The United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund provides USD $1,014,360 to build expertise in policy and practice at Science, Technology, and Innovation Parks in selected Asian and African countries

Project narrative

In 2016, the Chinese Government pledged to contribute $200 million to the United Nations over a ten year period. The United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) was established to channel these earmarked funds to specific projects in coordination with the UN. The UNPDF is divided into two sub-funds: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund and The Secretary-General's Peace and Security Sub-Fund. Approved in 2022 by UNPDF, USD $1,014,360 was allocated from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund to address the challenges associated with establishing and managing successful science, technology, and innovation parks (STI) such as limited capacity for policy formulation and implementation, lack of practical experience, and insufficient mechanisms for knowledge sharing between countries. This project will aims to facilitate technology adoption and innovation in firms and industries, with a focus on accelerating the SDGs and improving resilience to COVID-19 and future crises. The project will build expertise and enhance capacity in four developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) by leveraging opportunities for South-South collaboration. This will be achieved through on-site training workshops at successful STI parks in China and capacity-building exchanges in beneficiary countries. By enabling peer-to-peer learning and knowledge transfer from experienced STI park operators, the project seeks to equip participating countries with the practical skills and insights needed to formulate coherent policies, develop institutional frameworks, and effectively manage their own STI parks. Recipient countries include Ghana, Mongolia, Mozambique and Uzbekistan. The implementing entity is UNCTAD. Collaborating partners include UNDP, UNECA, UNESCAP, UNRCOs, Ministry of Science and Technology, provincial agency in charge of science and technology, STI parks and STI research institutes in beneficiary countries and China. The project's scheduled duration is April 2023 - April 2026.