Board on African Science Academy Development (BASAD)

Elements of the Program

National Infrastructure and Staff Development: The program will support the development of information-technology infrastructure and hiring of staff. Training: During the first two years of the initiative, U.S. National Academies staff, including a board director, a financial officer, three program officers, and two full-time research assistants, will work closely with African staff in developing the skills to support the policy-advisory process. Policy-Advisory Activities: The program will support the implementation of an array of activities for policy guidance, including consensus-based activities and convening activities. National Capacity-Development Programs: Three African science academies will be identified for an intensive track based on the following broad criteria: the presence and potential within the academy for developing an effective and sustained policy-advisory process, the presence of a government open to seeking the active engagement of its scientific community in addressing issues of national health policy, and the existence of a critical mass of scientific talent willing to serve as participants in policy-advisory activities.					Regional Regional Programs are open to all African science academies. Annual networking symposia: To be hosted by one of the African science academies in years 2–10 of the initiative. The symposia will include representatives of each of the academies and invited experts, who will share progress and knowledge gained through current policy-advisory activities. Summaries of these symposia will be disseminated to key stakeholders. Annual collaborative learning workshops: To gather a support network of African and U.S. science academy staff and experts involved in policy-advisory activities.