The Manifesto - English

Our Vision: To realise a scientifically literate African citizenry driven and powered by its ownership of scientific knowledge.

Our Mission: To embark and sustain African citizens and communities through science communication and the public learning and understanding of science (PLUS) on an evolving, empowering and progressive journey to own and include scientific notions in their everyday experience, so that they are better able to make informed choices and decisions that will improve the quality of their lives.

Strategic Aims and Objectives
To support and advance science communication and the public learning and understanding of science (PLUS) in a strategic framework encompassing the key parameters of:

• Policy Development: The agenda is to strive for the ‘mainstreaming’ of science communication and the public learning and understanding of science (PLUS) within Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies at African national levels, Regional Economic Communities (REC’s) and within continental development frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the AU/NEPAD Science, Technology & Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2024. To this end, we will contribute to the provision of advisory support, training and expertise to African Member states and REC’s for the delivery of innovative policy and programme development for science communication, science and society and the PLUS.
• Practice and Programme Development: The Agenda is to work across diverse stakeholders and partnerships to develop, conceptualise, embed, identify, showcase and highlight good practice initiatives, programmes, approaches, tools, methodologies, strategies, partnerships, etc., in the innovative delivery of science communication and the public learning and understanding of science (PLUS) in Africa and in the African Diaspora.
• Capacity Development: We plan to support African universities and research institutions in growing the human capital for the continent’s science communication and the PLUS outreach and programme delivery, through contributing to the development of innovative training modules, transformative and African-centric curricula development, science and society studies, promotion of international student exchanges, international research collaborations, and the involvement of the private sector operating on the African continent, and in the African Diaspora.

Media

• We plan to establish a strong media platform on the African continent. Our media channels will be comprised of strong social media networks, community radio programmes and multi-media outlets.
• Our media strategy will be delivered and sustained through developing a comprehensive and cohesive working partnership with science journalists and media on the African continent and in the African Diaspora.
• Science communication and the public learning and understanding of science programmes and activities of various stakeholders in the public, private and civil society sectors will also be profiled through our media channels. 

Workshops and Conferences

• We shall convene dynamic, interactive and well-informed workshops and conferences with key strategic partners and stakeholders periodically.
• Through these events and other platforms, we shall build synergies and collaborate with African governments, the Regional Economic Communities (REC’s), the African Union AU/NEPAD, existing NGOs/CSO’s, Academic institutions, private and public organizations, and international multi-lateral agencies and institutions, to achieve our aims.

Membership of African Gong

The membership of African Gong is both institutional and individual, including the following: Academics; Media and Science Journalists; Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s); Policy-makers; Researchers; Educators; Science & Technology Centres and Museums; and the Private sector, across the African continent and the African Diaspora.