NEPAD Biosciences Initiative: The African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE)

Transcription

1 NEPAD Biosciences Initiative: The African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) NEPAD-MSU Partnership Diran Makinde 1, Karim Maredia 2, Cholani Weebadde 2 & Aggrey Ambali 1 1 NEPAD Office of S&T; 2 Michigan State University

2 AU-NEPAD: Africa s S & T Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) CPA articulates common objective of socio-economic transformation (poverty alleviation) and full integration into the global economy. Reaffirms the continent s collective action to use S & T for our developmental goals. Contains agreed research themes in strategic priorities R&D agenda is member-state driven, with NEPAD as convening platform that encourages intra- and intercontinental collaborations. Aims at developing an African system of research & tech innovation by est. Networks of Centres of Excellence dedicated to specific R&D & capacity building programs. 2

3 CPA Comprises three areas Research & Development Programs Programs on Improving Policy Conditions and Building Innovation Mechanisms Implementation, Funding & Governance 3

4 R&D programmes Cluster 1: Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Indigenous Knowledge Technology Cluster 2: Energy, Water and Desertification Cluster 3: Material sciences, Manufacturing, Laser Technologies and Post- Harvest Technologies Cluster 4: ICTs and Space Sciences Cluster 5: Mathematical Sciences 4

5 Programs for Policies 1. African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators Initiative (ASTII) 2. Improving Regional Cooperation in S & T 3. Building Public Understanding of S&T 4. Building a Common Strategy for Biotech 5. Building S & T Policy Capacity 6. Promoting the Creation of Technology Parks 5

6 African Biosciences Initiative ABI is one of the 13 flagship programmes in the CPA (Cluster 1). ABI s objective is to advance life sciences for R4D in three areas: Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; Safe development and application of biotechnology (Biosafety); Securing and using Africa s indigenous knowledge base.

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8 Challenges Facing Africa on Biotechnology and Biosafety Lack of fund Loss of technical expertise Slow development of a biotechnology sector Inadequate IPR infrastructure Government not taking a more active political role in promoting the technology Public acceptance

9 Africa Biosafety Initiatives Regional approaches:- SADC,Biosafety Implementation Committee; - ASARECA, Biotech/Biosafety program; - CORAF (ECOWAS) biotech prog. (USAID); -ECOWAS biotech prog. coordinated by INSAH/CILSS assisted by AGBIOS implemented by CORAF - COMESA, biosafety program; - UEMOA and World Bank; - CILSS and USAID program coordinated by INSAH (Mali);

10 Africa Biosafety Initiative (Contd) - AUC-HRST Biosafety unit (African Biosafety Model law) GTZ; EC-AU partnership on biotech - NEPAD/OST-MSU (ABNE), BMGF; - FARA ABBI to ABBPP (Syngenta Foundation SCBMA& Euro Com?? ) - UNEP-GEF - UNIDO - ICGEB - PBS/ABSP II and USAID

11 F unctional NBF s Interim NBF s NBF is work-inprogres s No NB F s

12 What is ABNE? ABNE is an initiative of NEPAD-OST Africa S&T Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) Freedom to Innovate Africa-based, Africa-owned, Africa-led Funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Established in collaboration with Michigan State University

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14 ABNE Focus Science-based biosafety resource for African regulators ABNE will focus on providing biosafety services to members of NBCs, IBCs, and PQ staff in Agric Ministries ABNE is a service network Overall goal: Building functional biosafety systems in Africa

15 Building ABNE Service Network ABNE is implemented in two phases Phase 1: Design, Preparation and Staff Training ( ) Phase 2: Implementation ( )

16 ABNE Phase I: Activities Appointment of African-based Task Force Members Political Buy-in and Endorsement by African governments (AMCOST) Identifying the biosafety needs and gaps: Consultation with Regulators and other Stakeholders Biosafety resources development (web portal, training programs and facilities) ABNE Staff training: 4 core staff members Building the partnerships; links with Africa-based and int l service providers; South to South collaboration Development of ABNE implementation plan

17 2. Political Buy-in and Endorsement by African Governments AMCOST approval granted in May 2008 for the establishment of the ABNE ABNE concept presented at several regional and sub-regional meetings

18 3. Identifying the Biosafety Needs of Regulators Surveys/Questionnaire Country consultations Africa-wide Regional consultation Prior reports and assessments on biotechnology and biosafety Input of Task Force members

19 Meeting with IBC members. NARO, Kampala, Uganda

20 Key Observations from Face to Face Consultations with regulators Diverse backgrounds of regulators and understanding of biosafety and biotechnology issues Very low or no operational budgets for NBCs, IBCs NBCs not meeting regularly due to lack of applications and resources Lack of collaboration and cooperation among government ministries Need access to information, training; and interactions between regulators and scientists

21 African Regulators & ABNE Team Members in Bt Cotton Field in Burkina Faso. August 08

22 Biosafety Needs of Regulators Key Priorities Access to science-based information on the environment, food safety and the socio-economic impact of agricultural biotechnology products. Handling and review of biosafety applications Adapting biosafety administrative processes to specific national systems Developing SOPs for handling and review of biosafety applications Providing technical assistance in making national biosafety secretariats operational Training and capacity building for regulators in risk analysis on RA, RM, & RC, including: Interpretation of data submitted to regulatory institutions, applications for CFTs, commercial releases, and F&F importation SOPs and guidelines for RA,RM & RC Facilitate networking and interactions among regulators within and between countries, and enhance interactions between regulators and scientists.

23 4. Biosafety Information Resource Development Web portal Inventory of training resources and facilities Documentation Center Hard copies, CDs, DVDs

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25 Vision for ABNE Website To become a leading science-based biosafety resource for Africa Core Values Information integrity Science-based Clear and accurate Current Balanced/Unbiased Timely Provide published information both online and offline. Currently prototype website provides links to existing reliable information but will in the immediate future generate new, relevant information and answer questions online

26 Building ABNE Service network Establishment of the node in Burkina Faso ABNE services based on priority needs Information dissemination Training and education (short courses, study tours, workshops and internships) Technical support Networking and exchange of experiences Building Partnerships and Collaborations

27 5. ABNE Staff Training through oneyear certificate program at MSU Dr. Moussa Savadogo Environmental Biosafety Dr. Allan Liavoga Food Safety Ms. Betty Kiplagat Legal Issues Mr. Samuel Timpo Socio-economic Issues After the training, the core staff will be based at ABNE Node in Burkina Faso

28 6. Partnerships and Linkages with other service providers Partnerships with African institutions Partnerships with other service providers South-south Collaboration

29 ABNE is a Service Network Key Element - Collaboration and Partnerships with Biosafety Service Providers in Africa and Internationally - Resources are limited - Benefit from the experiences and resources of other service providers - Create synergy minimize duplication - Facilitate partnerships with existing programs - ABNE s focus is on three groups of regulators - we cannot do everything that is needed alone.

30 Africa-based Service Providers ISAAA AfricaBio ABSF AATF Africa-Harvest ABBPP/FARA Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) Country Projects ABNE/NEPAD Other Organizations and Programs

31 International Service Providers ICGEB-Italy PBS - USA AGBIOS- Canada BIOEARN-Sweden UNEP GEF-Switzerland Michigan State University-USA BIGMAP-Iowa State University- USA Donald Danforth Plant Science Center-USA TERI-India UNIDO-Italy Syngenta Foundation- Switzerland Other programs and organizations

32 ABNE s Partnership with other Service Providers - ABNE has started dialogue with Africa-based and international service providers - ABNE is building a database of biosafety resources in Africa and internationally - One example: ABNE and ICGEB Partnership

33 7. ABNE Phase II: Implementation Operationalization of the node in Burkina Faso Offering Biosafety Services to regulators Science-based Information Training (workshops, internships, study tours, short courses, on-line courses) Technical support Networking

34 Building Functional Biosafety Systems in Africa A big challenge and an opportunity Countries with developed NBFs: 11 Countries with interim NBFs: 12 Countries with no biosafety frameworks or in the process of developing NBFs: 30 Countries conducting CFT: 6 ( South Africa, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe) Countries with commercial approvals: 3 (South Africa, Egypt and Burkina Faso) TASK IS ENORMOUS WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER

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36 Acknowledgments Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation AMCOST & AU-Commission Regulators in Africa Biosafety Service providers NEPAD/Office of Science & Technology Michigan State University Development Alternatives Inc.