The Science Communication Policy in Africa and the Global South  “AUDA – NEPAD teams up the Michigan University ‘s Calestous Juma Executive Dialogue to bridge the gap” 

By Taurai Chiraerae 

The Global South faces a persistent challenge in translating scientific innovations into socio-economic benefits. Despite advances in genetics, biotechnology, and agricultural techniques by public and private institutions, a “communication deficit” hinders widespread adoption. This gap arises from information asymmetries, miscommunication, and disinformation, creating barriers to evidence-based policymaking. It is against this backdrop that the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development (CAISD) will take an active role in the 12th Calestous Juma Executive Dialogue (CJED) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 12–13, 2026. 

Organized by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), the CJED serves as a platform to address these issues. CAISD’s Co-Chair, Dr. Alexandre D. Essome, a 25-year communication expert with the United Nations will deliver the opening keynote, on “The Future of Science Communication in Africa and the Global South,” positioning our organization as a leader in bridging science and policy through digital tools and intellectual frameworks. 

The Strategic Imperative: Science Communication as Infrastructure 

Effective science communication is not a luxury but essential infrastructure for development. The CJED targets the “information pandemic ” of misinformation that undermines technology uptake. Rather than a mere data shortage, the core issue is the absence of an enabling environment for informed decision-making. This “shadow pandemic” of myths derails initiatives in health, agriculture, and climate action before they gain traction. 

CAISD views science communication as “precision communication,” replacing noise with clear, standardized messaging across regional blocs like SADC and ECOWAS. This builds an “infrastructure of trust,” combating cross-border disinformation and fostering public acceptance of innovations. 

Addressing the Communication Deficit and the Knowledge Value Chain 

Africa’s scientific landscape often resembles raw mineral extraction: we export unprocessed data and import refined analyses and policies from abroad. This “resource-to-rectifier” model cedes value to external actors, limiting local beneficiation in the global digital economy. 

Innovations in biotechnology and crop varieties fail to reach smallholder farmers due to pervasive disinformation. The CJED aims to reverse this by integrating mobile-first strategies and AI with indigenous knowledge systems (IKS). Mobile penetration in Africa stands at 85%, far outpacing traditional academic reach (estimated at 15%). Platforms like WhatsApp and TikTok can democratize complex data, while AI models trained on IKS reduce bias and ensure culturally relevant outputs. 

This strategic shift aligns with CAISD’s vision of leveraging Africa’s mineral resources, key to global microchips to communicate their value domestically. By meeting people where they are, we transform communication from a soft skill into a driver of sovereignty. 

The CJED Agenda: A Laboratory for South-South Collaboration 

The two-day dialogue at the African Union’s side event at this year summit  emphasizes cross-continental knowledge exchange, drawing lessons from Africa and Asia to build institutional capacity. 

Day 1: Institutional Capacity and Success Stories. Following Dr. Essome’s keynote, panels explore science communication frameworks in Africa and Asia, featuring insights from the Science for Africa Foundation and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Success stories from the Alliance for Science (AFS) and Bayer Corporation highlight mitigation strategies against public resistance to technology. Breakout sessions strengthen resilience in health, agriculture, and climate/environment, offering CAISD opportunities to embed data-driven tools in policies. 

Day 2: Combatting Misinformation and Tool Development. Sessions dissect the psychological and digital drivers of disinformation, with experts from MSU and the Society of Medical Arthropodology. A focus on “Science Communication Tools and Resources” includes perspectives from the Malawi Embassy and African youth, ensuring inclusivity for digital natives. 

This structure positions the CJED as a collaborative roadmap, identifying common barriers and scalable solutions. 

CAISD’s Role: Leading Technical Advocacy 

CAISD’s participation underscores our commitment to academic advocacy, the “midstream” phase of our strategy. Dr. Essome’s keynote will advocate for integrating AI and IKS into communication curricula, empowering scientists to engage media, religious leaders, and communities. CAISD sees the CJED as a catalyst for human capacity building, turning raw scientific output into trusted, implementable policies. “Our expertise in AI-driven platforms aligns with AUDA-NEPAD and MSU’s goals, enhancing Africa’s digital transformation” Essome’s said. 

Deliverables: A Comprehensive Science Communication Curriculum 

A key outcome is a dynamic curriculum on agricultural science communication, evolving into an on-demand online course for scientists, educators, and regulators. This “software update” for Africa’s scientific community will be updated annually to adapt to technological and social changes. For CAISD, this curriculum bridges the skills gap, enabling local processing of resources and fostering technology adoption. It represents a step toward full ownership in the knowledge value chain. 

Measuring Success: Short- and Long-Term Impacts 

Success at the CJED is multifaceted: 

Short-term: Training stakeholders with networks and resources, empowering them to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. 

Long-term: Increased adoption of modern agricultural technologies and enactment of supportive policies, improving food security and livelihoods. 

CAISD measures progress through alignment with frameworks like the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034), establishing AI pipelines, and achieving scientific sovereignty. 

CAISD’s engagement in the 12th CJED advances our Path to 2030, defined by three phases: alignment with regional partners, infrastructure development integrating IKS, and sovereignty in global science architecture. As Dr. Essome leads our delegation to Addis Ababa, CAISD’s message resonates: Africa possesses the minerals, talent, and knowledge. Through masterful communication, we must own the narrative to drive sustainable development.