Programmes
Academy Development Initiative (ADI)
One of the strategic objectives of NASAC is to enhance the capacity of existing science academies and support the creation of new academies in countries where none exist. To deliver this objective, NASAC has developed an initiative to increase awareness on the value of science academies to their nations and inspire scientists to create them. The said initiative is dubbed: Academy Development Initiative (ADI).
The ADI was initiated in 2020 as a collaboration between NASAC and United Nations Technology Bank for LDCs. Through this initiative, four academies have been launched in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Malawi have been launched, while scientists in several other African countries are working towards establishing new academies. ADI aims to provide shared lessons, guidelines, and experiences on how to create and strengthen science academies in Africa. It is hoped that through this interactive process, the established academies will serve as science advisors to their respective governments, industry and the science, technology, and innovation (STI) community. All interested parties and relevant stakeholders are given opportunities to share their views on the value of an academy during the ADI webinars. Existing academies are invited to motivate the interest of scientists in countries that do not have academies. Additionally, they share lessons and experiences in the processes and modalities of setting up a national academy that is not-for-profit, apolitical, non-partisan and merit based. These ADI webinars are hosted and moderated by the NASAC secretariat.
ADI’s main objective is to create awareness on the process and modality of setting up a national academy that is contextually relevant in its honorific and programmatic activities.
Selected topics and tentative dates for the 2024 sessions are:
Stakeholder Relations and Management – 14th March 2024
Effective Communication Strategy for Science Academies– 13th June 2024
Maintaining Financial Sustainability with Independence– 12th September 2024
Science diplomacy and the role of science academies – 14th November 2024
