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Strengthening Policy Culture for Evidence-Informed Governance in Africa

As part of our commitment to strengthening Africa’s policy ecosystem, Research Enterprise Systems (RES) is actively contributing to the ongoing Policy Culture Study in Africa, a landmark research initiative coordinated by the Partnership for African Social & Governance Research (PASGR). The study, currently underway in Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda, explores how evidence, research, and citizens’ voices are integrated into policymaking processes, with the aim of fostering more inclusive, evidence-informed governance across the continent.

In Nigeria, RES organized a two-day intensive training session for its Research Assistants, equipping them with practical skills in data collection and stakeholder engagement to support the study. The fieldwork, carried out across strategic institutions including CDD-West Africa and the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, was designed to capture the diverse experiences and perceptions of policymakers and end-users regarding policy development.

Despite encountering challenges in accessing some targeted institutions due to procedural requirements, the RES field team demonstrated adaptability by engaging alternative stakeholders, including government agencies, private law firms, and business owners, to ensure diverse voices were captured. This approach led to the successful collection of over 80 responses, providing rich insights into how policy is understood and practiced in Nigeria.

Key findings from the fieldwork highlighted varying levels of awareness and participation in policy processes, underscoring the need for improved communication channels between policymakers, researchers, and citizens. These insights will inform the broader study’s recommendations on enhancing evidence uptake in policymaking across Africa, aligning with RES’s mission to support data-driven governance through context-sensitive, locally informed approaches.

By strengthening local research capacity and facilitating learning across countries, RES is contributing to shaping a policy environment in Africa where research and evidence are central to decision-making, ultimately advancing inclusive development and governance on the continent.

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