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Harnessing science, technology and innovation (STI) is pivotal in Kenya’s pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Agenda 2063 and the country’s national development priorities defined in the Vision 2030 and the President’s Big Four Agenda. It therefore becomes imperative that science and technology is used in reorienting Kenya’s education and training systems to meet the knowledge, competencies, skills, innovation and creativity required to nurture the country’s core values and promote sustainable development. However, this has to be supported by enabling policies, institutions and financial mechanisms which are also critical in confronting the major challenges ahead for achieving the 2030 Agenda, such as conserving freshwater (SDG 6); building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation (SDG 9); and combatting climate change (SDG 13).

As part of UNESCO’s overall efforts to assist Member States in strengthening STI systems and governance structures, the institution developed the Global Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Instruments (GO-SPIN) as a sound methodological tool to establishing national STI baselines by mapping STI landscapes and analyzing STI policies and their implementation. The open-access platform offers innovative databases with powerful graphic and analytical tools for the use of decision-makers, parliamentarians, universities, knowledge brokers, companies, specialists and the general public, with a complete set of diverse information on STI policies.

From 28 September to 2 October 2020, STI stakeholders in Kenya were trained on the GO-SPIN methodological approach to support the establishment of STI baselines and the development and implementation of evidence-based policies and investment plans. The training was jointly organized by UNESCO and the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) of Kenya.

At the opening of the training, Ms Ann Therese Ndong Jatta, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa emphasized the need for policy makers to better understand and appreciate the use of STI indicators as relevant tools for evidence-based policy making. She praised Kenya for strongly expressing interest in establishing their national STI baselines calling the GO-SPIN training “a landmark initiative for the East African Community that can help fill the existing information gap by providing key information on STI governing bodies, legal frameworks, policy instruments and long-term series of indicators for evidence-based policy analysis, design and foresight studies."

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), Dr. Roy Mugiira, Director of Scheduled Sciences thanked UNESCO for the joint actions on the GO-SPIN training and reiterated his institutions readiness to collaborate on STI initiatives that support Kenya’s development priorities. He was optimistic, the GO-SPIN training will help build the capacities of a critical mass of national STI stakeholders with the capabilities to collect data on STI indicators and policy instruments.