By Sharon Atieno
Data, evidence, and innovation are crucial to actualize Africa’s aspirations of achieving inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development as envisioned in the African Union(AU)’s Agenda 2063.
Experts said during the evidence for development (Evi4Dev) conference convened by the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), Science for Africa Foundation and African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.
The three-day conference, 6th – 8th May 2025, is themed “Optimising the Role of Data, Evidence, and Innovations in Africa’s Efforts to Create Wealth, Empower Citizens and Foster Responsive Governance.”
“For economic growth of our society and the realization of Africa’s transformation, we should remember that data is the foundation, evidence is the guide, and innovation is the engine. Whether in governance, business, or social development, leveraging these three pillars will determine whether the continent achieves agenda 2063 and the sustainable development goals,” said Julius Migos, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education in a speech read on his behalf by Dr. Roselida Owuor, Director of Research, Science and Technology at the Ministry of Education.
“Data, evidence and innovation are not mere buzz words. They are the lifeblood of sustainable development. They provide us with the tools to understand our realities through accurate and timely data, which allows us to diagnose challenges, identify opportunities and track our progress. They inform our decisions with robust evidence that enables us to design effective policies, allocate resources efficiently and maximize impact.”
Similarly, Dr. Jesse Kabwila, Minister of Higher Education, Malawi, noted that the continent cannot achieve the future we all want as envisioned in Agenda 2063 without prioritizing science, technology, innovation, and evidence to inform decision making.
“They enable government to make smart policy choices, ensure value for money and build institutions that respond to the real needs of their citizens,” she said, calling for investment in research, institutions of higher learning and knowledge ecosystems.
On his part, Prof Brando Okolo, Senior Advisor Science, Technology and Innovation, AUDA-NEPAD, reflected on the broader continental agenda, noting: “As we craft evidence-based policies, we must remember that true progress depends on not just having evidence, but on ensuring its truth. Confirming the integrity of the evidence we rely on is a vital mission, one that will shape the Africa we aspire to build.”
Dr Eliya M. Zulu, Executive Director, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) stressed the need for using evidence to enhance efficiency and ensure that every resource counts.
“Every year, billions of dollars are lost through mismanagement, inefficiencies and outright theft. Research shows that corruption costs the continent over US$140 billion annually. That is more than enough to finance crucial sectors such as education and healthcare. Evidence can and should help us trace these leakages, identify systemic weaknesses, and design better safeguards for public resources,” he said.
Dr. Tom Kariuki, CEO of Science for Africa Foundation, urged stakeholders to harness evidence and technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in sectors such as governance, education, healthcare, wealth creation and climate change to leapfrog Africa’s development agenda. This will reduce fragmentation, enhance productivity and efficiency, as well as sustainable adaptation.
“Transformative change doesn’t happen in silos; it demands collaboration across disciplines, sectors and borders to unlock the full value of data, evidence and innovation for the continent,” he said.
The Evi4Dev Conference provides a platform for sustained engagement of science, technology and innovation (STI) and evidence-informed policymaking (EIP) actors requisite for centering STI and EIP practice in Africa’s development efforts.
The main objective of the Conference is to convene policymakers, STI and EIP experts, funders, and practitioners working in different development fields to deliberate the status of STI and EIP, identify and commit to critical actions needed in order to centre data, evidence, and innovations in Agenda 2063 implementation efforts.
