The Policy Support Facility (PSF) is a targeted an initiative designed to empower Angola’s path towards innovation-driven economic diversification. Through the support of high-level international experts and the OACPS Research and Innovation Programme, funded by the European Union, this service aims to transform Angola’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) landscape and reduce its dependence on oil exports.

Angola’s economy has long depended on oil, creating a strong need for diversification into sustainable sectors. The PSF service addresses this by helping the government develop evidence-based STI policies. In close collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESCTI), the service will update Angola’s STI framework, making it a critical enabler of economic growth.

Leading this effort is a distinguished Expert Panel, chaired by Dr. Carla Cristina Vilarinho S. Queiroz, a key figure in Angola’s research landscape. Alongside her, Prof. Ermelinda Liberato as Rapporteur, and international experts Dr. Diogo Ferraz and Dr. Ludovico Alcorta, bring deep expertise in economic complexity, diversification, and industrial policies.

The service unfolds in three phases over seven to eight months. It begins with planning and consultations with key stakeholders, followed by field research to gather data and identify priority sectors for diversification. The Policy Recommendation Report (PRR), the service’s final output, will guide Angola on how to harness innovation for economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable growth.

Once the PRR is drafted, a validation process will ensure the recommendations are practical. The service also includes capacity-building to equip local stakeholders with the skills to implement the policies. This will foster a self-sustaining innovation ecosystem in Angola, aligned with national and international development goals like the 2050 Strategy, SDGs, and Agenda 2063.

As the PSF service progresses, it will engage stakeholders across Angola through public events, media, and workshops, ensuring broad participation and raising awareness of the importance of innovation.