Academies as Champions of AU Agenda 2063 and UN Agenda 2030 (SDGs)

NASAC hosted the second edition of its Academy Synergy Building Sessions (ASBS) virtually on 25 June 2026 from 3 PM EAT. Centred around the theme “Academies as Champions of AU Agenda 2063 and UN Agenda 2030 (SDGs),” the session brought together scientists, academy representatives, and policy experts to examine how scientific institutions can better drive development across the continent.

The session featured Emeritus Professor Jean-Pierre Ezin—from the Académie Nationale des Sciences, Arts et Lettres du Bénin (ANSALB) and former African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, as the keynote speaker. Prof. Ezin’s two-part presentation focused on mobilizing science academies to champion African Union Agenda 2063 and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a specific emphasis on Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 13 (Climate Action).

The Alignment Gap: SDGs vs. Agenda 2063

A key insight from the discussion was that African academies are currently much more engaged with the UN SDGs than with the AU’s Agenda 2063. Participants noted that the SDGs frequently enjoy better alignment with existing national priorities, backed by clearer, well-established mechanisms for policy engagement.

Prof. Ezin reminded participants that Agenda 2063 represents a vital, unified vision for all Africans, urging that it be deeply integrated into national planning processes. He highlighted a critical disconnect – while national leaders readily endorse continental frameworks at the African Union level, that commitment rarely translates into robust implementation at the country level.

Participants raised concerns around ownership and sovereignty, pointing out that Regional Economic Communities (RECs) often operate independently of the broader AU agenda. Furthermore, heavy reliance on external funding can inadvertently skew domestic research and development priorities.

Overcoming Barriers to Policy Impact

The session addressed the structural challenges that keep scientific advice from reaching political ears, including:

• The Science-Policy Divide: A persistent communication gap between scientists and politicians.
• Lack of Representation: The ongoing struggle for academies to secure a permanent “seat at the table” during the early stages of policy development.
• Implementation Gaps: The friction between high-quality academic research and actual public policy or development planning.

To bridge these gaps and strengthen the impact of science on society, the session outlined three actionable strategies for African academies:

1. Bottom-Up Alignment: Focus first on aligning national strategic plans with the continental framework (Agenda 2063) before scaling up advocacy to regional and global levels.
2. Proactive Policy Engagement: Move beyond traditional publishing by translating complex data into clear, actionable policy briefs targeted directly at lawmakers.
3. Institutional Synergy: Foster deeper relationships with government ministries to ensure that scientific evidence is embedded into national development planning from day one.

 Call to Action

The meeting concluded with a call to action urging all member academies to step up their involvement in the policy sphere. By leveraging their collective expertise and bridging the gap between evidence and action, African academies can maximize their impact on both continental and global development frameworks, ultimately shaping a better future for the continent.