From Tenants to Architects: Reclaiming Africa's Future through Science Diplomacy

The author contends that Africa must move from being a consumer of technology to an architect of its own future by leveraging assets like biodata and critical minerals through science diplomacy. The text critiques the implementation of the STISA-2024 strategy and proposes a shift from traditional Research & Development (R&D) to a 'Deploy and Refine' (D&R) model. It advocates for a BRICS-wide research council and a new economic paradigm based on collective flourishing and environmental regeneration rather than GDP growth.

• Africa risks entering a state of 'techno-feudalism' if it continues to provide raw data and labour while importing finished products, effectively becoming digital-age colonies.
• The Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024) faces significant implementation hurdles, including insufficient funding from member states, slow progress on flagship programmes, and a lack of cohesive national frameworks to operationalise the strategy.
• To achieve strategic autonomy, the author proposes replacing the traditional R&D model with a 'Deploy and Refine' (D&R) approach, which involves co-creating solutions with industry and communities to ensure adoption and de-risk investment.
• The document suggests that BRICS should evolve beyond the Think Tanks Council to establish a BRICS-wide research council with pooled funding for 'grand challenges' such as pandemic preparedness and equitable AI governance.
• The author advocates for an 'African Ubuntu-based wellbeing economy' that prioritises environmental regeneration, community health, and knowledge creation over GDP growth.

APA

Cloete, D. (2025). From Tenants to Architects: Reclaiming Africa's Future through Science Diplomacy. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/research/from-tenants-to-architects-reclaiming-africas-future-through-science-diplomacy/

Chicago

Cloete, Deon. From Tenants to Architects: Reclaiming Africa's Future through Science Diplomacy. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2025. https://saiia.org.za/research/from-tenants-to-architects-reclaiming-africas-future-through-science-diplomacy/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Cloete |first1=Deon |title=From Tenants to Architects: Reclaiming Africa's Future through Science Diplomacy |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=19 September 2025 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/from-tenants-to-architects-reclaiming-africas-future-through-science-diplomacy/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{cloete2025from, author = {Cloete, Deon}, title = {{From Tenants to Architects: Reclaiming Africa's Future through Science Diplomacy}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2025}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/from-tenants-to-architects-reclaiming-africas-future-through-science-diplomacy/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }