The African Union Commission is committed to ensure that science, technology and innovation contribute to our sustainable development efforts. The Constitutive Act, establishing the African Union, recognizes the need to advance the development of Africa by promoting research in all fields, and in science and technology in particular. The Commission, through its Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology implements a strategic science and technology development programme through the Science,Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA-2024), aimed at contributing to the wellbeing and improved quality of life for the African citizens as articulated in the African Union Agenda 2063. In January 2007, the AU Heads of State and Government “declared 2007 as the launching year for building constituencies and champions for science, technology and innovation in Africa”.
As a holistic and deliberate measure to maintain science and technology on top of our development, cooperation and political agenda, the Commission urges the Member States the Regional Economic Communities to popularize science, technology and innovation among African citizens, empower them, celebrate their achievements and promote all efforts to transform scientific research into sustainable development. With the support of its Development Partners particularly the European Commission, the African Union Commission, launched on 9 September 2008, the prestigious African Union Science Award Programme, later rename to “African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence” (AUKNASE), in July 2010, the African Union Heads of State and Government in memory of the Great Pan-Africanist and First President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
WORTH
The African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence Programme (AUKNASE) shall be organized at three levels:
- Continental Level where two awards of USD 100,000 are given to African pioneer scientists
- Regional Level where two African women scientists per each of the five geographical regions of Africa are given USD 20,000 each, and
- National Level dedicated to young African researchers, where two prizes are given per country and the value of the prizes is determined by the African Union Commission
ELIGIBILITY
- To be eligible for the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence, nominees shall be African scientists who have made remarkable achievements, demonstrated by number of publications, number of trained research graduate students, applicability of the scientific work to Africa’s challenges, and its patentability. The award is intended to recognize those who demonstrate excellence in research of relevance to the developmental needs of the continent.
- Only nationals of the African Union (AU) Member States are eligible to participate in these Awards;
- Nominees shall be Africans residing in any of the AU Member States and can be nominated only for achievements based on work conducted in an African country.
DEADLINE: November 10 2019
To apply and for more information visit here