AIAE, ATPS Strengthen Ties ... Collaborate on IAPMA

Members of the technical team on Innovative Alternatives to Prosperity Metrics in Africa,  (IAPMA )  drawn from  African Institute for Applied Economics,  Nigeria,(AIAE) and African Technology Policy Studies Network, Kenya, (ATPS)  met in Nairobi to discuss and propose the rationale, objectives, methods, activities and expected impact of the project. Prosperity Metrics currently relies heavily on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) indices as the determinant for critical policy decisions in Africa.

IAPMA is a collaborative project being initiated by AIAE and ATPS. The collaborative project is as a result of the deepening institutional relationship between the two bodies.  It is also the continuation of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between AIAE and ATPS to improve mutually benefiting capacities and networking resources.  The duo had, in November 2009, held an International conference on the theme, “Africa’s Response to Global Challenges through Science, Technology and Innovation”, in Abuja Nigeria.

Speaking at the IAPMA inaugural meeting, the Executive Director of AIAE, Prof Eric Eboh emphasised the need to start from the known and establish to what extent the current thought has influenced the policy paradigm by interrogating the existing African wide approaches in terms of how compliant they are based on certain bench marks.

His counterpart in ATPS, Dr Kevin Urama noted that IAPMA initiative was timely for African Governments, adding that, “For a long time Africa has been on the receiving end of development and innovation and this is an opportunity for Africa to take leadership in greening its economy.” He noted that the integrated systems approach was enshrined in all facets of ATPS and its programmes.

The meeting resolved that the two organizations would work together towards organizing a roundtable consultative forum for key African Institutions under the theme “Innovative Alternatives to Prosperity Measures.” The forum will serve as an entry point for the broader initiative, foster buy-in and promote visibility of the initiative. The round table will aim to provide a better understanding of the economy as an inclusive system that interacts with the society and the environment, and present emerging green alternatives to brown economies.

The initiative aims to provide a better understanding of the economy as an inclusive system that interacts with the society and the environment. Present at the meeting were Prof Eric Eboh (Executive Director, AIAE), Dr Kevin Urama (Executive Director, ATPS), Dr Nicholas Ozor (Research Officer – Post Doc, ATPS ), Ms Wairimu Mwangi (Research Officer, ATPS) and Dr Olumuyiwa Alaba (Senior Research Officer, ATPS).