…a new individual! As the Programme Director of Insight 2 Implementation (i2i), Ayesha Ismail is excited to join the Africa Evidence Network (AEN) and be part of a vibrant, growing community that shares a deep commitment to evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across the continent. i2i was established as an offering to support countries to effectively use evidence to strengthen HIV prevention policies and programmes. They work across 15 countries in Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa, collaborating with national stakeholders to address cross-cutting HIV prevention questions, synthesise existing data, and support its practical application in programming and policy.
Joining the AEN aligns with both Ayesha’s personal and professional commitment to championing contextually relevant, timely, and actionable evidence in policy and programme design. AEN’s inclusive and interdisciplinary approach resonates strongly with i2i’s way of working, bridging technical expertise with local realities and fostering collaboration between researchers, implementers, policymakers, and civil society. Ayesha is particularly drawn to AEN’s goal of amplifying African voices and capacities in the global EIDM landscape.
As a member, Ayesha hopes to both contribute and learn. She looks forward to engaging with others facing similar challenges, sharing lessons from their work in synthesising and translating evidence into practical tools, and exploring opportunities to co-create knowledge that responds to the priorities of African policymakers. Ayesha is also keen to contribute to AEN’s efforts in shaping a stronger enabling environment for evidence use, one that values diverse forms of knowledge and recognises the political, institutional, and operational realities of decision-making on the continent.
