The Africa Evidence Network (AEN) is a community of people dedicated to evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) in Africa. The shared aim of everyone in the AEN is to increase the use of evidence in decision-making to help reduce poverty and inequality across the continent. Towards achieving this aim, the Network fosters connections and collaborations through a number of activities. We host a variety of AEN events and also support our partners’ evidence events. We convene interest groups around EIDM topics either as communities of practice or as working groups. The Secretariat supports members’ connections and match-making as well as spotlighting partners and members. We also make use of various AEN social media activities to foster connections and collaborations.
AEN Events
We foster connections and collaborations through hosting AEN events. Currently, we are hosting three types of events: 1. Evidence series which was launched in 2014 and is hosted biennially to bring the Pan-African community together for learning, networking, and relationship-building, 2. Africa Evidence Week (AfEW), which was established in 2019 in an effort to organise a regional evidence week with an African focus, celebrated virtually every two years to promote the use of evidence in decision-making, and the 3. Webinar series was launched in 2020 in order to advance EIDM across the continent using innovative capacity development techniques. Click here to learn more.
Communities of practice
In 2023, we established communities of practice (CoPs) to advance our work, which was an important step toward encouraging collaboration and shared learning on important EIDM topics. Our goal is to create a number of CoPs that can be used as instruments to enhance evidence capacities and collaboration in Africa. Within the CoPs, there is a great opportunity for mentorships where people can gain knowledge from one another. The CoPs aim to strengthen capacities and promote collaboration in Africa’s EIDM sector. This will be accomplished by giving EIDM practitioners a platform (online or in person) to network, meet other practitioners, exchange ideas on new practice-related topics, and learn from one another.
To learn more about the CoPs, click here.
Supporting AEN partner events
The AEN actively promotes EIDM initiatives and strengthens regional networks by supporting partner events throughout Africa. We help co-organise partner events, provide financial support, offer bursaries for delegates to attend the conferences being hosted by our partners, present our work in various sessions, and have an exhibition stand to showcase our work. We also engage with our partners at conferences, events, and collaborative forums since it is crucial to advance our vision, create meaningful relationships, and advance the use of evidence in decision-making throughout Africa.
Working groups
In 2020, we established working groups as a strategic initiative to foster greater collaboration and drive more effective outcomes. These groups are designed to bring together diverse stakeholders, including internal teams, external partners, and AEN members, to leverage their collective expertise and perspectives. Each working group is tasked with addressing specific areas of focus aligned with our organisational goals, such as ‘Understanding the art and science of EIDM in Africa’, ‘Enhancing evidence capacities’, and ‘Making connections and building collaborations’. By creating these collaborative platforms, we aim to enhance coordination, streamline decision-making processes, and promote innovation. Working groups have since become integral to our operations, enabling us to build stronger networks, share best practices, and achieve greater impact through a unified approach. Would you like to be part of the working groups? Get in touch via the AEN secretariat info@africaevidencenetwork.org
Networking via the Secretariat
Through working groups, communities of practice, Evidence events, and other engagement platforms, the AEN connects people and organisations to learn, share, and form lasting connections. We use online platforms and email to match people which promotes collaboration and engagement. We create networking opportunities to ensure that like-minded individuals connect, work together on different projects creating a lasing impact in their professional careers, share professional information, learn from each other’s experience and provide support. When members are looking for people or organisations to partner with, they contact us, and we help them connect with them.
Spotlighting and connecting partners and members
The AEN aims to foster and invest in existing relationships across the Network whilst also ensuring support for new and emerging organisations and new individuals. Importantly, both regarding organisations and individuals, these could refer to younger/trainee levels as well as established organisations and individuals who are new to the evidence space in Africa. Would you like to be spotlighted or connected? Get in touch via the AEN secretariat info@africaevidencenetwork.org
AEN social media activities
We use all our social medial platforms to inform and promote EIDM.
Click on the social media icons below to visit and engage with us on our different social platforms.
Only together can evidence-informed decision-making become a reality.
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