STI Support to Member Countries

The Bank supports the deployment of affordable and practical technologies that will have an impact on the development of its Member Countries. Particular emphasis is given on supporting proven innovative technologies and scientific expertise for addressing development challenges in standalone projects or in mainstreamed components to generate the most impact.

Since inception of the STI program, the Bank has been promoting STI by fostering cooperation and scientific knowledge sharing among its Member Countries (MCs) through numerous schemes and activities. This includes contributing to national STI policies development, capacity development, knowledge sharing and networking through South-South and North-South cooperation.

Summary of STI Support

From 2004 – 2023, a total number of 112 STI initiatives has been approved by the Bank. These operations have been very instrumental in strengthening individual and organizational scientific and technological capacities of Member Countries by providing platforms, tools, equipment, training and learning opportunities. These initiatives cover all priority development sectors with the largest investments in Health, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Agriculture. 

STI Focused Areas

The Bank’s support on Science Technology and Innovation (STI) is cross-cutting with the first and second pillars of the Realigned IsDB Strategy 2023-2025, namely green, resilient and sustainable infrastructure and inclusive human capital development. It also directly contributes to the cross-cutting area of capacity development, while ensuring its alignment with the national development plans of the Member Country. The STI support aims to assist Member Countries in achieving the SDGs and their associated targets, particularly South-South and regional cooperation on access to Science, Technology and Innovation and to enhance knowledge sharing (Target 17.6).

Given the importance of technologies in accelerating economic growth, prosperity and achievements of the SDGs, STI support will be focusing on the deployment of affordable and practical digital technologies in different sectors (especially Agriculture, Health, Education) as well as cooling technologies for reducing post harvesting losses.

• Digital Technology in Health - Developing in-country healthcare provider capacities for delivering enhanced remote medical and non-medical services to areas with scarce health facilities including online specialist advisory services using innovative diagnostic tools and modern applications.
• Digital Technology in Education – Enhancing the quality of learning by providing access to quality lessons taught in schools, using education technology for poor and disadvantaged students in vulnerable areas.
• Digital Technology in Agriculture – Developing digital solutions including Earth Observation technologies that would support farmers in rural areas to gain access to information, financial services and markets to enhance productivity and improve their bargaining power to generate more income.
• Sustainable Cooling Technologies: Leveraging effective and efficient cooling technologies to improve agriculture and food security by preventing food wastage and fostering trade and commercialization of Agriculture products.

STI Operational Guiding Notes  

The STI Operational Guiding Notes provide guidance to recipient/beneficiaries, donors, and global partners on how STI grant operational resources can support the advancement of STI in IsDB Member Countries and Muslim Communities in Non-MCs, either as stand-alone initiatives or mainstreamed as components within sectoral interventions.

These guidelines focus on the following: 1) Types of Grants and description of the activities that can be supported through STI grants, in line with the strategic priorities of the Bank and national development plans of MCs; 2) Eligibility criteria; 3) Application process; 4) Design of grant programs/projects; 5) Implementation of STI grant projects; 6) Monitoring and Evaluation of STI Grant Projects/Programs.

For more information on how to benefit from IsDB-STI support, please refer to the attached STI Guiding Notes.