Our Results

Since 1998, GBDI has provided training and consultations for more than 500 officials and executives from 45 developing nations.

GBDI has helped them to pursue a wide range of significant goals, such as:

  • Strengthening skills needed for making informed choices about developing, regulating and evaluating biotechnology.
  • Developing long-term strategy for economic development in rural areas by adopting bioscience to overcome barriers to sustainable development.
  • Enhancing capacity to develop value-added industries in developing countries in areas such as pharmaceutical research and agricultural biotechnology.
  • Strengthening working partnerships with policymakers from different ministries and with other stakeholders, to develop policies that protect the best interests of the country, and foster development of the private sector.
  • Developing a coherent overview of their needs for developing biosafety regulation in order to pave the way for adoption of biotechnology.
  • Raising public awareness and informed debate about bioresource issues in their countries by facilitating dialogue among the scientific community, policymakers, industry and the public.
  • Raising awareness of key international treaties and agreements in legal and intellectual property areas.
  • Developing appropriate legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks to enhance the enabling environment for the pursuit of these goals.

Taking the Next Steps

As a result of their positive GBDI experiences, many executives, public officials, and researchers have been inspired to take the next appropriate steps for developing their nations' bioscience sector. Some examples:

  • GBDI's training sessions in Nigeria inspired the federal government to bring biotech into the forefront of Nigeria's economic development plan.
  • GBDI's training sessions in Tanzania led professionals in eight East African countries to create a network for exchanging information that stimulates bioscience innovation by strengthening intellectual property systems.
  • GBDI's training in Botswana led a government team to refocus its efforts by creating an effective long-term plan that is developing Botswana's bioscience sector.

A High Level of Interest

As a reflection of the high level of interest, GBDI's training courses have been well attended and received by a wide range of professionals, and warmly welcomed by senior government officials throughout Africa.

For example, Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Republic of Nigeria, inaugurated the training course in Ibadan, Nigeria on March 1, 2000. Festus Mogae, President of the Republic of Botswana, opened the Southern African regional training course in Gaborone, Botswana on August 15, 2000. Moreover, Bruno Amoussou, Vice President of the Republic of Benin, inaugurated the regional training course in Benin's capital city of Cotonou on May 21, 2000.