The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) has convened a national validation workshop for the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) 2027–2035 and the STI Bill 2026.
The workshop, held on Monday, 31st August 2026, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, brought together Permanent Secretaries, senior government officials, representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, higher education and research institutions, the private sector, civil society, development partners, researchers and other key stakeholders.
Speaking at the workshop, the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, said the new policy provides an opportunity to strengthen The Gambia’s science, technology and innovation ecosystem and establish a stronger foundation for research, innovation and technology-driven development.
The Minister noted that lessons from the implementation of the previous National STI Policy 2015–2024 informed the development of the new framework. He highlighted challenges including inadequate financing, weak institutional and legal foundations, limited coordination and insufficient STI data.
The NSTIP 2027–2035 seeks to address these gaps through stronger legal and institutional arrangements, including the proposed STI Act and the establishment of an STI Secretariat within MoHERST.
The policy is structured around ten priority areas: STI leadership and institutions; research and innovation financing; digital infrastructure and cybersecurity; artificial intelligence and emerging technologies; STEM skills; women’s participation in STI; climate-resilient and green innovation; university-industry linkages; STI data and measurement; and regional and international cooperation.
Professor Gomez emphasized that the policy is a national framework that requires collective ownership and implementation across government, higher education and research institutions, the private sector, civil society and development partners.
Therefore, today is Einstein Day, a day of imagination, for like Albert Einstein said, “Knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.”
He said implementation of the policy will be undertaken in three phases: the Foundation Phase from 2027 to 2028, the Transformation Phase from 2029 to 2031, and the Consolidation and Scale-up Phase from 2032 to 2035.
The framework also provides for strengthened monitoring and accountability, including annual STI status reports to the National Assembly, independent reviews every two years, and transparent publication of STI indicators through a National STI Observatory dashboard.
The Minister called on stakeholders to critically review the Policy and Bill, identify gaps and propose practical recommendations to strengthen their effectiveness and implementation.
He further highlighted the importance of STI in addressing national priorities across agriculture, health, education, digital transformation and climate action, while supporting research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the participation of women and young people in the STI ecosystem.
Professor Gomez commended the National STI Policy Development Technical Working Group, led by Prof. Babucarr Bah, as well as MoHERST staff, government institutions, researchers, development partners, private sector representatives and civil society organisations for their contributions to the development of the draft.
He also expressed appreciation to UNESCO, the World Bank, UNDP, ECOWAS, the European Union and AUDA-NEPAD, with particular acknowledgement to the ECOWAS Commission for its financial support towards the development of the policy.
The Minister formally declared the validation workshop open, calling for constructive deliberations and collective ownership of the National STI Policy 2027–2035 and STI Bill 2026.
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