Poverty alleviation and economic empowerment through scientific research & innovation: Better Knowledge From and For Africa. Cape Town, 2015

Thank you to all our contributors and delegates - you can download presentations on the programme page

The Gender Summit platform was introduced to the continent by a partnership of regional research funders led by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Partners in South Africa included the Department of Science and Technology, the Department for Women, and the National Research Council, as well as Howard University, USA. The GS5 Africa was received with enthusiastic response from all the participants, who welcomed the idea of applying the gender lens to improve research and development outcomes and the idea that actions must be evidence-based and consensus-led. The event attracted energetic interest from South Africa’s media, with many speakers invited to take part in TV interviews and radio call-in programmes. Some of the reasons for the media interest were the African Union’s recent declaration that the year 2015 is the ‘Year of women empowerment and development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063’ and the forthcoming meeting of the heads of states and ministers responsible for gender and women, who will gather in South Africa in June. The Minister for Women, Susan Shisana, assured GS5-Africa participants that the recommendations from the summit will feed into the June African Union meeting.