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Science & Innovation Policy: R&D

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International bodies

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Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

The Alliance is an initiative of the Global Forum for Health Research in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and has 310 members in over 70 developing countries. Concerned with the effectiveness of health policy and systems research, the Alliance recognises that health systems currently vary greatly in their performance. It considers that there is an urgent need to improve understanding about how societies organise themselves to achieve health goals, including how they plan, manage and finance activities to improve health, the roles played by different actors in these efforts, and the need to provide scientifically sound, socially relevant and ethically acceptable guidance. The site links to a number of useful resources, including relevant reports, the online international journal for equity in health and online tutorials.

Consortium on Science, Technology and Innovation for the South (COSTIS) (formerly Third World Network of Scientific Organisations (TWNSO))

An international NGO, TWNSO was founded at the initiative of the Third World Academy of Sciences by ministers of science and technology and higher education and heads of science academies and research councils in developing countries to promote science-based sustainable economic development.

Economic Commission for Africa

The ECA helps African governments develop policies for economic and social development, including enhancing the role of science and technology. It carries out policy research, disseminates information, promotes co-operation and offers policy advice to different stakeholders. It also runs a collaborative policy research network — the ECA Science and Technology Network — promoting the dissemination and exchange of information on science and technology management and policy issues in Africa.

Global Forum for Health Research

The Global Forum was set up as an independent international foundation in 1998 to help correct the 10/90 gap (only 10 per cent of funding for health R&D is used for research into 90 per cent of the world's health problems). It aims to focus research efforts on diseases representing the heaviest burden on the world's health, and to facilitate collaboration between partners in both the public and private sectors.

Global Forum for Health Research

The Global Forum for Health Research provides evidence, tools and discussion forums for decision-makers in research funding and policy to improve the health of the poor. Although it covers issues for both infectious and non-communicable diseases, the agency recognises that mental health problems are severely neglected in developing countries. As well as links to various publications and reports, the website also hosts RealHealthNews, which aims to share news on research and interventions that can improve the health of those in developing countries.

International Centre for Theoretical Physics

The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics is a research centre based in Trieste, Italy. It offers scientists from developing countries the opportunity to pursue research in physics, methematics, and related fields. Other than its research activities, the centre hosts training courses, workshops, conferences and topical meetings. ICTP operates under the aegis of two United Nations bodies, UNESCO and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

International Institute for Environment and Development

IIED promotes sustainable patterns of world development through collaborative research, policy studies, networking and knowledge dissemination. In partnership with other organisations, IIED seeks to help shape a future that ends global poverty and delivers and sustains efficient and equitable management of the world's natural resources.

International Institute for Sustainable Development

IIED promotes sustainable patterns of world development through collaborative research, policy studies, networking and knowledge dissemination. In partnership with other organisations, IIED seeks to help shape a future that ends global poverty and delivers and sustains efficient and equitable management of the world's natural resources.

NCCR North–South

The NCCR North–South organisation, one of twenty National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR) set up by the Swiss National Science Foundation, is a network of more than 350 researchers from more than 40 countries dedicated to finding sustainable, practical solutions to the challenges of global change. It focuses on themes that include livelihoods, health and natural resources and works through partnerships between institutions and individuals in the North and South.

The website details information on current partnerships and research projects, and provides free access to publications such as reports, PhD theses, policy briefs and project results. Videos, images and an events and jobs section are also available free of charge.

New Partnership for Africa’s Development

NEPAD is an economic development programme of the African Union. It aims to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, integrate Africa in the world economy and accelerate the empowerment of women. Developing science and technology is a high priority and NEPAD provides policy guidance at continental, regional and national levels.

The NEPAD website, available in English or French, provides news and information on all of NEPAD's activities and hosts a discussion forum that anyone can contribute to.

Science and Technology for Development

StDev is an initiative of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). It functions as a gateway to the United Nations system-wide information on science and technology for development.

South–South Initiative for Tropical Diseases Research (SSI)

SSI was set up in 2001 to facilitate sharing of resources among research groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America in order to increase competitiveness and optimise scientific opportunities. It provides assistance for proposal development through annual workshops and helps organise annual training courses on leading-edge technology for tropical disease research application in disease endemic countries.

Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases

An independent global programme of scientific collaboration co-sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO). Its goal is to help coordinate, support and influence global efforts to combat a portfolio of major diseases of the poor and disadvantaged, including malaria.

It funds research teams in developing countries to improve on and develop approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control. It also supports capacity-building and implementation of new methods. These activities are focused in Africa, South-East Asia and South America. The website provides useful information in clear, accessible language on research activities, as well as background information on disease and transmission. It contains animated graphics of parasites' lifecycle, and a searchable archive of over 13,000 images related to tropical diseases freely available for non-commercial purposes. Download pdf 

The World Bank – Education

The World Bank's education gateway summarises the bank's activities in all areas of education, including higher education (HE). It publishes information on the key issues that influence how it supports HE in developing countries, as well as ongoing projects, speeches, events and recent publications.

The bank also hosts EdStats, a database of statistics on education indicators, including enrolment and completion rates, graduates per subject area and public expenditure on education.

Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS)

TWOWS is an international forum aimed at uniting eminent women scientists from the South with the objective of strengthening their role in development and in scientific and technological leadership. An independent, non-profit, non-governmental body based at the offices of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World in Italy, its activities include providing fellowships and maintaining an inventory of women scientists in the South.

UN Economic Commission for Africa Science and Technology Network

ESTNET promotes the dissemination and exchange of information on science and technology management and policy in Africa. Its main objective is to raise awareness among policymakers and other stakeholders of the role science and technology plays in African social and economic development. To this end, it presents a catalogue of relevant institutions and funding agencies as well as event listings. It also provides summaries of projects, journals and documents that deal with science and technology in Africa. In addition, policymakers can use ESTNET's database of consultants to search for experts in science and technology for development.

UNDP’s Special Unit for South–South Cooperation (SU/SSC)

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1978 and hosted by the UN Development Programme, the unit’s primary mandate is to promote, coordinate and support South–South cooperation and cooperation with the UN. It focuses on policy dialogue and development, public–private partnership and southern development exchange.

UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge

This online forum, hosted by the UNESCO (UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), provides a platform for researchers and policymakers to share knowledge on higher education.

It focuses on research systems in low- and middle-income countries, with an emphasis on how agricultural and health research are practiced and supported. The forum publishes books and papers, organises seminars and other activities, and links to other organisations working in higher education and sustainable development.

UNESCO Gender and Science

This website summarises activities undertaken by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to address gender inequalities in science. It provides useful links to gender-related data, key publications, as well as UNESCO and UN initiatives that aim to promote gender equality. The website also makes available reports on topic areas such as science and technology policy and disaster risk reduction, and provides information about an awards programme that recognises the achievements of women researchers.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNCTAD works on issues related to trade and development. Central to this is the role of technology and innovation, which is an important part of UNCTAD’s activities. UNCTAD functions as a forum for intergovernmental deliberations, undertakes policy research, policy analysis and data collection and provides technical assistance to developing countries.
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