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In a context where development challenges remain intractable amid limited resources, the role of robust evidence in informing development decisions cannot be overemphasised. But, evidence often fails to play this role because of many reasons. One of these reasons is the current weak institutional capacity that undermines ease of access to evidence, as well as interest and motivation, to use or consider evidence in policy and programme decisions.

In this series of videos, some of the leading scholars in Africa talk about how they will contribute to efforts to institutionalise evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) in their countries.

Prof. Mary Abukutsa Onyango, [Professor of Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University] – watch video

Prof. Peace Chinedun Babalola, [Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Vice-chancellor, Chrisland University] – watch video

Prof. Fredrick Otieno, [Former Vice chancellor, Masinde Muliro University] – watch video

Prof. Olatunde Farombi, [Dean – Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan] – watch video

Dr. Siana Nkya, [Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dar-es-Salaam] – watch video

Dr. Temitope Olawunmi Sogbanmu, [Assistant Lecturer, Department of Zoology, University of Lagos] – watch video

These scholars were part of a workshop on May 22-24, 2019 in Nairobi that convened top scholars on the continent to discuss the role they can play in efforts to strengthen institutional capacity within government agencies and universities in order to promote and enable a culture of evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM). This workshop was part of the Evidence Leaders in Africa (ELA) project that is being implemented by the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) and the African Academy of Sciences. The ELA project is funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.