The Ministry of Higher Education has received support through funding from the United Nations Conference, Trade and Development to help in the development of the Master Plan and Implementation Frame work of its National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy.
Director of Division on Technology and Logistics at UNCTAD Shamika Sirimanne said this when Minister of Higher Education, Professor Nkandu Luo paid a courtesy call on her at her office in Geneva, Switzerland today.
Mrs. Sirimanne said she was delighted that Professor Nkandu Luo’s visit to Geneva last year brought about this new development and was looking forward to working with Zambia in fully implementing the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy under the leadership of Professor Luo.
In response, Professor Luo, said the draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy is ready, however, there is need to develop the Master plan and the Implementation Framework to actualize the process of transformation.
She said the support accordingly provided by UNCTAD to Zambia through the Ministry of Higher Education is the biggest gift that is required at the moment to move the process of implementation.
Professor Luo indicated that partnerships that are being created with UNCTAD need to focus on Science, Technology and Innovation so as to develop the Education sector.
She thanked UNCTAD for providing the funding as the Ministry of Higher Education is in the process of transforming all the Science institutions under one body so as to leverage the functions and some money for the sector.
Professor Luo also noted the importance of working with other line Ministries if the agenda was to be achieved.
This is according to a statement issued by Ministry of Higher Education Public Relations Officer Chiselwa Kawanda.