LESOTHO PARTICIPATES IN 8TH AFRICAN REGIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FORUM

 The Kingdom of Lesotho’s delegation, led by the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Kanono Ramashamole, is participating in the Eighth African Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (STI Forum) currently taking place in Addis Ababa. The Forum is convened under the theme: “Achieving progress towards the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 through transformative and coordinated actions in science, technology, and digital innovation.”

The Forum brings together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders from across the continent to review progress on key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17. It further seeks to identify practical mechanisms to scale up implementation, strengthen peer learning, and promote transformative, coordinated solutions that will accelerate progress towards both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063.

The Kingdom of Lesotho’s delegation is participating in the Forum with a clear objective: to learn from peers on practical steps to strengthen Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy and, more importantly, its implementation. While Lesotho has made notable progress in developing policy frameworks—such as the Science and Research Act of 2021—greater focus is now being placed on translating these frameworks into tangible outcomes.

At the same time, Lesotho is seeking to transition from being primarily a consumer of global policy to an active co-creator. This strategic shift reflects a commitment to shaping international policy discourse, as underscored by the Principal Secretary during the closing ceremony of the 64th Council Meeting of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, where he emphasised the importance of influencing global decisions that impact national development.

A key highlight of the day’s proceedings was the focus on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Artificial Intelligence as critical enablers for accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Agenda 2063. Discussions underscored the transformative role of these technologies in driving inclusive growth, improving service delivery, and fostering innovation ecosystems.

Remarks by the outgoing Chair of the Bureau, the Minister from Uganda responsible for science, as well as the incoming Chair from Ethiopia, reinforced the central role of STI in national development. Both Ministers shared practical examples from their respective countries, demonstrating how targeted investments, institutional coordination, and policy alignment can translate STI ambitions into measurable development outcomes.

Lesotho’s active participation underscores its strong commitment to leveraging science, technology, and innovation as key enablers of sustainable development, while also strengthening regional cooperation and knowledge exchange across the African continent.

Source: Department of Information, PR UNIT