The Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) was established in 1992 to provide the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with high-quality advice on relevant issues to enable these bodies to guide the future work of the United Nations, develop common policies, and agree on appropriate action.
UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development
Methods of Participatory Appraisal
Debates about Participatory Rural Appraisal and Rapid Rural Appraisal (henceforth PRA/RRA) may be marked as beginning at a workshop on RRA organised in 1980 by Robert Chambers at the Institute of Development Studies in Sussex.
UN Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries
The UN Conference on ‘Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) in Buenos Aires, Argentina “reaffirmed the important role of technical cooperation among developing countries as an instrument for the promotion and implementation of economic cooperation among developing countries,” (G77 website) and arose as an effort to become more technically and financially self-reliant.
‘Views of Science, Technology and Development’
This book includes a chapter on ‘Views from Developing Countries’ with contributions by Ashok Parthasarathi, Francisco Sagasti, Hyung-Sup Choi, and others; a chapter on ‘Views from Developed Countries’ including a copy of the draft Sussex Report for the UN Development Decade, and a chapter on ‘the Green Revolution’.
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) established
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) was created by the Parliament of Canada “to help developing countries use science and technology to find practical, long-term solutions to the social, economic, and environmental problems they face.” IDRC’s work supports “creating a local research community whose work will build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.” (IDRC website)
The Sussex Manifesto (The Sussex Group Report)
The UN Advisory Committee commissioned a group of researchers at SPRU and IDS, deemed the ‘Sussex Group’, to produce a report on current issues in science and technology for development and to make some recommendations for the Second Development Decade and the associated World Plan of Action. The report was considered by some ACAST members to be too radical, hence earning the nickname ‘The Sussex Manifesto’.
VIDEO: MANIFESTO SEMINAR – DR GEHL SAMPATH
Have a look at a short clip of Padmashree Gehl Sampath’s STEPS Centre Manifesto seminar on ‘Promoting Knowledge Generation through Intellectual property in Late Development’ as part of the Innovation,…
Workshop: International Science and Technology Cooperation for Sustainable Development
This Workshop on ‘International Science and Technology Cooperation for Sustainable Development’ was held near Johannesburg, South Africa, 21-22 November 2005 by the OECD and South African Department of Science and Technology, and followed on the Declaration on International S&T Cooperation for Sustainable Development adopted in January 2004.
Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development, UN Millennium Task Force Report
‘Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development’, the Report of the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation’ underscores the critical importance of knowledge and innovation for development in every country. The Task Force on Science, Technology, and Innovation is part of the UN Millennium Project commissioned by the Secretary-General to advise on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.
OAS: Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation for Development
Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation for Development: A Vision for the Americas in the 21st Century. 2nd Edition. Organization of American States, Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, Office of Education, Science and Technology.
The report seeks “to help the member states in the formulation of their national development policies and strategies, with emphasis on capacity building for creating decent work, fighting poverty and strengthening democratic governance.” (OAS, 2005:10)