South Africa has taken centre stage at a major global science gathering in Paris, urging the world’s researchers to make sure their work translates into real improvements in people’s lives.
Speaking at UNESCO’s 2026 Global Conference of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Nomalungelo Gina said science must move beyond producing evidence to driving practical solutions that improve livelihoods and strengthen public services, SAnews reports.
Science as Service, in the Spirit of Madiba
The timing carried special resonance. South Africa marks July as both Mandela Month and National Science Month, and Gina’s message echoed former President Nelson Mandela’s enduring belief that education, knowledge and innovation should be used to build a more just and equitable society.
“The decade is an opportunity to strengthen the bridge between evidence and implementation, especially for developing countries that require support for research infrastructure, skills development, data systems, technology transfer, innovation financing and institutional coordination,” Gina told delegates.
A Proven Track Record
South Africa spoke from experience. Gina pointed to the country’s internationally recognised genomic surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic as a powerful example of how sustained investment in science can translate directly into effective public policy. South African scientists’ sequencing work during the pandemic earned global acclaim and helped shape health responses far beyond the country’s borders.
She said the country’s experience showed that scientific evidence delivers results when it is backed by capable institutions, strong partnerships, public trust and efficient decision-making, and argued that research should be embedded in government planning, budgeting and service delivery.
Gina was also frank about the road ahead at home, noting that South Africa aims to strengthen investment in research and development and deepen coordination between research institutions and policymakers so that scientific evidence feeds directly into decisions that affect households and communities.
Global Momentum Building
The three-day conference, which concluded on Friday, assessed progress under the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, a UNESCO initiative running from 2024 to 2033. According to UNESCO’s latest assessment, 397 scientific initiatives have already been endorsed across 79 countries, attracting more than US$50 million in support.
UNESCO Director-General Dr Khaled El-Enany reinforced the South African message. “The world is not lacking scientific knowledge. What we need now are stronger systems to put that knowledge to work for people and the planet,” he said.
For South Africa, the Paris platform was another moment of continental leadership: a developing nation with world-class science, standing up to insist that knowledge must serve people, at home and everywhere.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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