…a new individual! Idris Otun recently joined the Africa Evidence Network (AEN) because he believes that improving development outcomes in Africa requires more than generating research; it requires strengthening how evidence is interpreted, communicated, and used in real decision-making spaces.
Being a public health practitioner and epidemiologist, and a Member of the Academy of Public Health (MAPH), his work sits at the intersection of climate change, vector-borne diseases, and community health systems. Idris is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Health, focusing on climate-friendly approaches to malaria control. Alongside his academic work, he leads Sustainable Development for Health and Social Impact Initiative (SustiDev), a youth-led organisation that translates research into practical community action through malaria prevention initiatives, climate–health education, and grassroots engagement in Nigeria.
Through both research and implementation, Idris has observed a persistent gap between knowledge generation and decision-making. Evidence may exist, yet it is often not contextualised, accessible, or effectively communicated to policymakers, implementers, or community leaders. This gap motivated him to engage more intentionally with evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) and to seek a network that actively strengthens the bridge between research, policy, and practice across Africa.
The Africa Evidence Network provides that space. Idris is particularly interested in engaging with AEN’s learning platforms and communities of practice to deepen his skills in knowledge translation, policy engagement, and evidence communication. He also values the opportunity to connect with researchers, policymakers, and civil society actors working to strengthen evidence uptake in diverse African contexts.
Through AEN, Idris hopes to grow professionally, build meaningful collaborations, and contribute practical insights from climate–health and public health programming to advance a stronger culture of evidence use across the continent.
