The field visit represents a major step in their mission to assist the country in developing a first national Research and Innovation policy, requested by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (MESRSI).

The expert panel, composed of national, regional and international experts, conducted in-depth interviews with a wide range of R&I actors from governmental institutions, the private sector, academia and research centers, international development partners, and civil society organisations.

During their visit to Conakry, which took place from 30 January to 3 February 2023, the expert panel was received by high-level national authorities, such as the Minister of MESRSI, Dr. Diaka SIDIBE, the first vice-president of the National Council of the Transition, Mrs. Hadja Maimouna Yombouno Bangoura, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Mr. Mamadou Nagnalen Barry, Secretary Generals of different ministries, rectors of Universities, and directors of research centres.

(Working session of the expert panel at MESRSI)

Accompanied by the Policy Support Facility (PSF) Technical Assistance Unit, the international group of high-level experts has worked in close collaboration with the national team, led by MESRSI. The experts encountered more than 100 experts and representatives from over 50 institutions and organisations, adopting an inclusive and holistic approach for better ownership and impact of the PSF service.

They also attended a restitution workshop of data collection on Research and Innovation, chaired by Dr. Diaka SIDIBE, on 1 February 2023. They will take into account this data collection of over 400 public and private R&I structures in the Country Background Report and the Policy Recommendation Report towards the elaboration of the R&I National Policy.

(Dr. Diaka SIDIBE, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation- MESRSI)

The national experts will continue the field mission throughout the country to collect insights from other key R&I actors.

Officially launched in December 2022, this service is the seventh one of the Policy Support Facility (after Lesotho, Mauritania, The Gambia, Timor-Leste, Kenya, Cameroon), initiated in January 2021, by the EU-funded OACPS Research and Innovation Programme, to enhance the quality and efficiency of R&I policy systems.

For more information on this PSF service, please download:

Factsheet of the PSF service in Guinea (in French only)

Presentation of the members of the Expert Panel (in French only)