In a groundbreaking effort to reorient Africa’s development trajectory, over 300 delegates from more than 25 African nations convened in Nairobi for the inaugural Evidence for Development (Evi4Dev) Conference, held from May 6 to 8, 2025. The conference sought to position science, technology, innovation (STI), and data-driven policymaking as foundational pillars for sustainable development across the continent.
Jointly organised by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), and the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), the three-day event revolved around the theme:
“Optimising the Role of Data, Evidence, and Innovations in Africa’s Efforts to Create Wealth, Empower Citizens, and Foster Responsive Governance.”
Key government officials, researchers, civil society leaders, private sector actors, and youth innovators shared platforms to champion the central role of evidence and innovation in shaping policy and governance.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Mr. Julius Migos Ogamba, stressed the need to align education systems with Africa’s development goals. “Data, evidence, and innovation are not mere buzzwords. They are the lightposts for sustainable development—tools that help us diagnose challenges and guide resource allocation,” he stated.
From Malawi, Minister of Higher Education Dr. Jessie Kabwila spotlighted the continent’s underwhelming tertiary enrollment rate—just 9%, compared to the global average of 38%. She called for intensified investment in Africa’s research infrastructure and knowledge economy to equip a globally competitive workforce.
Dr. Eliya Zulu, Executive Director of AFIDEP, addressed the continent’s fiscal leakage, citing that over $140 billion is lost annually through mismanagement and corruption. He argued for stronger evidence mechanisms to detect and prevent these losses.
Innovation was a major focus of the conference. Dr. Tom Kariuki, CEO of the SFA Foundation, urged stakeholders to embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to advance sectors such as healthcare, education, and climate resilience. “Transformative change hinges on cross-sectoral and cross-border collaboration,” he said.
Prof. Brando Okolo, Senior STI Advisor at AUDA-NEPAD, emphasised the ethical responsibility of maintaining data integrity. “Progress is not just about evidence—it’s about ensuring the evidence is true and responsibly used,” he said.
The Evi4Dev Conference concluded with a set of forward-looking recommendations, including:
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Increased investments in R&D and STI systems,
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Strengthening national data infrastructures,
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Removing barriers to STI governance and uptake,
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Embedding citizen-generated data and voices in public policy formulation.
As Africa accelerates efforts toward achieving Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Evi4Dev Conference emerges as a pivotal forum redefining how evidence and innovation will shape the continent’s future.
Article by RB Correspodent
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