…a new organisation! Innovation for Policy Foundation (i4Policy)

Why the Innovation for Policy Foundation (i4Policy) and the Africa Evidence Network (AEN) Are a Good Match

Joining the Africa Evidence Network (AEN) offers the Innovation for Policy Foundation (i4Policy) a dynamic platform to both gain and contribute, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that advances evidence-informed policymaking across Africa.

How i4Policy Can Benefit from the AEN

The AEN is a leading pan-African network that brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners committed to strengthening evidence use in decision-making. By joining, i4Policy can access a vibrant community of practice, build relationships with research institutions, and draw on a wealth of knowledge to better embed evidence into participatory policy processes, especially around entrepreneurship. This will enhance the legitimacy and long-term impact of the policies co-created through our work.

What i4Policy Brings to the Network

i4Policy offers the AEN a focus on inclusive, bottom-up policy development that makes community voices central to policymaking. i4Policy’s approach complements AEN’s mission by expanding how evidence is defined, generated, and applied, ensuring lived experience and informal sector realities are integrated alongside academic research.

Digital Tools to Expand Evidence Access

Through a growing suite of open-access tools, i4Policy has pioneered new ways to democratise policy data and insights, including:
• ecosystem.build – a hub for entrepreneurship policy resources and case studies
• africa.ecosystem.build – the Africa Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index
• learn.ecosystem.build – a multilingual MOOC for policymakers and ecosystem builders within the entrepreneurship policy area.

These tools could enhance the AEN’s work with locally grounded data, a new communication channel, and broader evidence access for diverse stakeholders.

A Mutually Reinforcing Partnership

i4Policy’s participatory methods, digital platforms and on-the-ground experience can help the AEN broaden its reach. In turn, AEN’s research networks can support i4Policy in strengthening the evidence base behind i4Policy’s work. Together, we can advance a vision for African policymaking that is both evidence-informed and truly participatory.