Background and Approach

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) could play a critical role in addressing the Sustainable Development  Goals (SDGs). To do so, it will require an STI planning, investment and evaluation approach that in addition to  economic growth, more explicitly targets social inclusion and environmental sustainably to achieve balanced  

growth. This will entail a much closer alignment of STI policy with development priorities and will require  patterns of governance, participation and cooperation, that encourage a wide set of stakeholders to steer the  priorities for STI investment and capacity building and the outcomes that these seek to achieve.  

Such an approach needs to look beyond traditional science and technology providers – although it is essential  to strengthen these too – to include the full range of knowledge production sources and innovation processes  that society has to offer. The implications are profound and while there is agreement that STI is a critical part  of the way forward, there is less clarity on how to proceed.  

It is against this backdrop that the UK Government through the FCDO East Africa Research and Innovation Hub,  funded a pilot study to develop a practical approach to capacity development and investment in knowledge  systems, in three East African countries; Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. The primary consideration of this  research was to amalgamate robust international evidence and country level research to inform a clear,  contextualised and practical approach for national decision makers in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania and their  respective partners. The core of the research approach presented within this report iterates between evidence  collection, concept development, concept testing and refinement; underpinned by a comprehensive  stakeholder engagement.  

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