UNCTAD-DSI Regional Workshop on Technology Assessment

UNCTAD’s pilot project on technology assessment has recently entered a new phase as some beneficiary countries have begun to select the technologies to be assessed and have embarked on steps 3 and 4 of the UNCTAD TA Methodology, In accomplishing these steps, project counterparts will analyze the societal, political and scientific domains related to the technologies, map the relevant actors and stakeholders, and initialize action to influence the policymaking process, among other activities.

In order to equip the beneficiary countries with the required knowledge and skills to move forward with the TA, a hybrid regional workshop is taking place in Pretoria, South Africa, from 9 to 10 May 2023. In particular, the workshop aims to provide the project counterparts with opportunities for exchange of challenges and lessons learned of the progress made so far, receive further training on technology assessment by practitioners and in particular on steps 3 and 4 of the UNCTAD TA methodology, and gain knowledge on specific technologies among those selected.

The workshop will be attended in-person by the members of the steering committee and expert group of South Africa, as well as by selected members of the steering committee and expert group of Seychelles and Zambia, in addition to UNCTAD staff. Guest speakers and other project counterparts will participate remotely.

UNCTAD's pilot project on technology assessment has entered a new phase, with some beneficiary countries having chosen the technologies to be evaluated and embarking in steps 3 and 4 of the UNCTAD TA Methodology. In accomplishing those steps, project counterparts will analyze the societal, political, and scientific aspects of the technologies, identify the relevant actors and stakeholders, and define action to influence the policymaking process, among other activities.

To equip the beneficiary countries with the required knowledge and skills to advance with the TA, a hybrid regional workshop is taking place in Pretoria, South Africa, from 9 to 10 May 2023. The workshop, organized jointly by UNCTAD and South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology, aims to provide project counterparts with opportunities to share the challenges and lessons learned during the project's progress thus far, obtain additional training on technology assessment by practitioners, particularly steps 3 and 4 of the UNCTAD TA methodology, and acquire knowledge on particular technologies from among those selected.

The members of the steering committee and expert group of South Africa will attend the workshop in-person, as well as selected members of the steering committee and expert group of Seychelles and Zambia, along with UNCTAD staff. Guest speakers and other project counterparts will participate remotely.