HOW THE EVENTS WERE ORDERED

Conference Programme

24th-26th July, 2024

Conference at a Glance

Overview of conference themes, focus areas, and key programme components

Day 1 — 24 June 2026
Theme
Africa Evidence Ecosystem
Focus
What has worked, where it has worked, and for whom
Keynote
Caroline Fiennes — University of Cambridge
Roundtable
System Dialogue: What works, for whom and how
Labs
Evidence‑informed models — 5 breakout groups
Showcase
Innovation Showcase (ISSER / Ghana Statistical Services)
Evening
Cocktail & Networking
Day 2 — 25 June 2026
Theme
Transforming Systems for Evidence for Policy and Practice
Focus
How and why it works — causality, conditions, sustainability
Keynote
Dr. Julius Muia — Kenya
Roundtable
What drives sustainable impact — enabling factors & constraints
Labs
Deep‑dive labs: What worked & what didn’t — 5 groups
Showcase
Innovation Showcase (ACRES / eBASE)
Day 3 — 26 June 2026
Theme
What Must Change: Toward an Africa‑Led E2A Ecosystem
Focus
Transformation, institutionalisation, and scaling
Keynote
H.E. Mohamed Béavogui
Roundtable
Scaling, transferability, and institutionalisation
Labs
Transformation labs — scaling & institutionalisation pathways
Showcase
Conference synthesis & E2A Declaration

Pre‑Conference Side Events

22–23 June 2026 · University of Ghana, Legon · Invitation‑based and public engagements

ICED & Francophone Partners — Evidence Informed Policy (EIP)
22 June 2026
Evidence Informed Policy Dialogue
Invite Only
Strategic dialogue with Francophone partners on strengthening evidence-informed policymaking systems.
23 June 2026
EIP Collaboration & Synthesis
Invite Only
Reflection, knowledge sharing, and alignment on policy engagement pathways.
ICED — Why EGMs Matter & Climate Adaptation
22 June 2026
Why Evidence & Gap Maps Matter
Public Event
Understanding how Evidence & Gap Maps inform policy design and learning.
23 June 2026
Climate Change Adaptation EGM
Public Event
Evidence insights from climate adaptation interventions and policy decisions.
eBASE / ICED — AI‑Powered Evidence Synthesis
23 June 2026
AI for Evidence Synthesis & Policy
Public Event
Exploring AI tools in evidence synthesis and decision‑making systems.
PASGR — UTAFITI SERA
22 June 2026
UTAFITI SERA Policy Engagement
Invite Only
Evidence-informed policy dialogue engagement under the Utafiti Sera programme.
23 June 2026
UTAFITI SERA Reflection Session
Invite Only
Reflection on lessons learned and pathways for policy uptake.
PASGR — AYPRES
22 June 2026
African Youth Policy Research Dialogue
Public Event
Youth-led policy engagement and evidence dialogue.
Africa Fertilizer / Inputs — Supply Chain Issues
23 June 2026
Global Supply Chain Dialogue
Public Event
Discussion on fertilizer supply chains and agricultural input challenges.
PACKS Africa — The Pain of Growth
23 June 2026
Cross‑Sector Evidence Dialogue
Public Event
Exploring challenges in scaling evidence ecosystems across sectors.

Day 1 — Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Main Conference — Africa Evidence Ecosystem: What has worked, where it has worked, for whom it has worked

Session 1 — Opening Session
08:30 – 09:30
Registration & Tea / Coffee
Arrival of Official Guests
09:30 – 09:40
Opening Session
Welcome of Delegates and Introduction — Prof. Robert Darko Osei
09:40 – 09:55
Welcome Remarks
Prof Felix Asante — Pro‑Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana
09:55 – 10:05
Conference Objectives and Expectations
Dr David S Ameyaw — President, ICED
10:05 – 10:50
Special Remarks
Dr Shamima Muslim — Deputy Spokesperson for the President of Ghana
10:50 – 11:10
Special Goodwill Messages
Government Officials from China, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Guinea, Gambia, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Somalia, Zambia, Niger
Session 2 — Keynote Address: Framing the Evidence Ecosystem
11:10 – 11:40
Guest of Honor & Chairperson Official Opening
Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin — Speaker of Parliament of Ghana
11:40 – 12:00
Group Photograph & Walk‑Through Exhibition
12:00 – 12:40
From Evidence to Influence: How Funders and Policymakers Use Evidence
Caroline Fiennes — University of Cambridge
Discussant: Prof Peter Quarter — ISSER
Session 2 — Roundtable Discussion: System Dialogue
13:40 – 14:40
Africa Evidence Ecosystem
Focus: What has worked, where it has worked, for whom it has worked
Panelists
Ousseynou Ngom · Prof Ama de-Graft Aikins · Dr Alhassan Iddrisu · Timothy Lubanga · Rasheed Draman · Dr Rose Omari
Moderator
Prof Howard White — Research and Evaluation Centre (REC)
Session 3 — Setting the Stage
14:40 – 14:55
The Lab Experience: Co‑Creating Pathways from Evidence to Impact
Dr Samwel Oando — PASGR
Session 4 — Interactive Labs (Breakout Panel Sessions)
Government & Parliamentary Lab
Evidence use in policy, legislation, budgeting, and oversight
Partners: APN · Ghana Statistical Services · ACEPA
Financing & Investment Lab
Evidence in funding and investment decisions
Partners: Hewlett · Mastercard · AfDB · Carnegie
Implementation & Civil Society Lab
Advocacy, citizen engagement, and programme implementation
Partners: CDD · Afrobarometer
Evidence, Research & Policy Innovation Lab
Evidence synthesis, translation, and policy influence
Partners: ISSER · PASGR · CI Network
Private Sector EBDM Lab
Evidence use in business, AI, digital economy
Partners: ReFinD · Common Source · PACKS Africa
Plenary — Innovation Showcase
16:40 – 17:20
Partner and Innovation Showcase
Session 5 — Day 1 Closing
17:20 – 17:30
Closing Remarks
18:00 – 19:30
Cocktail & Networking

Day 2 — Thursday, 25 June 2026

Transforming Systems for Evidence for Policy and Practice — How and Why It Works

Session 6 — Opening
08:30 – 09:00
Registration
09:00 – 09:15
Welcome Session
“From Insights to Action: Reflecting, Connecting & Deepening Through Interactive Labs”
Session 7 — Keynote Address
09:15 – 09:45
From Evidence to Impact: Understanding the "How" and "Why"
Dr. Julius Muia — Kenya
Discussant: Prof Simon Bawakyillenuo — ISSER
Session 8 — Roundtable Discussion: Evidence Sustainability and Impact
09:45 – 10:45
What Drives Evidence Sustainable Impact in Africa?
Conditions, barriers, and partnerships shaping impact
Panelists
Cameroon Ministry · Governor Makueni · CDD Ghana · IFPRI · IITA · NDPC Ghana
Moderator
Prof Fadel Ndiame — PASGR
Session 9 — Interactive Labs: Deep‑Dive Evidence Portals
11:15 – 13:15
Lab Theme
What Worked (and Why) · What Did Not Work (and Why)
What Worked
Outcomes · enabling factors · contextual success conditions
What Did Not Work
Failures · evidence gaps · contextual constraints
Structure
Same 5 breakout labs — deeper analysis
Session 9 — Lab Groups (Deep‑Dive)
Government & Parliamentary Lab
Policy wins · legislative uptake
Challenges: political economy barriers
Partners: APN · PNAfrica · PASGR
Financing & Investment Lab
Funding models & evidence integration
Challenges: misaligned incentives
Partners: Hewlett · AfDB
Implementation & Civil Society
Advocacy & community models
Challenges: data gaps · learning constraints
Partners: CDD · Afrobarometer
Research & Policy Innovation
Evidence influencing decisions
Challenges: translation failure
Partners: ISSER · PASGR
Private Sector EBDM
Data systems & business decisions
Challenges: MSME barriers & data gaps
Partners: ReFinD · Impact Investing Ghana
Session 10 — Deep‑Dive Labs Synthesis: Showcase & Feedback
14:15 – 15:15
Lab Outputs
Drivers of success · risks · systems & partnership models
Session 11 — Innovation Showcase
15:45 – 16:30
Partner and Innovation Showcase
Session 12 — Day 2 Closing
16:30 – 16:45
Closing Remarks

Day 3 — Friday, 26 June 2026

What Must Change: Toward an Africa‑Led E2A Ecosystem — Transformation, Inclusion, and Scaling

Session 13 — Opening
08:30 – 09:00
Registration and Welcome
09:00 – 09:15
Welcome Session
“From Insights to Action: Reflecting, Connecting & Deepening Through Interactive Labs”
Session 14 — Keynote Address
09:15 – 10:10
Reimagining Africa's Evidence‑to‑Action Ecosystem
Speaker: H.E. Mohamed Béavogui — Former Prime Minister, Guinea
Discussant: Dr Paul Osei Kuffour — CDD Ghana
Session 15 — Roundtable Discussion: Scaling, Transferability & Institutionalization
10:10 – 11:10
What Must Change for an Africa‑Led Evidence Ecosystem?
Structural shifts · inclusion · defining Africa‑led systems
Panelists
Parliament of Ghana · NHIA · Kenya Treasury · eBASE Africa · PNAfrica · Afrobarometer
Moderator
Dr Patrick Okwan — eBase Africa
Session 16 — Evidence‑to‑Action Transformation Labs
11:40 – 12:55
Lab Theme
Scaling · Transferability · Institutionalization
Scaling
Expanding proven models to national and continental levels
Transferability
Adapting models across countries and sectors
Institutionalization
Embedding evidence systems sustainably beyond projects
Session 16 — Transformation Lab Groups
Government & Parliamentary Lab
Scaling national M&E systems · cross-country learning
Institutionalization in government cycles
Partners: APN · PNAfrica · PASGR
Financing & Investment Lab
Funding sustainable evidence ecosystems
Institutionalizing financing models
Partner: Hewlett Foundation
Implementation & Civil Society
Scaling CSO-led models · citizen engagement
Sustaining evidence capacity beyond donor cycles
Partners: CDD · Afrobarometer
Research & Policy Innovation
Scaling Africa‑owned research systems
Institutional partnerships for sustainability
Partners: ISSER · PASGR
Private Sector EBDM
Data & AI platforms · MSME evidence models
Private sector investment in evidence infrastructure
Partners: ReFinD · Impact Investing Ghana
Session 17 — Final Plenary: Conference Synthesis & Call to Action
12:55 – 13:40
Conference Synthesis & Call to Action
E2A Africa Declaration · Evidence‑to‑Action Roadmap
Session 18 — Conference Evaluation
13:40 – 13:50
Conference Evaluation e‑Form
Participants complete digital feedback
Session 19 — Closing Ceremony
13:50 — 14:00
Action Plan and Way Forward
14:00 — 15:00
Conference Lunch — End of E2A 2026

The Five Conference Labs

Each day features five concurrent breakout labs that deepen the conference journey — from what has worked, to why it works, to what must change for an Africa‑led ecosystem.

Overview — How the Labs Work
Day 1 Focus
Mapping what has worked — where, and for whom
Day 2 Focus
Understanding how and why it worked — causality, conditions, sustainability
Day 3 Focus
Defining transformation, institutionalisation, and scaling pathways
Participation
Participants remain in the same lab across all three days for continuity of learning
Lab 1 — Government & Parliamentary Lab
Audience
Government officials · policymakers · parliamentarians · M&E units
Focus
Evidence use in public policy, legislation, budgeting, oversight, and institutionalisation
Core Theme
Embedding evidence into government systems and decision cycles
Partners
APN · Ghana Statistical Services · ACEPA · Parliamentary Network Africa · PASGR
Lab 2 — Financing & Investment Lab
Audience
Donors · foundations · development finance institutions · impact investors
Focus
Evidence use in funding decisions, accountability frameworks, and impact investing
Core Theme
Aligning financing systems with evidence‑driven decision‑making
Partners
Hewlett Foundation · Mastercard Foundation · Carnegie · AfDB
Lab 3 — Implementation & Civil Society Lab
Audience
NGOs · CSOs · development organisations · community groups
Focus
Programme adaptation, advocacy, accountability, citizen engagement, and real‑time learning
Core Theme
Using evidence to drive implementation and community‑level impact
Partners
Centre for Democratic Development (CDD‑Ghana) · Afrobarometer
Lab 4 — Evidence, Research & Policy Innovation Lab
Audience
Researchers · academics · think tanks · policy institutes · knowledge brokers
Focus
Evidence synthesis, translation, policy engagement, and methodological innovation
Core Theme
Bridging research, policy, and decision‑making systems
Partners
ISSER · PASGR · FCI Network
Lab 5 — Private Sector EBDM Lab
Audience
Private sector · entrepreneurs · data & tech companies · MSMEs
Focus
Evidence use in business decisions, digital economy, agriculture, climate, and MSME growth
Core Theme
Driving evidence‑based innovation in economic transformation
Partners
ReFinD · Common Source · PACKS Africa

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