By Lamin Kujabi
The Minister of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (MoHERST) Professor Pierre Gomez has sought the cabinet’s approval for the adoption of the National Research Policy (NRP) 2024-2029. He presented the paper during the second cabinet meeting of 2024 held on Thursday, January 11th at State House. This information was relayed to the press by the Minister of Information, Honourable Lamin Queen Jammeh.
The policy outlines a five-year programme on how research management and administration can be systemised and to harness efforts and accelerate the realisation of the strategic objectives and current national development initiatives.
According to the Information Minister, Minister Gomez highlighted that the policy demonstrates the importance of research into the mainstream development goals and priorities and also underlines the historical role of research and development in global competitiveness of nations, as well as the accelerative impact of professionalised research management and administration systems on the quality of national research outputs.
Minister Gomez also updated cabinet that implementing the NRP requires substantial resources which will be mobilised from both the public and private, national and international partners, and that the National Research Innovation Fund (NRIF) will be the principal funder of policy.
He also recommended the establishment of the National Research Development and Innovation Council, the establishment of Research and Innovation Fund and the establishment of National Research Ethic and Regulatory framework, for which cabinet approval was granted.
On the establishment of National Research and Innovation Fund, the Higher Education minister noted that the fund will support the functioning of the national innovation system in The Gambia by contributing to small and medium enterprises, increasing competitiveness, access to finance, new markets and job creation.
Aside the National Research and Innovation Fund Bill, Minister Gomez, Minister Jammed informed, presented a paper on the establishment of Tertiary and Higher Education Trust Fund Bill 2024.
“The fund intends to serve as an alternative source of finance for the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology to replace the subvention that has not been able to meet the financial needs of the tertiary and higher education sector,” he said.
The proposed Bill is said to have been drafted in accordance with Ministry of Higher Education Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and tertiary and higher education financing strategies developed by Ministry in 2021.
Regarding financial and legislative implication, Minister Gomez informed cabinet that the fund will complement the current subvention regime and provide opportunities to wide access and equitable tertiary and higher education within the sector without any legal contravention with existing law.