Partnership for African Social & Governance Research - PASGR

🌍Across Africa, evidence is being generated every day by researchers, governments, civil society, communities of practice, and the private sector. Yet too often, this evidence remains fragmented, externally driven, or disconnected from the real decisions shaping lives and futures.

In June 2026, that changes.

As a co convenor, PASGR is proud to invite you to the Evidence to Action (E2A) Summit 2026, a continental conference that goes beyond dialogue to document, interrogate, and strengthen Africa led pathways from evidence to policy, practice, and investment.
📍 Accra, Ghana
📅 22–26 June 2026

🔍 E2A 2026 conference is a working platform designed to answer hard questions that matter:
• What evidence has actually influenced decisions in African contexts?
• How was it used, by whom, and why did it work?
• What failed, and what can we learn from those failures?

Anchored in the theme “Reimagining the Evidence Informed Policy and Decision Making Ecosystem in Africa,” the Summit convened by our partners ICED, centers African ownership, legitimacy, and lived experience, while connecting evidence producers directly with policymakers, funders, implementers, and investors.

🧩 We will have Interactive Breakout Labs, practice-based case studies, and honest conversations on successes and failures, with a focus on real decision points for a joint declaration and roadmap to drive action beyond the event.

🗣️ If you are a policymaker or parliamentary actor using evidence to shape laws, budgets, or oversight; a researcher, evaluator, or think tank working at the evidence–policy interface; a civil society or implementation actor translating evidence into community level change; a development partner, foundation, or investor making evidence informed financing decisions, or a private sector leader using data for strategic decision making👉 E2A 2026 was designed for you.

🤝 Beyond participation, E2A 2026 offers opportunities to:
• Contribute to a ‘living compendium’ of African evidence to action practice
• Help build durable Africa led networks that extend well beyond the Summit
.... because the future of evidence informed decision making in Africa will be shaped by those who generate it, use it, and live it.

📌 With only 55 days to go, register early for attendance: https://ow.ly/Z9eI50YQYGK .

Let's create this next chapter together, from evidence to action, by Africa, for Africa.

This week, our Research & Policy Uptake head Dr. Sam Oando is representing us in the Netherlands!

From to and , Dr. Oando is engaging scholars, practitioners, and policymakers across three high level events focused on countering violent extremism (CVE) and strengthening evidence informed policymaking in Africa.
Over the next three days, he is:

🔹 Speaking at Utrecht University on Harnessing Religious Leadership to Counter Violent Extremism in Nigeria and Kenya, highlighting how faith actors shape community resilience.
🔹 A discussant at the annual hosted by Mensen met een Missie at The Hague, unpacking the hidden frontline work of women religious actors in preventing violent extremism in Kenya.
🔹 Presenting at the African Studies Centre, Leiden University, on the presence and absence of African women in P/CVE — a conversation long overdue in global policy circles.

Across these platforms, Dr. Oando is showcasing PASGR’s growing body of work in:
✨ Governance and social policy research
✨ Evidence generation for decision making
✨ Strengthening the link between research, policy, and practical action
✨ Advancing peace and security programming in an increasingly fragile global landscape

PASGR’s commitment is clear, that evidence is only powerful when it moves from research to policy to action. By engaging with global institutions and fostering new collaborations, we continue to amplify African scholarship, strengthen policy ecosystems, and build pathways for sustainable peace across the continent.
In this latest venture on the global stage, our community of partners, researchers, and policymakers is expanding as we advance peace and security through gender-lens, evidence-informed policymaking.

Stay tuned for insights and outcomes from Dr. Oando’s sessions in the Netherlands.

The PASGR is excited to join the International Centre for Evaluation and Development, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), and the Research and Evaluation Center (REC) in convening the 9th Evidence to Action (E2A) Conference & Exhibition, taking place on June 22–26, 2026, at the University of Ghana.
This year’s theme, "Reimagining the Evidence-Informed Policy and Decision-Making Ecosystem in Africa," invites policymakers, researchers, evaluators, civil society, funders, and knowledge intermediaries to collectively shape the future of Africa’s evidence ecosystem.

As the continent navigates post-COVID recovery, climate challenges, food security pressures, and rapid technological change, E2A 2026 provides a continental platform to elevate African-led evidence practices, amplify African voices, and accelerate systems-level transformation.

📢 We are now accepting abstract submissions!
We welcome contributions on research, evaluations, evidence synthesis, innovation in evidence uptake, and methodologies aligned with the conference sub-themes.
________________________________________
📅 Key Dates
🔹 Abstract submissions open: 24 Feb 2026
🔹 Deadline for submissions: 24 Mar 2026
🔹 Notifications: 14 Apr 2026
🔹 Conference: Jun 22–26, 2026, Accra, Ghana
________________________________________
📨 Submit your abstract: https://ow.ly/8GsQ50Ymjmh
👉 For more information: https://ow.ly/2jln50Ymjmi

PASGR, led by our Research & Policy Uptake Manager, Dr. Sam Oando, is participating in the Regional Workshop on Food Systems Transformation— and the , taking place in Nairobi. This event, organized by our partners at IDRC, gathers leaders and researchers dedicated to strengthening and .

The forum focuses on evidence from ten exploratory studies covering agroecology, digital innovations for farmers, food loss and waste governance, integrated landscape approaches, and school feeding systems. These insights present practical pathways to create more sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient food systems.
Transforming food systems requires structural change rather than just good intentions. In many regions, especially those affected by conflict and economic fragility, food systems are strained by , , and a growing gap between ambition and implementation. To achieve sustainable transformation, we must rethink how we design, deploy, and assess food system interventions.

Sustainable change starts with evidence that meaningfully shapes policy and policies that lead to real improvements for , , and . This involves addressing persistent challenges, including concentrated power and political interference, as well as the unique barriers faced in conflict and occupation zones, where access to land and productive resources is severely restricted.
We are also rethinking incentives. Sovereignty over food production, investment in agriculture (particularly for ), and profitability across value chains are crucial for building resilient, locally anchored food economies. Infrastructure is important, but so are the narratives we create that elevate local food, ensure affordable healthy diets, and restore trust in locally grown produce.

A whole-system transformation requires from every part of the , from farmer organizations to consumer groups. We now have emerging tools, including for inclusion, advanced assessment methods, and richer qualitative insights, that can reveal blind spots and accelerate .

As we integrate frameworks like the 13 into our work, the question remains: are we willing to align incentives, shift narratives, and empower all stakeholders to lead?
These discussions are shaping research priorities that can drive meaningful food system change across regions, building the knowledge base necessary for a healthier, more sustainable food future.

Policymakers now face an urgent opportunity: to design food systems that are resilient, equitable, and capable of feeding the future.

✨✨What an energizing and profoundly reflective week it has been at our Annual Review and Planning Meeting (ARPM) 2026 at the Sarova Shaba!
Bringing together our programme, finance, and administrative teams, the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) held an intensive workshop focused on strategic alignment and future planning.

As our first major convening of the year, we gathered with a shared commitment: to reflect honestly on the past year, look ahead with clarity, and align our collective efforts to deliver meaningful, strategic, and sustainable impact across Africa’s social and governance research landscape.
We examined what worked well, identified the challenges, and drew lessons that will shape our 2026 strategy. We mapped our activities, linked them to our strategic objectives, and refined a roadmap grounded in evidence and impact.

Collectively, we also took a transparent look at our resource needs to support more informed decision-making and responsible implementation. From sharpening outcome indicators to validating our results framework, we built an action plan that positions PASGR for transformative results. We extend our sincere gratitude to our colleagues Abubakar and Emma Nyamai from ICED for their invaluable assistance in refining the workplan through their insightful monitoring and evaluation skills.

To conclude our Northern Kenya tour, we connected as a team through a thrilling excursion at Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves as well as visited a local community as part of our ongoing 'friend‑raising' efforts. These moments reminded us that collaboration and trust sit at the heart of successful impact delivery.

🌍 This ARPM remains a cornerstone of our institutional culture that anchors alignment, accountability, and strategic ex*****on. It ensures that every project, partnership, and activity contributes meaningfully to our long-term vision of strengthening social and governance research for Africa’s development.

🙌 Here’s to a year of focus, excellence, and impact. 2026, we are ready!

At the just concluded G20 Summit in South Africa, the discussion on Africa's urban transformation was significantly enriched by an enlightening interview with Edgar Pieterse, which focused on the transition from research to policy action. His insights underscored a fundamental principle: governance reform in African cities must be driven by evidence to ensure prosperity.

The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) is privileged to be a key partner in the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), a collaboration that Pieterse characterizes as undertaking “extremely useful” work to ensure that rigorous, locally grounded research informs critical policy decisions.

Through ACRC, we are:
✅ Bridging the gap between research and policy by translating evidence into actionable insights for urban governance.
✅ Strengthening decision-making ecosystems to incorporate evidence into reform agendas.
✅ Championing African-led solutions that reflect the realities experienced in our cities.

This partnership exemplifies the potential outcomes when research institutions, policymakers, and global platforms collaborate to address Africa's most pressing urban challenges. As Pieterse emphasized, the integration of evidence is essential; it forms the foundation for inclusive, sustainable cities.

Read the entire conversation here: https://ow.ly/e8Zr50XLX6r

Partnership for Gender Equality and Nutrition in Africa! 🌍✨

As we prepare for the upcoming festivities, we are pleased to announce the onboarding of a new partner under our ‘friends-raising’ initiative. We are excited to introduce a collaboration between Tanager (through the IGNITE+ programme) and the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR).
This partnership represents a mutual commitment to transform African agricultural institutions by integrating and -sensitive approaches into their programmes and policies.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed by our Executive Director, Prof. Fadel Ndiame, and Maureen Munjua, Tanager’s Country Representative for Kenya, during an official ceremony in Nairobi. Both leaders underscored the significance of collaboration to leverage synergies and enhance policy adoption for meaningful progress in Evidence-Informed Decision Making (EIDM).

Over the next 18 months, we aim to:
✅ Enhance PASGR’s institutional capacity for gender mainstreaming and nutrition integration.
✅ Provide both organizations with the tools necessary to design and implement gender-transformative and nutrition-sensitive interventions.
✅ Promote joint learning, reflection, and evidence-informed practices that empower women and improve household nutrition across Africa.

Jointly, we are transitioning from -blind to -transformative approaches, unlocking opportunities for , challenging harmful norms, and ensuring year-round access to , food.

This initiative marks a significant step toward , sustainable development. We look forward to sharing impactful stories as they emerge.

🌍 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐆𝐑 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞

Last week, our 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, Prof. Fadel Ndiame, made a 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 at the 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 in 𝐀𝐛𝐮 𝐃𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢, 𝐔𝐀𝐄. His participation in multiple high-level sessions reaffirmed PASGR’s 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝.

🔹 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Prof. Ndiame was a featured speaker in the Governance Roundtable, a cross-continental dialogue connecting 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭, and 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚.
During an Inspiration Seminar on Governance and Supply Chain Innovations, he showcased PASGR’s expertise in policy frameworks and learning ecosystems, advocating for governance models that empower cities and regions to respond to global shocks with resilience and foresight.
This aligns perfectly with PASGR’s mission of advancing 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 policymaking grounded in rigorous research and contextual realities. 📊

🌱 Beyond Governance, Prof. Ndiame also contributed to sessions on:
✔ 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
✔ 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
✔ 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 & 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬
✔ 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
✔ 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

These discussions amplified PASGR’s voice in climate resilience, food security, and inclusive development, positioning the organisation as a 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬. 🌐
________________________________________
🤝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭
A major highlight was the signing of a 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (MoU) with 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, cementing PASGR’s role in a global network dedicated to transforming food systems.
This partnership unlocks opportunities for:
🔍 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡
💡 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
📚 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬

PASGR’s presence at this summit is a testament to our vision of bridging 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 to tackle Africa’s most pressing challenges. By championing 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 and 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 on a global stage, we ensure that 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 🌍

🌍 Exciting Opportunities with !

We are inviting applications for two key roles that will contribute to evidence-informed policymaking ( ) and good governance across the continent:
________________________________________
1️⃣ Statistician (Consultancy)
We're seeking an experienced Statistician to provide advanced technical support for the African Youth Pathways to Resilience and Systems Change ( ) programme. Key responsibilities include:
• Designing robust statistical methodologies
• Conducting advanced analyses and data visualizations
• Strengthening capacity of research teams across multiple African countries

📌 Deadline: 12th December 2025
📧 Submit your technical and financial proposals, CVs, and sample deliverables.
👉 More details: https://ow.ly/p8gk50XzRW8

________________________________________
2️⃣ Research Intern (Nairobi, Kenya – Hybrid)
Are you an early-career professional or graduate student passionate about governance, social policy, and research? This 3-month internship offers hands-on experience in:
• Applied policy research and data analysis
• Knowledge translation and stakeholder engagement
• Professional mentorship and networking across Africa

📌 Deadline: 12th December 2025
📧 Apply by sending your cover letter, CV, and writing sample.
👉 More details: https://ow.ly/p8gk50XzRW8

________________________________________
This opportunity will help you:
• Work with leading African researchers and practitioners
• Contribute to transformative policy research impacting youth employment and governance
• Be part of a dynamic, pan-African network committed to excellence and integrity

📢 Join us in advancing policy research across Africa or help in sharing within your networks!

📢 Call for Proposals: Doctoral Practices and Procedures in African Universities Research Project

We are pleased to announce a 3-year research project funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York that seeks to reimagine doctoral practices and procedures in African universities and enhance the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of doctoral training.

We are inviting Expressions of Interest for the following roles:
✅ Project Principal Investigator (PPI)
✅ Country-based Principal Investigators (P*s)
✅ Research Associates (RAs)

This project focuses on doctoral training models in social sciences, humanities, and education across seven countries: Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda.

Why join us?
✔ Contribute to shaping the future of doctoral education in Africa
✔ Collaborate with leading experts and institutions
✔ Drive innovation and best practices in higher education

📅 Deadline: Monday, December 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EAT
📌 Learn more & apply: https://ow.ly/ZtGb50Xz11b

If you know someone who would be a great fit in transforming doctoral education on the continent, please share this opportunity!

Call for Proposals: Doctoral Practices and Procedures in African Universities Research Project - PASGR PASGR works to enhance research excellence in governance and public policy that contributes to the overall wellbeing of women and men and engaged in more than 12 African countries