Trends in Internationalization of R&D in Key
Strategic Natural Resources in Public Sectors in Poor Developing Countries: A
blessing or a curse?
........ I am writing this
essay the way I witnessed the changes in decades, and the way I experienced the
recent revolutions, transformation oriented adjustment waves,Global financial tides and in the
manners I understood it.
The following are excerpts from the essay.
........Internationalization of research , as traditionally
viewed has been a platform of exchange of scientific knowledge and expertise
from the developed world in mutual respect, cooperation and assistance aimed at
building the local technical logistics capacity and expertise. On the
other hand it has also been a channel of exposure to new (local) environment,
genetic resources, and traditional knowledge, which were a vast ocean of both compelling
scientific problems, and potential
solutions for the worlds ills. It has been a laboratory to test a basket of
solutions and explanations to be drawn from, a sea of potential new inventions,
media to work with.
In view of the logical and genuine benefits, Research
& Development in Science & Technology has for long been part and parcel
of bilateral, trilateral agreements between governments; and among
International organizations and governments in some cases. These were, I wish
to be not true, but in the by-gone era when knowledge was thought as a public
asset for the common good. in the times where education was considered a basic
human right, and scholastic endeavours and achievements were rewarded.
As a result, higher level research and training
institutions affiliated to and run by NGO’S and international
firms/organizations are becoming non-equal opportunity employment (and even
research& training) organizations. This further move away from the basic ownership
and rights of the society on public domain resources and knowledge is divisive,
coercive and a sign of none other than neo-colonialism; or a philosophy of
their proxies.
However, Some self reliant and enlightened 'sovereign'
countries have long come to consensus and grasped the logic and necessity of
basing their development endeavours on knowledge, science and technology for
resource sustainability, and maximization of benefits to all. Hence, they have
established number of institutions for key strategic issues and resources like
water. But still, some others are dragging back to establish, fund and
manage national R&D and knowledge management activities......
The
recent trend has been that International organizations are increasingly
becoming reluctant and not willing to directly support R and D activities in
key strategic natural resources in the public centre in poor developing
countries. Instead, they are opting for arrangements of direct and full-fledged
involvement ; and certainly not for cooperation, or support with over sighting capabilities as usual. This leaves/shows that the days of
mutual cooperation and support for the capacity building of the host country at
least as an alternative of the past, increasingly thrown out of the window.
This exacerbated recently with globalization marching to the centre stage.
In some cases, donor governments
through their international development arms, and notable international
organizations including NGO's are creating a parallel organization of
R and D ,almost independent of the non-existent or poorly equipped
national R&D organizations. They are principally affecting/influencing/
setting the R and D agendas and managing and coordinating the research. What is
amazing is they are also undertaking the Knowledge management- keeping the
storage and retrieval, etc... of the valuable information to themselves. In
some key sectors, it is increasingly becoming very difficult to the nationals (Locals)
to access R&D information at ease.
Some argue that they have permissions. Obligations
to do so (..For the sake of democracy, and
..The usual's…. and what not). They say they are stakeholders of the
national institutions, , and they are working as one!!!; etc... But, knowledge
nowadays is not only money, nor not only power. It is the matter of
sovereignty, identity, partisanship
to and benefit to the society.......
Edited By Lagabaso
…Coming soon
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