HOW THE EVENTS WERE ORDERED

Conference Programme

24th-26th July, 2024

Pre‑Conference & Side Events

22–23 June 2026 · Invitation‑based and public engagements

ICED & Francophone Partners — Evidence‑Inform Policy (EIP)
22 June · Morning
Evidence‑Inform Policy (EIP)
Invite Only
Strategic dialogue on strengthening evidence use in policy among Francophone partners.
22 June · Afternoon
Evidence‑Inform Policy (EIP)
Invite Only
Continued deep‑dive discussions and partner alignment.
23 June · Morning
Evidence‑Inform Policy (EIP)
Invite Only
Reflection on lessons and pathways for policy influence.
23 June · Afternoon
Evidence‑Inform Policy (EIP)
Invite Only
Synthesis and next steps for Francophone collaboration.
ICED — Why EGMs Matter & Climate Change Adaptation
22 June · Morning
Why EGMs Matter
Invite Only
Understanding Evidence and Gap Maps and their policy relevance.
22 June · Afternoon
Climate Adaptation EGM
Invite Only
Evidence synthesis on climate change adaptation interventions.
23 June · Morning
EGMs & Climate Adaptation
Public Event
Open session on lessons from ICED’s climate adaptation EGM.
23 June · Afternoon
EGMs in Practice
Invite Only
Targeted discussion with policymakers and partners.
PASGR — UTAFITI SERA
22 June · Morning
UTAFITI SERA Policy Dialogue
Invite Only
Evidence‑based policy dialogue convened under the Utafiti Sera programme.
22 June · Afternoon
UTAFITI SERA Policy Dialogue
Invite Only
Continued engagement with policymakers and research institutions.
23 June · Morning
UTAFITI SERA Policy Dialogue
Invite Only
Reflection on policy uptake and evidence translation.
23 June · Afternoon
UTAFITI SERA Close‑Out Session
Invite Only
Synthesis of lessons and next steps for PASGR policy engagement.
PASGR – AYPRES (African Youth Policy Research)
23 June · Morning
AYPRES Youth Policy Forum
Public Event
Youth‑led dialogue on evidence use in policy and governance.
23 June · Afternoon
AYPRES Policy Engagement Lab
Public Event
Interactive forum on co‑creating evidence‑informed youth policies.

Day 1 — Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Main Conference · Evidence to Action Convening

Opening Session
08:30 – 09:30
Registration & Arrival
Plenary
Registration of participants and arrival of official guests.
09:30 – 09:55
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Plenary
Welcome of delegates, introductions, and opening remarks.
09:55 – 10:05
Conference Objectives & Expectations
Plenary
Overview of conference goals and intended outcomes.
10:05 – 11:10
Special & Official Remarks
Plenary
High‑level special remarks and official opening of the conference.
Keynote Address — Framing the Evidence Ecosystem
11:10 – 11:40
Keynote Address
Keynote
From Evidence to Influence: How funders and policymakers use evidence in complex systems.
Speaker: Caroline Fiennes
11:40 – 12:00
Group Photo & Exhibition Walk‑Through
Plenary
Official group photograph and exhibition tour.
Roundtable Discussion — Africa’s Evidence Ecosystem
13:40 – 14:40
System Dialogue Roundtable
Roundtable
What has worked, where it has worked, and for whom in Africa’s evidence‑to‑policy ecosystem.
Speaker: Timothy Lubanga
Moderator: Ekwaro
Interactive Labs — Breakout Panel Sessions (14:55 – 16:10)
Group Session 1
Government & Parliamentary Lab
Policy & Decision‑Making
Partners: Africa Parliamentary Network (APN) / Parliamentary Network Africa – Ghana, PASGR

Focus: How evidence informs public policy processes
  • Evidence use in agenda setting, legislation, budgeting, and oversight
  • Political economy of evidence use
  • Institutionalization of evidence in government systems
Group Session 2
Financing & Investment Lab
Donors & Foundations
Partner: Hewlett Foundation

Focus: Evidence in funding and investment decisions
  • What evidence drives funding choices
  • Results‑based vs flexible financing
  • Value‑for‑money and accountability frameworks
  • Evidence in impact investing and blended finance
Group Session 3
Implementation & Civil Society Lab
Development & Civil Society
Partners: CDD, Afrobarometer

Focus: Evidence in implementation, advocacy, and learning
  • Programme adaptation and learning
  • Advocacy and accountability successes
  • Citizen engagement and participatory evidence
  • Implementation challenges and real‑time learning
Group Session 4
Evidence, Research & Policy Innovation Lab
Research & Policy
Partners: ISSER, PASGR

Focus: Bridging research and decision‑making
  • Evidence synthesis and translation
  • Policy engagement strategies
  • Knowledge brokering and communication
  • Innovations in methodologies and data systems
Group Session 5
Private Sector EBDM Lab
Private Sector
Partner: ReFIND

Focus: Evidence in business and economic transformation
  • Impact investing and blended finance decisions
  • Agriculture, climate, and industry
  • Data, AI, and the digital economy
  • Digital financial services and MSME growth (East & West Africa)
Plenary Innovation Showcase & Closing
16:40 – 17:20
Innovation & Partner Showcase
Plenary
Partner presentations and innovation showcases.
17:20 – 17:30
Closing Remarks
Closing
Reflections and close of Day 1 sessions.
18:00 – 19:30
Cocktail & Networking
Networking
Evening networking reception for participants and partners.

Day 2 — Thursday, 25 June 2026

Transforming Systems for Evidence for Policy and Practice

Opening Session
08:30 – 09:00
Registration
Plenary
Participant registration and morning arrival.
09:00 – 09:15
Welcome & Day Reflection
Plenary
“From Insights to Action” — reflections and connections from Day 1.
Keynote Address — From Evidence to Impact
09:15 – 09:45
Understanding the “How” and “Why”
Keynote
Exploring causality, conditions, systems, and sustainability behind evidence‑based impact.
Round Table Discussion — Inclusion & Equity
09:45 – 10:45
What Drives Sustainable Impact in Africa?
Roundtable
Conditions for success, systemic barriers, and the role of partnerships in sustaining impact.
Plenary Presentation — Voices at the Center
11:15 – 12:00
Inclusive Evidence Systems
Plenary
Centering youth, women, and marginalized groups in evidence co‑creation and use.
Interactive Labs — What Worked (and Why)
12:00 – 13:15
Deep‑Dive Evidence Labs
Labs
Government · Financing · Civil Society · Evidence & Policy Innovation · Private Sector labs focused on outcomes, enablers, and constraints.
Deep‑Dive Labs — Synthesis Session
14:15 – 15:15
Lab Outputs & Feedback
Synthesis
Key drivers of success, constraints, risks, and proven systems shared across labs.
Innovation Showcase & Day 2 Closing
15:45 – 16:30
Innovation Showcase
Plenary
Partner and innovation presentations.
16:30 – 16:45
Closing Remarks
Closing
Reflections and close of Day 2.

Day 3 — Friday, 26 June 2026

What Must Change — Toward an Africa‑Led Evidence‑to‑Action Ecosystem

Opening Session
08:30 – 09:00
Registration & Welcome
Plenary
Registration of participants and morning welcome.
09:00 – 09:15
Day Reflection & Orientation
Plenary
“From Insights to Action” — reflections and framing for Day 3.
Keynote Address — Reimagining Africa’s Evidence‑to‑Action Ecosystem
09:15 – 10:10
Reimagining Africa’s E2A Ecosystem
Keynote
Power, ownership, decolonising evidence systems, and the future of evidence — including AI and innovation.
Roundtable — Co‑Creation for Policy and Practice
10:10 – 11:10
What Must Change for an Africa‑Led Ecosystem?
Roundtable
Structural shifts, inclusion, and what “Africa‑led” means in practice.
Evidence‑to‑Action Transformation Labs
11:40 – 12:55
Action‑Oriented Transformation Labs
Labs
Government · Financing · Civil Society · Evidence & Policy Innovation · Private Sector labs focused on change, scalability, and adaptation.
Final Plenary — Learning from Failure & Call to Action
12:55 – 13:40
Conference Synthesis & Call to Action
Plenary
Presentation of lab insights, Evidence‑to‑Action Roadmap, and optional E2A Africa Declaration.
13:40 – 13:50
Conference Evaluation (E‑Form)
Evaluation
Participant feedback and conference evaluation.
Closing Ceremony
13:50 – 14:00
Way Forward & Closing Address
Closing
Action plan, congratulations, and official closure of E2A 2026.
14:00 – 15:00
Closing Lunch
Networking
Final networking and departure of participants.

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