Research drive set to propel economic growth

Malawi has developed a research strategy geared to develop knowledge, technologies and innovations to help the country transform into an inclusive wealth creation and self-reliance nation by the year 2063.

Known as the National Research Agenda, the strategy is a brainchild of the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST).

During the launch in Lilongwe yesterday, Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima expressed hope that through the strategy, the country will improve its investment in research and development as envisaged in Malawi 2063 (MW2063), the country’s long-term development strategy.

She said: “A robust functional National Research Agenda will help to identify and prioritise development initiatives and subsequently engage human and financial resources from all stakeholders to search for innovative solutions.”

Referencing the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Institute of Statistics findings, Wirima said Malawi and other countries in the southern Africa region have been investing poorly in research and development.

Sub-Saharan Africa spent 0.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on research and development, with Malawi spending 0.17 percent in 2019, as North America and Western Europe spent 2.5 percent, she said.

In his remarks, NPC director general Thomas Chataghalala Munthali said the country has not put much focus on research and the development of innovations and technology.

While noting that this has led to slow socioeconomic development, he was optimistic that the research agenda will change the course of direction.