By Aminata Kuyateh
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology on Monday held a national validation workshop on the draft National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy [NSTIP] 2027–2035 and the STI Bill 2026, as The Gambia seeks to build a stronger foundation for research, innovation and technological development.
Minister Prof Pierre Gomez said science, technology and innovation must be treated as essential tools for addressing the country’s economic, social and environmental challenges. He said an evaluation of the previous NSTIP 2015–2024 found that none of its 12 core objectives was fully achieved, largely due to inadequate financing, weak legal and institutional frameworks, poor coordination and limited STI data.
Minister Gomez said the new framework seeks to address those gaps through stronger legislation, institutional coordination and financing mechanisms. It proposes an STI Secretariat within MoHERST, a National Research and Innovation Fund and a national system for measuring and reporting progress.
According to the Minister, the policy identifies 10 priority areas, including research financing, digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, STEM skills, women’s participation, climate-resilient innovation, university-industry collaboration and STI data.
PS at the Ministry of Higher Education, Isatou Auber, said the policy is designed to position The Gambia as a knowledge-driven country and was developed through consultations, evidence-based analysis and inter-ministerial collaboration.
She said its success would depend on making it a practical instrument for national transformation rather than another policy document.
PS Auber identified four key foundations: a statutory governance framework, an operational National Research and Innovation Fund, a national STI measurement system and an STI Secretariat to coordinate implementation.
She stressed that the policy is a national framework that must benefit sectors including agriculture, health, education, women and youth.
Chair of the National Assembly’s Select Committee on Higher Education and ICT, Alhagie Mbowe, described the validation as timely, particularly amid rapid developments in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy and other emerging technologies.
He said science and innovation should be viewed as development necessities capable of improving productivity and creating jobs.
Mbowe called for stronger collaboration among government, universities, researchers, the private sector, civil society and young innovators, saying policies and legislation alone would not deliver results without broad national ownership.
Edward Mendy said the workshop provides an opportunity to test whether the new policy is realistic and implementable, rather than simply well written.
Participants are expected to scrutinise its priorities, financing arrangements, institutional responsibilities and measurable targets before it proceeds through the government approval process.
Implementation of the policy is proposed in three phases: Foundation (2027–2028), Transformation (2029–2031), and Consolidation and Scale-up (2032–2035).
The framework also proposes annual STI status reports to the National Assembly and independent reviews every two years to strengthen accountability.