This May, researchers from the Center for Rapid Evidence Synthesis (ACRES) made waves at two major international conferences in Nairobi, Kenya — where they presented progress made by the Center to streamline the use of evidence in policymaking.
Evidence for Development Conference 2025
From May 6-8, 2025, ACRES was well-represented at the Evidence for Development Conference in Nairobi, Kenya—a biennial gathering focused on integrating scientific research, data, and innovation into Africa’s development strategies. The event brought together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to explore how Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) can accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Dr. Ismael Kawooya (Senior Research Scientist & Head of Office) participated in a high-level panel on “Advancing Inclusive Development in Africa: Integrating Gender in Evidence-Informed Policymaking” where he shared insights on how evidence can drive equitable gender outcomes.
In another presentation, Dr. Kawooya also explored “Leveraging Next-Generation Digital Technologies for Policy-Relevant Evidence Synthesis,” highlighting ACRES’ Digital Repository for Rapid Evidence Synthesis – a centralized, open-access, AI-powered platform that aims to improve access to rapid evidence synthesis as well as standardizing evidence synthesis formats.
Carol Nakalema (Research Associate) introduced attendees to the “Living EIDM ToolMap”—an innovative, one-stop digital hub that helps policymakers and researchers find the best tools for evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM).
Peter Kasadha (Research Associate) presented on “Designing a Holistic EIDM Training Curriculum,” blending theory and practice to strengthen capacity-building efforts in knowledge translation. The Curriculum served as the blueprint for the Evidence to Policy (E2P) Training Programme, a capacity-building initiative designed to strengthen evidence-to-policy translation.
Cochrane Africa Indaba 2025
Following the Evidence for Development Conference, Carol and Peter also participated in the Cochrane Africa Indaba 2025 (May 14-15, Nairobi), where they presented posters on:
- The Living EIDM ToolMap (Carol Nakalema)
- ACRES’ EIDM Training Curriculum (Peter Kasadha)
Evidence Synthesis Hackathon in London
Meanwhile, Peter Mulindwa (IT Specialist at ACRES) brought technical expertise to the Evidence Synthesis Hackathon 2025 at University College London (May 6-8). The event convened global experts to develop innovative solutions for evidence synthesis.
