Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Ambassador Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, on 29th May 2024, participated as a panel moderator for a topic of discussion during the African Diplomatic Corps Celebration of Africa Day -2024 in Washington, D.C. Engaging on the topic – Diaspora Engagement in Science and Technology Transfer: Opportunities and Challenges, brought together for this year’s theme of celebration – ‘Fostering Partnerships on Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation between Africa and the United States, Her Excellency Mathilda Mukantabana, Ambassador of Rwanda to the United States was a participant.
Also, on Ambassador Wai’s panel were Deniece Laurent-Mantey- Executive Director of the U.S. Department of State, Dr. Berhanu Bulcha – Space Scientist, Semhar Araia- CEO and Founder of the Diaspora Academy, and Dr. Nada Berrada- International Project Coordinator, Education Development Center.
The Diaspora engagement for the enhancement of U.S.-African longstanding relations has been elevated, particularly during the 2022 U.S-Africa Leaders’ Summit, and the establishment of the United States President Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement. In this, the Science Diaspora has a unique role and contribution to broadening- U.S.-African relations. Ambassador Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai’s panel deliberated on the role of the Diaspora in contributing to the enhancement of U.S-Africa science and technology cooperation, and further examined the new and innovative approaches to mobilize their contribution and how African Governments and the African Union Commission can leverage more effectively their untapped potentials. Education, as a key driver to the socio-economic development of Africa, engaging U.S. institutions, and integrating digital technology, will require collective efforts of the AU, leveraging resources and expertise for the development of education fit for the 21st century.
The development of ICT infrastructure, and safe and trustworthy use of AI, as a science to address global challenges, thereby broadening science evidence-based information for researchers, stimulating the need for training scientists and diplomats to be able to engage in emerging technologies, AI, and Climate Change.
The theme for this year offered the African Diplomatic Corps an excellent opportunity to highlight the pivotal role that higher education, science, technology and innovation play in driving the transformation of African economies and societies and addressing the myriad development challenges the continent is facing.
It also offered the platform for the African Diplomatic Corps and the African Union Commission to engage and dialogue with key U.S. partners, including the Administration, Universities, Think Tank Community, and the Diaspora, regarding the development and strengthening of multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder partnerships for higher education, Science and Technology.
At this year’s celebration of the 61st Anniversary of the AU, special emphasis was put on how the United States, as a global leader in science and technology, as well as diplomacy, can support the African Union and its Member States’ efforts in strengthening their bilateral and regional collaborations with the United States, unleashing the untapped potential of the Diaspora and Youths, and enhancing their contribution to Africa’s skills revolution, as champions of science and technology transfer.
According to the AU, the mobilization of predictable and sustainable investments in science and technology, capacity building to the implementation of the African Union strategies on Education, Science and Technology, and building the needed human and technical capacity of African Embassies on science and technology diplomacy. Other areas discussed by various panels include – The United States – Africa Cooperation on Higher Education, Science and Technology: The types of frameworks, instruments, networks and forums needed to enhance such cooperation, was moderated by Her Excellency, Hilda-Mafudze, African Union Ambassador to the United States.
Another panel – Harnessing science and technology diplomacy towards the transformation of Africa and the achievement of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, was steered by His Excellency Mohamed Siad Doualeh, Ambassador of Djibouti to the United States.
In his concluding statement, Ambassador Wai reiterated the importance of a Diaspora Office within the AU in the USA, and it was unanimously consented to by the African Diplomatic Corps in the United States of America.
