…a new individual! Al Kags is the Executive Director at the Open Institute. He joined the Africa Evidence Network (AEN) because he cares deeply about who gets to produce evidence and who that evidence serves. In his work at the Open Institute, they have seen the transformative power of citizen-generated data—ordinary people collecting, analysing, and using data to solve daily challenges. For them, evidence isn’t an academic exercise. It’s the story of a women’s group in Kilifi tracking their savings and loans. It’s young people mapping broken boreholes and following up with local leaders. It’s community organisers sitting under mango trees, discussing budget allocations with printouts and coloured markers.
He sees the AEN as more than a platform—it’s a village of fellow believers in the power of local knowledge. Being part of AEN allows him to connect with others who are also reimagining what counts as credible evidence. It’s a chance to challenge the old hierarchies, where knowledge only flows down from institutions to communities, and instead champion models where evidence flows in all directions—especially from the ground up.
He’s here to contribute and learn. He wants to be challenged. He wants to meet people who are doing wild, bold things with data in places that are often overlooked. He wants to amplify African-led stories of change, where evidence is central in theory and practice.
“There’s a quiet wave of change sweeping across the continent.” He joined the AEN because he wants to surf it, not watch it from the shore.
