Sussex Manifesto Roundtable

... towards a revised manifesto for science and development

"...science has not been persued to the same extent in developing countries.   This has had far reaching effects not only on their ability to develop indigenous technology appropriate to their needs, but also in their ability to absorb foreign technology." - Sussex Manifesto (1970:2)

The Sussex Manifesto
The Sussex Manifesto: Science and Technology to Developing Countries during the Second Development Decade (1970).  Download»

STEPS Centre, University of Sussex
Practical Action is working with the STEPS Centre to run Roundtable Discussions. Read more »

Roundtable in Nepal
In collaboration with the Innovations Asia Pacific Symposium we are facilitating a roundtable discussion with a range of stakeholders from Nepal and the wider region. Download Session Plan »

Nearly 40 years later there is a need to revisit the issues raised in the Sussex Manifesto: Science and Technology to Developing Countries during the Second Development Decade (1970).  Practical Action Nepal is working with the STEPS Centre to run a Roundtable Discussion on 6 May 2009 in Kathmandu.

The main purpose of the event is to critically review the role of science and technology in development. It will be an opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders to interact and provide inputs to a revised Manifesto

The Roundtable is being held in collaboration with the Innovations Asia Pacific Symposium.   We are facilitating a discussion with a range of stakeholders from Nepal and the wider region and incorporating a video link with staff at the STEPS Centre in Sussex, UK.

Science Facts
Over the last 25 years only 3.9 per cent of total World Bank lending has on average gone to science and technology projects (UNCTAD 2007:33)   Low income countries are not only poor in terms of measures of human wellbeing but also in terms of indicators of technology.   They spend a small proportion of GDP on research and development: less than 1 percent, compared to high income countries that spend around 2.5 percent.  (The International Council for Science 2005).