The African Union Kwame Nkrumah
Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE)

RULES OF PROCEDURE
For The Continental Level Award
USD100,000

The African Union Commission is committed to ensure that science and technology contributes to our sustainable development efforts. The Constitutive Act, establishing the African Union, recognizes the need to advance the development of Africa by promoting research in all fields, and in science and technology in particular. The Commission, through its Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology implements a strategic science and technology development programme, aimed at contributing to the wellbeing and improved quality of life for the African citizens. In January 2007, the AU Heads of State and Government “declared 2007 as the launching year for building constituencies and champions for science, technology and innovation in Africa”.

As a holistic and deliberate measure to maintain science and technology on top of our development, cooperation and political agenda, the Commission urges the Member States and the Regional Economic Communities to popularize science among African citizens, empower researchers, celebrate their achievements and promote all efforts to use the results of scientific research for sustainable development. With the support of its Development Partners, particularly the European Commission, the African Union Commission, launched on 9 September 2008, the prestigious African Union Science Award Programme. The programme is implemented at national level for young researchers1, regional level for women scientists2 and continental level open to all scientists. The Continental level is the highest level of the programme. The objective is to give out science awards to top African scientists for their achievements and valuable discoveries and findings in science, technology and innovation.

In July 2010, the African Union Heads of State and Government took a decision to rename this Programme in memory of the Great Pan-Africanist and First President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, a firm believer in African liberation and unity! A man who pursued a revolutionary pan-African policy, with a strong vision extending beyond national boundaries, for the creation of a new Africa, “a federal union of African states”, to take charge of its own destiny. He is among the key founding fathers of the then Organization of African Unity in 1963, an important pan-Africanist organization, which later become the African Union in 2002. Today the “dream and determination” of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah inspires Africa in all facets of development and in science as summed up in his quote
“We shall accumulate machinery and establish steel works, iron foundries and factories; we shall link the various States of our continent with communications; we shall astound the world with our hydroelectric power; we shall drain marshes and swamps, clear infested areas, feed the under-nourished, and rid our people of parasites and disease. It is within the possibility of science and technology to make even the Sahara bloom into a vast field with verdant vegetation for agricultural and industrial developments”.

For more information about rules of procedure for the continental level award download the document below:

Rules of procedure for the continental           Nomination form AU Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards 2017