The dominance of the English language in the scientific field has greatly limited the participation of French-speaking stakeholders and their access to and use of research evidence to inform policies, programmes, and practices in this part of the world. It is estimated that 59% of the world’s French-speaking population lives on the African continent (International Organisation of La Francophonie 2018). Eight out of ten regions in Cameroon are French-speaking (Tirosh 2024). Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the world’s regions still facing huge setbacks in the sectors of health (WHO 2023), education (UNICEF 2021), youth employment (Hino and Ranis 2014), poverty, and famine (Von Grebmer, et al. 2023) Thus, there is a great need to enhance the implementation of evidence-informed interventions to tackle these challenges. Evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) practice in Africa is still very low, and in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, there is still no awareness of EIDM and its value in policies and programmes. Well-designed research is one step towards ensuring the availability of reliable evidence to make evidence-informed choices. Evidence-informed choices have great value for sustainable development in Africa in favour of all including youths (AEN 2024). Initiating a culture of EIDM in young university students in Francophone Africa will be impactful for sustainable development through the production of EIDM resources for effective and cost-efficient intervention in Francophone Africa. University students will also be exposed to inspiring EIDM's innovative career paths and will be able to engage in good academic research practices.
As a member of the Africa Evidence Youth League (AEYL), I took a significant step towards addressing this challenge. Through the AEYL's exciting and extensive programme, I organised an inspiring workshop for over 20 university students from various disciplines with the objective of enhancing the participation of Francophone African academic researchers in the evidence ecosystem. The workshop intended to introduce participants to the fundamentals of EIDM, equip them with rigorous research skills, key institutions in the evidence ecosystem, and platforms offering resources and skills needed to break into the research and development job market, plus demonstrate how to become active contributors within the evidence ecosystem. This includes not only comprehending research but also actively participating in its production, translation, and application in real-world decision-making processes. This workshop was unique, focusing on the participants' needs and promoting active engagement.
Here's a closer look at the workshop's key activities:
Introduction to EIDM Fundamentals: Participants gained a solid understanding of core EIDM principles. They were empowered to see the value of EIDM within the African context, to think through the current academic practice and to see how best EIDM can be used by university students to increase the production, translation and use of research for decision-making.
Building Research Capacity: The workshop provided practical training on the fundamentals of rigorous research, conducting primary research and evidence synthesis. The production of more studies from francophone Africa will help increase the access of Francophone African decision-makers to context-related EIDM resources to inform decisions.
Knowledge into Action: Participants explored how to integrate EIDM into their academic work and future careers. They also learned about collaboration opportunities with research organisations.
Building Capacity in French: The Responsive Evidence Systems For African Policy Needs (REAP) platform was introduced as a valuable platform specifically designed to enhance EIDM capacity for both French and English-speaking Africans. This is particularly important because a significant amount of research is only available in English, creating a significant obstacle for French-speaking researchers.
Sharing Knowledge and Inspiring Change: Beyond the Workshop
The impact of the workshop extended far beyond those walls. A student participant was invited to share their experience and the importance of institutionalising EIDM practices within academia on Cameroon national television. She was featured on CRTV to discuss the vital role of EIDM in Cameroon’s development and engage university students, the future generation of policymakers and researchers. During the show, my colleagues and I discussed the power of EIDM, exploring current practices, and showcasing the exciting career opportunities available to Cameroonian graduates in EIDM. This conversation highlighted the value of EIDM for:
Improved Academic Performance: Equipping students with EIDM skills can lead to stronger research and better academic outcomes.
Innovative Job Opportunities: Understanding EIDM opens doors to exciting careers in research and development.
Youth Engagement in the Evidence Ecosystem: By empowering young people to use and contribute to research, we can cultivate a culture of evidence-based decision-making for a brighter future.
Results that Speak Volumes
The workshop's success is evident in the student responses to the needs assessment survey: 66.67% had never heard of EIDM before, showcasing the critical need for such initiatives. 22 out of 24 participants expressed interest in EIDM topics, reflecting a significant shift in awareness. There was a strong interest in applying EIDM in academic work (23 students) and pursuing EIDM careers (22 students). Students equally identified their research needs in data analysis needs (58.33), monitoring and evaluation (58.33), research methodology (54.17), data collection (54.17), using research tools (54.17), evidence synthesis (41.57), research dissemination (37.5), communication (37.5) and reporting (33.33). Some institutional challenges to support the production of rigorous research were; the fact that institutions do not fund research (62.5), institutions are not aware of EIDM (45.83), university websites do not provide research resources (29.17), limited methodology lecturers (16.67) and students do not have enough capacity to conduct rigorous research (20.83).
A Future Built on Evidence-Based Solutions for University Students in Francophone Africa
The AEYL extensive programme in Cameroon serves as a powerful example of how we can engage with university researchers to bridge the language gap and empower young Francophone Africans to actively participate in the evidence ecosystem. By fostering a culture of EIDM in Francophone Africa, we can ensure that decisions affecting the future of French-speaking Africa are based on solid evidence, leading to a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.
About the author: Penka Bogne (a Rachel Des Rosiers fellow- Canada) is a young Cameroonian female researcher, lead evidence broker (storyteller) at eBASE Africa and a PhD student in health sciences. She is equally the vice chair of the GIN African regional Community. Engaged in promoting EIDM in Africa with an emphasis on francophone Africa. She has carried out capacity building, knowledge translation and research evidence dissemination activities to policymakers, practitioners and community members (specifically non-digital, Indigenous and underserved community members). Penka is an Award-winning traditional storyteller. She has led the development of the storytelling systematic approach used within eBASE Africa for research evidence dissemination, which has been the focus of training, Webinars and the subject of multiple fundings. Penka has a track record of translating research synthesis from English to French with GIN Public, Cochrane and McMaster COVID-19 RecMap to increase the access and use of research evidence by Francophones.
Acknowledgements: The author(s) is solely responsible for the content of this article, including all errors or omissions; acknowledgements do not imply endorsement of the content. The author is grateful to Charity Chisoro for her guidance in preparing and finalising this article, as well as her editorial support.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in published blog posts, as well as any errors or omissions, are the sole responsibility of the author/s and do not represent the views of the Africa Evidence Network, its secretariat, advisory or reference groups, or its funders; nor does it imply endorsement by the afore-mentioned parties.
Suggested citation: Bogne, P.M. (2024) Empowering Francophone African Youths around the Practice of Evidence-Informed Decision Making (EIDM). Blog posting on 18 July 2024. Available at: https://www.africaevidencenetwork.org/en/learning-space/article/329/
