The World Conference on Science (WCS, Budapest, 1999) reiterated that although science is needed to address critical economic and social needs of the society, many countries lacked adequate capacity in this area. Since then, there have been a number of important proposals and initiatives by science experts inspiring a new, large-scale, inventive action in capacity-building in science. It is in this regard that the at the 32nd General Conference of UNESCO, Member States called upon Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director General of UNESCO, through resolution No.14 to take measures to reinforce intergovernmental cooperation in strengthening national capacities in the basic sciences and science education. Mr. Matsuura responded to this request by introducing the International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) as a flagship component under capacity building in basic and engineering sciences. The overall aim of the IBSP as outlined in the draft 33 C/5 programme and budget is to strengthen the human and Institutional capacities of universities in Member States. The IBSP was overwhelmingly supported by all the delegates attending the 33rd General Conference of UNESCO.
As part of shaping and drumming up support for the IBSP, UNESCO sized the opportunity availed by the 33rd General Conference to organize a Round Table discussions for the Ministers responsible for Science and Technology. The Ministerial Round Table provided a forum for an exchange of views and a political debate between high-level decision-makers on the challenges relating to the basic sciences in their service to society. They also discussed on actions to be taken by governments and the scientific community in order to build up an adequate capacity in the basic sciences and assure their use as a lever for development.

The ministerial Round Table discussions were organized along four themes namely:
• Role of the Basic Sciences: challenges in the twenty-first century;
• National and regional priorities for cooperation in the basic sciences;
• Building capacity in the basic sciences: relevance to developing countries; and
• Science policy and the role of the basic sciences for governmental decision making.

Under each theme there were three lead speakers drawn from different regions.
In their discussions the ministers acknowledged that basic sciences, among others, lead to new scientific knowledge that gives rise to the educational, cultural and intellectual enrichment of humanity as well as to technological breakthroughs. They therefore offer unique opportunities to meet basic human needs, yield economic benefits and promote science-based sustainable development.

As a global lead agency in basic sciences, UNESCO and its partners in science were called upon to bring their actions closer to the country level through the reinforcement of “bottom-up programming” and through specific regional and sub regional strategies that are in consonance with regional priorities and national agendas.

It was observed that although the basic sciences have become an indispensable science lever for development, many countries find them-selves excluded in one way or another from the endeavour to create, and consequently, fully benefit from scientific knowledge. The divide in the basic sciences has widened the gaps in technology, agriculture, health care, information technology, science education as well as between the north and the south. It was therefore imperative that remedial measures be taken to curb this trend.

It was noted that the world’s economies are under-going a fundamental transformation to knowledgebased industries and agriculture. More and more political decisions require scientific information and expertise. As never before, the practice of decision-making calls for innovative policies that would assign to science the role and resources that is commensurate with its creative power for addressing the basic needs of society.

Hon. Prof. George Saitoti, the then Minister for Education, Science and Technology was invited as a lead speaker on theme two addressing national and regional priorities for cooperation in the basic sciences. In his presentation, Prof. Saitoti observed that the poor performance in the science and mathematics in Kenya has been attributed to a variety of factors including; dilapidated facilities, inadequate teachers, poor teaching methods, negative attitude towards the subjects, limited financial resources to purchase equipment and chemicals, content based curriculum, limited teachers’ capacity to effectively handle the subjects, and inappropriate assessment practices among others. He noted that most of these factors are common in most of the sub-Saharan African countries. He then went on to discuss some of the measures the government of Kenya was putting in place to address the challenges at the various levels of the education system.

At the regional level, Prof. Saitoti recalled that the Ministers for Science and Technology met in 2003 under the African Union (AU) - New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and identified capacity building for science and technology as one of its priority areas of intervention. The ministers then agreed to strengthen basic sciences education and research so as to enhance NEPAD’s impact in the continent. The ministers identified capacity building for science and mathematics teachers for secondary schools as crucial in the development of science at the tertiary level. NEPAD responded to this by establishing a Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology in Africa (CEMASTEA) at Nairobi, Kenya. The Centre undertakes In-service Training programme for teachers in the region.

Further, Prof. Saitoti reiterated that UNESCO, as UN agency responsible for basic sciences, should continue with its role as a coordinator of regional and international programmes, a capacity builder, standard setter, a laboratory for dissemination of research findings, best practices and innovations and resource mobilization. The other organizations working in the area of science and technology could play a role of mobilization of resources for specific country, sub regional or regional programmes as well as capacity building.

Finally the round table discussions concluded by adopting a communiqué on the basic sciences. The communiqué was presented by Mr. Koïchiro. Matsuura, Director- General of UNESCO.