About the project

The Evidence Leaders in Africa is a two-year project aimed at expanding leadership for use of evidence in policy formulation and implementation by African governments. The project will empower scholars of The African Academy for Sciences to proactively engage governments to use science and innovation, as well as champion Evidence-Informed Decision-Making (EIDM) in East and West Africa. The project is implemented by the African Institute for Policy Development (AFIDEP) and The African Academy for Sciences (The AAS).

The overall objective of the project is to expand leadership for the use of evidence in policy formulation and implementation by African governments.

The project seeks to:

1. Increase the number of academic leaders championing EIDM in Africa.
2. Increase the number of government agencies in East and West Africa taking specific actions to institutionalise EIDM.
3. Deepen evidence and space for EIDM learning in Africa.

Implementation Approach

Sensitisation of leaders to entrench an EIDM culture in government agencies

A sensitisation meeting with Fellows of The AAS on pathways to entrenching an EIDM culture in governments will be conducted to empower The AAS’s scholars to proactively engage governments to use science and innovation and champion institutionalisation of EIDM.

Capacity building of researchers in East and West Africa on EIDM 

A training workshop aimed at enhancing the understanding of the value of, and strategies for EIDM among early-to-mid-career researchers will be conducted. The workshop will also aim at increasing commitment of researchers to contribute to efforts to promote a culture of EIDM. Practical training in effective communication of research findings to policy audiences and understanding the value of EIDM at an early stage in one’s career can leave a lasting impact that transforms researchers from being confined within the academic space to becoming effective EIDM champions. The activity is also expected to contribute to increasing the number of academic leaders championing EIDM in Africa.

Introduction of an evidence leadership award to promote interest in championing EIDM.

An EIDM leadership award that recognises  The AAS scholars who engage in EIDM related interventions, will be conferred during the second year of the project. The aim of the award is to promote interest in championing EIDM on government institutions and contribute to expanding leaders championing EIDM in Africa. AAS Fellows, Grantees and Affiliates will be eligible for the award. A funding mechanism aimed at sustaining this award beyond the life of the project will also be established.

Provision of seed grants to implement initiatives that institutionalise EIDM in government agencies.

Seed grants will be provided to selected Fellows to spearhead the implementation of initiatives aimed at addressing bottlenecks that curtail EIDM in government. Fellows and Grantees of The AAS who commit to lead initiatives that institutionalise EIDM in government agencies in their countries will be encouraged to submit proposals to be considered for the seed grant.

Expand evidence and space for EIDM learning in Africa.

As part of the expansion of EIDM learning, a conference to facilitate sharing of EIDM lessons within AAS networks comprising researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in East and West Africa will be held. The conference will focus on sharing of lessons and experiences from EIDM initiatives (individual and institutional efforts) within AAS networks. The project will also document lessons on various issues including the incentives for African scholars to champion evidence use in decision making within government agencies, the influence of African scholars in promoting EIDM in government agencies and on opportunities within, and incentives for, government agencies in East and West Africa to institutionalise EIDM.

More information on the project can be found on https://www.afidep.org/our-work/strengthening-capacity-use-evidence-policymaking-spaces/current-programmes/evidence-leaders-in-africa/ or https://www.aasciences.ac.ke/evidence-leaders-africa

 You can also contact the project managers at Carol Mukiira at carol.mukiira@afidep.org (AFIDEP) or Lydia Manoti l.manoti@aasciences.ac.ke (The AAS)