-3
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STIPRO Hosts Research Dissemination Workshop
On Wednesday 30th September 2015, STIPRO held a research feedback workshop at Blue Pearl Hotel, Ubungo Plaza in Dar es Salaam. The purpose of the event was to gather feedback from key stakeholders on the preliminary findings from two research projects recently completed by STIPRO researchers. The first project titled Role of Cooperatives in Promoting Inclusive Innovation in Tanzania, the Case of Kilimanjaro Coffee Cooperatives Societies and Tandaimba Newala Cooperatives Union was presented by Ms Lanta Daniel, Mr. Heric Thomas. The purpose of this project was to investigate the role of cooperatives in promoting inclusive innovation systems in the farming sector in Tanzania. The research was expected to provide knowledge on the role of cooperatives in promoting inclusive innovation system among farming communities in Tanzania that would be useful for policy formulation and other strategic interventions on cooperative by the government and other decision makers. The second research project titled “Institutional Knowledge and Technology Transfer Policies and Strategies: A survey of Universities and R&D Institutions” was presented by Mr. Musambya Mutambala and Engineer Lawrence Kerefu from Nyumbu The overall objective of the project, was been to explore the nature, scope and effect of knowledge and technology transfer strategies and practices of selected R&D institutions as well as Universities. The intention is provide policy lessons, both at the institutional and national levels. We thank all participants for their active participation and constructive feedback. BELOW ARE THE PHOTOS OF THE EVENT: Dr. Bitrina Diyamett, STIPRO Executive Director giving opening Remarks Mr. Heric Thomas, STIPRO assistant research fellow presenting on the Role of Cooperatives in Promoting Inclusive Innovation, the Case of KNCU and TANECU in Tanzania Ms. Lanta Daniel, STIPRO assistant research fellow presenting on the Role of Cooperatives in Promoting Inclusive Innovation, the Case of KNCU and TANECU in Tanzania Mr. Musambya Mutambala, STIPRO research fellow presenting on Institutional Knowledge and Technology Workshop participants following up presentations Participants' registration During tea break Event's Group Photo
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Role of Research and Development in Tanzania
STIPRO host a Roundtable on the Role of Research in Development in Tanzania, Thursday 30th July 2015. Recognizing the utility value of research in Development, STIPRO shall host a round-table discussion “Role of Research in Development in Tanzania” on 30th July 2015. The event will take place at Kisenga’s LAPF International Conference Center, 14th Floor, Kijitonyama, Opposite Village Museum. The event is expected to bring together stakeholders from government, academia, research community, civil society organizations, donor agencies, and the press. The discussion will be centered on the two major utility values of research including creating new products for social economic development and influencing decision making. More specifically, below are the topics that will be discussed during the event; The role of the natural sciences and engineering related research in development; its status in Tanzania, challenges and way forward. The role of social sciences research in development; its status in Tanzania, challenges and way forward. The role of research in innovation The role of research in mass media and advocacy. National mechanisms for the promotion, coordination and funding of research.
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STIPRO Executive Director New Post
Dr. Bitrina Diyamett, STIPRO Executive Director has been appointed to be a member of steering committee of the Southern Voice (SV) representing Africa. SV is a network of think tanks from Africa, Latin America and South Asia that was initiated through the support of Think Tank Initiatives (TTI) for experts in developing countries to share their evidence based policy inputs towards the post 2015 Development Agenda. Since its inception in June 2012, STIPRO participation has been highly remarkable particularly in advancing Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) issues as key component in the next post 2015 development agenda to be named Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From 16th to 17th February 2015, SV in collaboration with Think Tank Initiative (TTI) organised a two-day research conference with the theme “Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Development Goals and Targets”. The conference was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Sisli of Istanbul. Objectives of the conference included shaping of the international development agenda for post-2015 period, identification of implementation challenges of the post-2015 agenda, and understanding national implications for implementing post-2015 international development goals. The conference was attended by more than 70 members of international development and research communities from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. During the conference, Dr. Diyamett made a presentation titled “Growth and Poverty: Some Empirical Evidence from Tanzania and Implications for the SDGs” with the major argument that growth is important but not enough to bring social and economic development. The presentation can be accessed here
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