The ACP Science and Technology Programme is an ACP-EU co-operation programme launched in June 2008. Open to all 79 member states of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), the 27 member states of the European Union (EU), the 3 EU candidate countries, and the 3 member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) that belong to the European Economic Area (EEA), it funds partnership projects to be selected through an open Call for Project Proposals.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the ACP Science and Technology Programme is to support ACP countries in formulating and implementing science and technology (S&T) policies that can lead to sustainable development and to poverty reduction through economic growth and progressive integration in the world economy.
The purpose is to strengthen the internal S&T capacity of ACP countries to support research, development and innovation in the ACP region at three levels:
- Institutional, administrative and policy making.
- Academic research and technology.
- Business and civil society.
The Programme promotes interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development along three main axes:
- Co-ordination and networking in applied research.
- Instruments for collaborative research.
- Management of research activities and reinforcement of research.
TYPE OF PROJECTS
The projects to be funded should primarily focus on:
- Quality health care: traditional and biodiversity-dependent community medicines; biotechnology.
- Environmental research activities: climatic variability, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, desertification and rising sea levels; indigenous technology; use of foreign technology.
- Energy: renewable sources of energy.
- Transport: congestion, air pollution; accidents.
- Agriculture and agro-industry: food productivity and security; agro-products; farmers’ participation in production and post-harvest management.
- Sustainable trade: investments; private sector; trading capacity of ACP countries; socio-economic impact of international trade agreements and protocols.
For further information about the ACP Science and Technology Programme, please consult the Website: www.acp-st.eu