Securing and using Africa's indigenous knowledge base

Africa has a relatively rich body of indigenous knowledge and related technologies. This is embodied in the continent’s cultural and ecological diversities and has been used by the African people for thousands of years to solve specific developmental and environmental problems. Indigenous knowledge and technologies play major roles in biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and prospecting. In addition, their contributions to increasing food production, fighting HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and stemming environmental degradation are considerable.

Despite their contributions, indigenous knowledge and technologies are not adequately promoted and protected in most African countries. Institutions to safeguard the rights of indigenous knowledge holders are weak in most countries. In addition, there are weak links between the formal R&D institutions and local communities that hold and use the knowledge. This has denied Africa the opportunity to better understand and use its indigenous knowledge base.

African leaders have recognized and stressed the importance of protecting and promoting indigenous knowledge and technologies to solve specific problems and improve the continent’s economies. Paragraphs 140 and 141 of the NEPAD framework document are devoted to the protection and promotion of indigenous knowledge and related technological innovations. Paragraph 140 states: "Culture is an integral part of development efforts of the continent. Consequently, it is essential to protect and effectively utilize indigenous knowledge ... and share this knowledge for the benefit of humankind ... special attention [will be given to] the protection and nurturing of indigenous knowledge ... inventions, ... and all other tradition- based innovations and creations."

Programme Overview

This programme aims at implementing paragraph 140 of the framework document. Its overall objective is to strengthen Africa’s capacity to harness and apply as well as protect indigenous knowledge and technologies.

Specific objectives of the programme are:

Create and enhance public understanding of the nature and contributions of indigenous knowledge and technologies;
Promote linkages between formal R&D institutions and holders of indigenous knowledge and technologies;
Increase intra-African sharing and application of indigenous knowledge and technologies to solve specific problems; and
Improve the continent’s capacity to protect indigenous knowledge and technologies from piracy and related misappropriation.

Project 1: Development of an African Databank on Indigenous Knowledge and Technologies

Auditing, documenting and supporting research are some the ways of protecting and promoting the use of indigenous knowledge and technologies. Once the knowledge and technologies are in the public domain, it is relatively difficult for corporate actors and individuals to misappropriate them and unfairly or illegally acquire intellectual property rights. This proposed project will focus on establishing an African Indigenous Knowledge and Technologies Bank. This will be a source of information on various forms of knowledge and technologies held and used by traditional and/or local African communities.

Specific actions of the project will include:

Preparation of comprehensive guidelines and methodologies for auditing and documenting indigenous knowledge and technologies. The guidelines and methodologies will be based on good practices from around the world.
Development of a common protocol for provision to, and access and use of knowledge and technologies in the proposed bank. This will be mechanism to ensure that countries and institutions participating in the project share benefits in a fair and equitable manner.
Training courses on auditing, collection and documentation of indigenous knowledge and technologies will be offered by identified institutions and experts.
Establishment of a virtual e-bank of indigenous knowledge and technologies will be explored.
Consideration will be given to establishing a network of national indigenous knowledge documentation centres.

Project 2: Promoting the Integration of Indigenous Knowledge and Practices in Education Curriculum

The erosion of African indigenous knowledge base is largely associated with the absence of mechanisms to ensure that the knowledge and related practices are passed on from one generation to generation. Often old generations are dying without endowing new ones with the wealth of information and skills on the use and management of African ecological and agricultural systems. This threatens the future cultural well being of African communities.

This proposed project aims at promoting education on African indigenous knowledge systems in schools and institutions of higher learning. It will facilitate the integration of indigenous knowledge issues into curriculum and related teaching methodologies.

Specific actions to further develop and implement this project will include:

Reviewing the indigenous knowledge content of current curricula of African education systems, and identification of international good practices of integration indigenous knowledge issues into formal education;
African workshops for educational systems to consider proposals on how best to integrate indigenous knowledge into the curricula and teaching practices. The workshops will focus on and be guided by international good practices; and
Development and promotion of an African body of methodology and guidelines for integrating indigenous knowledge systems into formal education and training.