VIRTUAL MEETINGS
The Academy Synergy Building Sessions (ASBS) is designed to connect and empower the secretariat staff of African science academies. The virtual meetings are crafted to enhance peer learning, foster professional development, and build a strong network-based corporate culture that champions excellence, efficiency, and cohesion among secretariat staff and within the NASAC community. The virtual meetings are held thrice annually from 15:00–17:00Hrs (EAT) and provide opportunities for participants to share their perspectives on the various featured topics designed to further enhance networking, collaboration, and communication. The ASBS plays a critical role by interconnecting science academies, promoting best practices, and enabling effective collaboration.
The sessions are structured to:
- Enhance Collaborative Networks among NASAC members by facilitating regular interactions and information sharing.
- Develop Professional Capacities by providing a platform for sharing proven practices and insights, thereby improving the operational efficiency of academy secretariats.
- Foster a Culture of Excellence characterized by excellence, efficiency, and cohesion, setting the stage for impactful science advisory roles in Africa.
- Drive Innovation and Policy Influence by equipping academy secretariat staff with the tools and soft skills needed to effectively contribute to science, technology, and innovation policy discussions at both regional and global levels.
The sessions offer a range of tangible benefits for the NASAC network and the broader African scientific community:
- Robust Networking: Build strong inter-academy relationships that pave the way for future collaborations and joint initiatives.
- Enhanced Professional Development: Regular exposure to peer learning sessions enhances individual skills and operational effectiveness.
- Collective Problem Solving: Engage in constructive dialogue to identify solutions for common challenges, thereby strengthening the overall performance of science academies.
- Strengthened Corporate Culture: By promoting shared best practices and a cohesive work environment, ASBS contributes to the development of a unified and dynamic NASAC community.
- Increased Impact: Empowered secretariat staff are better positioned to support their academies as independent science advisers to governments, NGOs, and other key stakeholders.
Strengthening Mobilization and Management of Academy Resources– 26 March 2026
Academies as Champions of AU Agenda 2063 and UN Agenda 2030 (SDGs) – 25 June 2026
Leadership Pathways for Young Scientists in Academies – 3 September 2026
Below are the topics that were chosen for the 2024 ASBS sessions. To see the report for each session, click on the links that are highlighted.
- Strategic Planning Process– 7th March 2024
- Corporate Governance Framework – 6th June 2024
- Effective Stakeholders Engagement– 5th September 2024