Authors
David Ndegwah,[1] Lynn Vanheule,[2] Otto Kroesen,[3] Linda Kamp[4]
Publication date: December, 2011
Publisher: African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS)
Abstract
This paper goes into the scientific underpinning of development policies, based on their experiences in a student internship program, organized by Tangaza College in Kenya and the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. It focuses mainly on experiences in the energy sector. On the level of technical expertise and organization and management, an important issue appears to be the transfer of knowledge and skills on a large scale. Separate pilot projects or experiments will not survive in an environment in which only some people have experience with the technology – such that only they can manage and repair it. This underscores the necessity of a system change, which can be accomplished by means of joint action by European university institutions and local institutions of higher learning, NGOs, government bodies, vocational training etc. On the cultural level a main obstacle is the compartmentalization of Kenyan civil society. Kenyan companies, government bodies and NGOs often maintain a culture of closed “we” groups. At the background is the complex relationship between state and society. An open civil society can only function if a strong and accountable government enforces universalistic rule, so that particularistic mindsets and patronage systems cannot obstruct an pen process of constantly regrouping of social actors. The authors will also provide some reflections on this larger socio-political framework, as a precondition of the functioning of an open market and civil society. Using insights from research such as the case studies presented in this paper for formulation of policy and management guidelines can stimulate such openness and cooperation between different stakeholders.
Keywords: knowledge transfer, innovation systems, technology implementation, policy guidelines.
[1] Senior Lecturer in the Department of History, Religion and Philosophy at Jaramogi Ognnga Odinga University of Science and Technology, ndegwahdavid@gmail.com
[2] Msc. Student in Sustainable Energy Technology at TUDelft l.f.i.vanheule@student.tudelft.nl
[3] Assistant professor in ethics and sustainability at the department of Technology, Policy and Management at TUDelft, j.o.kroesen@tudelft.nl
[4] Assistant Professor in Sustainability at the Department of Technology Policy and Management at TUDelft l.m.kamp@tudelft.nl