SciDev.Net

After 2006's commitment to one per cent GDP spending on science, is Africa keeping up, falling behind or investing, asks Linda Nordling.

Maternal health needs a new, pragmatic, research-led approach targeted specifically for developing countries, says Priya Shetty.

Three Nature articles display mixed feelings about the success of Pakistan's higher education reforms.

CGIAR reforms take research decisions too far away, says Hartmann, director-general of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Aid agencies, under pressure to prove their worth, should seize the opportunity to make spending more accountable, says Linda Nordling.

Following its higher education reforms, Pakistan's success in creating a research culture is still uncertain, say Athar Osama and colleagues.

The United States should boost funding for food, health and water, says Thomas R. Pickering, former US ambassador to the UN.

As African science ministers prepare to meet in Burundi, Linda Nordling asks what has happened to the idea of a pan-African science fund.

Climate negotiations must promote capacity building, not impose quotas, argues ZhongXiang Zhang.

Donors should fund the facilities needed to improve the conditions for research, as well as funding individual studies, says Berit Olsson.

African governments must invest in science training — but they don't have to go it alone, says Arlen Hastings.

For Africa to effectively adapt to climate change, the rules of the game must change in Copenhagen, says Araya Asfaw.

The developed world must make good on its financial promises to Africa — and everyone stands to reap the benefits, says Jeffrey Sachs.

The global financial crisis may soon make external funding much harder to get, warns Linda Nordling.

There are big plans afoot to get African science to the market place, but why wait for continent-wide resolutions, says Linda Nordling.

Kazakhstan's president — who seeks to put S&T at the heart of development has been hindered by bureaucracy, says Glenn E. Schweitzer.

Academic partnerships bring knowledge and drive economic growth, but success depends on good communications that build trust, says Tim Gore.

Science and innovation continue to grow in developing countries, despite the current economic climate, says an editorial in Nature.

Funding agencies and donors hoping to tackle malaria must commit more to basic research, says Nature.

Doruk Ozgediz and Robert Riviello make the case for devoting more resources to easily treated surgical conditions in Africa.