Eight years ago, I stepped into the leadership of the Africa Evidence Network (AEN), holding both excitement and uncertainty. What I knew then was that the AEN had the potential to be a powerful force for evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) in Africa. What I didn’t realise was how profoundly it would shape me as a leader, as a woman, and as an African committed to collective progress. There is a proverb that says, “Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.” This is how I have come to understand the AEN: a vast, living organism whose strength comes from the many hands, minds, and hearts shaping it. This blog is my reflection on leadership, community, mentorship, crisis, and personal growth over the past eight extraordinary years.

Leading a Community, Not an Organisation

From the beginning, I learned that leading the AEN was not about managing a project; it was about nurturing a community. The AEN is beautifully diverse, with practitioners, knowledge brokers, policymakers, researchers, implementers, academic institutions, non-governmental organisations, funders, government agencies, think tanks, and multilateral organisations all committed to strengthening the use of evidence across Africa. To lead such a community required humility, patience, and listening. I embraced stewardship rather than authority. The work taught me that people don’t follow leaders; they follow care, clarity, and connection. As another African proverb reminds us: “If you want to go far, go together.” The AEN has always been about going far together.

The Power of Relationships

Our most significant achievements were never the result of technical plans alone, but of relationships built across borders and disciplines. Through conversations in hallways, WhatsApp groups, late-night planning sessions, and cross-continental collaborations, I witnessed how trust unlocks transformation. I carry with me this truth: “A single bracelet does not jingle.” The AEN’s successes are the collective music of many bracelets, many hands, and many contributors. We stayed true to the network’s slogan, “Only together can decision making become a reality.” See the power of networks in EIDM blog and Podcast for more insights.

Navigating Complexity in the Evidence Ecosystem

The African evidence ecosystem is dynamic, sometimes exhilarating, sometimes overwhelming. Over the course of eight years, I witnessed shifting political climates, evolving donor landscapes, institutional reforms, and the rise of African leadership. Instead of resisting complexity, I learned to work with it: adapting strategies, embracing uncertainty, responding to shifting contexts, prioritising learning over rigidity. In this journey, another proverb guided me: “Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors.” The complexity sharpened us. It made us resilient, creative, and grounded.

Leading Through Crisis: The Pandemic Years

When COVID-19 hit, everything changed instantly and profoundly. Borders closed. Plans vanished. Fear grew. But amid this uncertainty, the AEN revealed its deepest strength: connection. We moved online, expanded spaces for community dialogue, shared evidence rapidly, and supported one another through grief and isolation. Members showed up not just as professionals, but as humans navigating a global shock. Leading during this time required: calm in the face of confusion, compassion in decision-making, and courage in the face of uncertainty. The pandemic reminded me of the proverb, “However long the night, the dawn will break.” And indeed, it did with new digital innovations, stronger bonds, and renewed commitment to our work.

How the AEN Shaped the African Evidence Narrative

One of the greatest privileges of my leadership was witnessing the AEN reshape the global perception of African evidence ecosystems. We amplified African voices, showcased Africa-led solutions, asserted thought leadership, and nurtured pride in our own innovations. Through events, communities of practice, the AEN Manifesto, Africa Evidence Leadership Award (AELA), dialogues, and collaborations, the AEN helped shift the narrative from Africa as a recipient of knowledge to Africa as a producer, leader, and influencer of evidence. The proverb says: “Until the lion tells its story, the tale will always glorify the hunter.” The AEN helped the lion speak confidently and powerfully.

Mentorship and Building the Next Generation of Leaders

Mentorship has been one of the most fulfilling dimensions of my leadership. Not through formal programmes, but through shared leadership spaces, encouraging younger members to step forward, allowing experimentation, and affirming their voices, I watched emerging leaders, through the launch of the Africa Evidence Youth League (AEYL), blossom from contributors to facilitators and then to visionaries in their own right. This is the beautiful cycle of leadership: “The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” The AEN chose to embrace, nurture, and uplift. And the ecosystem is richer for it.

What I Would Do Differently if I Started Again

Reflection is incomplete without honesty. If I were starting again, I would rest more intentionally: a tired leader cannot cultivate a thriving community, invest earlier in infrastructure: the network grew fast; systems sometimes lagged behind, say “no” with confidence: focus is an act of leadership, not limitation, celebrate more often: joy is fuel, we deserve more pauses for gratitude. These lessons are not regrets; they are wisdom I carry into the next chapter.

My Personal Evolution: Identity, Confidence, Values

Leading the AEN changed me in ways I didn’t anticipate.

  • Identity: I grew into my African womanhood with fuller confidence, rooted, proud, and unapologetic.
  • Confidence: I learned that confidence is not knowing everything; it is trusting the process, the people, and oneself.
  • Values: My leadership was shaped by: Equity, Care, Integrity, Collaboration, Courage

A proverb captures this evolution beautifully: “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” The AEN deepened my roots.

Closing Thoughts to Future AEN Leaders

To those who will lead the AEN in years to come: You inherit not a structure, but a living organism, a community with heart, history, and hope.

  • Guard its culture of care.
  • Nurture its relationships.
  • Amplify its African identity.
  • Let it remain a space where everyone belongs.

Remember that: “A leader who does not listen will soon be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.” Listen deeply. Lead gently. Boldly steward what has been entrusted to you. The AEN’s future is bright, illuminated by the brilliance, resilience, and collective wisdom of its members. I leave this chapter grateful, proud, and hopeful, knowing the network will continue to thrive in the hands of passionate, visionary leaders.

About the author: Siziwe Ngcwabe is the former Director and Co-chair of the Africa Evidence Network (AEN). She is currently the Director of People and Operations at the Pan-African Collective for Evidence (PACE). She is a South African strategic EIDM & HR Leader, an award-winning advocate, and a social worker, as well as a coach and mentor. For the past eight years, Siziwe played a key role in advancing the mission of the AEN, where she championed the use of evidence to drive meaningful change across Africa. Through her work, she supported the growth of a vibrant, collaborative evidence ecosystem by promoting the production, use, and dissemination of evidence to improve policy and practice across the continent.

Her leadership within AEN has focused on strengthening connections, facilitating partnerships, and amplifying African voices in global EIDM conversations. Siziwe has consistently advocated for inclusive, innovative, and contextually relevant approaches that ensure no one is left behind, particularly underserved, underrepresented, and marginalised communities.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work with honours from the Walter Sisulu University (UNITRA), a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) from MANCOSA – Undergraduate & Postgraduate Qualifications, Online, a master’s degree in public management, and a Master of Business Administration from Regenesys Business School. She worked at several organisations across different sectors in South Africa. She approaches the challenge of working in various environments with dedication and diligence. She believes that, with her willingness to continuously face new challenges, her intellectual curiosity, and 28 years of academic and professional experience, she aims to continually support connections and collaborations that drive meaningful African and global impact through evidence networks. This is achieved by promoting the production, use, and mediation of evidence for effective change. She is also committed to building innovative, collaborative solutions.

Acknowledgements: The author(s) are solely responsible for the content of this article, including all errors or omissions; acknowledgements do not imply endorsement of the content. The author is grateful to Charity Chisoro for her guidance in preparing and finalising this article, as well as her editorial support.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in published blog posts, as well as any errors or omissions, are the sole responsibility of the author/s and do not represent the views of the Africa Evidence Network, its secretariat, advisory or reference groups, or its funders; nor does it imply endorsement by the aforementioned parties.

Suggested citation: Ngcwabe S (2025) Eight Years of Leading the Africa Evidence Network: A Reflection on Community, Courage, and Becoming. Blog posting on 12 December 2025. Available at: https://africaevidencenetwork.org/eight-years-of-leading-the-africa-evidence-network-a-reflection-on-community-courage-and-becoming/2025/12/12/