The Alliance for Evidence and Equity in Policymaking in Africa Regional Hub

A decade after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in Africa, only 35% of SDG targets are on track or show moderate progress, according to available trend data. Development and implementation of policies that are grounded in local evidence is crucial for proper allocation of limited resources and ignition of equitable and sustainable progress.

The first phase of the LEEPS (Learning together to Advance Evidence and Equity in Policymaking) partnership, jointly funded by IDRC, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, supported two African regional hubs as centres of excellence on evidence-informed policymaking. The aim was to strengthen the capacity to synthesize, translate and apply evidence in policy processes across Africa. Through these two hubs, LEEPS has made significant progress in building the capacity of individuals and institutions in knowledge translation and evidence synthesis, while improving access to timely, demand-driven and context-specific evidence to inform decision-making.

The second phase will reinforce the LEEPS partnership's capacities in delivering and supporting a culture of evidence use in Africa, building stronger relationships with local stakeholders, establishing trust and collaboration with key institutions and investing in shared infrastructure and knowledge systems, primarily in the thematic areas of reproductive health and climate change and health. It will adopt a multi-level (local, national, and regional) transdisciplinary approach to ensure that the use of evidence is embedded within policy institutions, practices and incentives. It will strengthen the evidence ecosystem and foster a culture of evidence use in Kenya and Nigeria, while also working with a network of 200 researchers and policymakers across 36 African countries.