Communities of practice
The Africa Evidence Network (AEN) established communities of practice (CoPs) to advance its work in 2023. We aim to develop several CoPs that can serve as tools to enhance evidence capacities and collaboration in Africa. There is a wonderful opportunity for mentorships within the CoPs, where individuals can learn from each other. The purpose of the CoPs is to enhance capacities and foster collaborations in the EIDM sector in Africa. This is to be done by providing EIDM practitioners with a platform (virtual or in-person) to meet other practitioners, extend networks, learn from each other, and share ideas on emerging practice-related issues.
Evidence capacities
The work on enhancing evidence capacities was anchored around the AEN’s Manifesto on capacity development for EIDM in Africa. They hosted four with 194 participants, and 14 speakers from 16 organisations across the continent and beyond participated. The working group also collected 3 case studies of alternative (innovative) approaches to capacity development. The working group launched a community of practice to share capacities and build collaboration in November 2023. CoP members co-developed the guidelines that govern their Cop.The launch was also published in the broader. The CoP is currently driven by the working group members and partners who participated in the Evidence 2023 capacities webinar series.
Governance in EIDM
This CoP comprises members of the current AEN governance structures. It aims to tap into their experiences to adapt the governance structures of EIDM organisations on the continent for the future.
Connections and collaborations
The Making Connections and Building Collaborations working group launched a community of practice on Approaches to Connections and Collaborations in EIDM in 2024. This CoP was formed from the working group members as an after-Evidence 2023 activity. This CoP aims to share current insights into the innovative approaches to fostering connections and collaborations in the EIDM field across the continent and identify and showcase innovative, collaborative solutions. It has a long-standing membership that has focused on mapping different organisational stakeholders in the EIDM ecosystem in Africa.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools
This CoP comprises people interested in adapting and using digital technologies (particularly AI) to support evidence brokerage and evidence use. It is currently driven by the partners of existing AEN and PACE projects, but we hope to make it open to the wider public towards the end of the year.
Leadership in EIDM
This CoP will comprise Africa Evidence Leadership Award (AELA) winners and runners-up and serve as an alum group of all AELA award winners. These individuals have demonstrated clear and enduring leadership in the field of EIDM on the African continent. This COP is in the set-up phase and will be launched with the next round of AELA winners. This CoP also aims to support members of AEYL by contributing leadership expertise to the young and emerging leaders expected in 2024.
Citizen Engagement
After this webinar, a community of practice on Citizen Engagement in EIDM in the health sector was facilitated by the Africa Evidence Network (AEN) in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO). In this CoP, participants are expected to strengthen their capacity to promote citizen engagement in their contexts, allowing for more robust social participation in policy processes. This CoP was initiated in December. 2023 and has seen a kick-off webinar in March 2024, and it is planned to kick start activities fully for the next 12 months.
Mentorship in EIDM
This CoP will comprise the mentors in the AEN/AEYL mentorship programme. The CoP aims to reflect, learn, and improve the support offered to young and emerging leaders in the mentoring programme. This CoP is currently in the set-up phase, with mentors being finalised and mentoring activities taking place from May 2024 onwards.
Africa Evidence Youth League (AEYL)
The Africa Evidence Youth League (AEYL) was officially launched at Evidence 2023 to nurture, empower, and amplify the voices of emerging education evidence leaders across Africa. In December 2023, the Manifesto in English/French was launched. This is a community of 45 emerging education leaders drawn from 15 countries on the continent. This league is structured as a facilitated community of practice for 12 months with an integral EIDM mentoring component. A comprehensive report was published that provides a detailed overview of the AEYL, highlighting the progress, achievements, and key learnings thus far.
Only together can evidence-informed decision-making become a reality.
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