Welcome to the Youth spotlight series, where we offer first-hand insights into young leaders in the evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) sector. You can discover their stories, achievements, and impact on our community. This is the heart and soul of the #EIDM movement.
In this conversation, the Africa Evidence Network talks to Firmaye Bogale, a directorate director currently leading the Knowledge Translation Directorate at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute.
Making a Difference with EIDM:
What inspired you to get involved with EIDM?
I've always wanted to get into research because I thought it would help me significantly impact society. With this mindset, I joined the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Ethiopia's national public health research institute. I was lucky enough to get assigned to a team working on EIDM and knowledge translation, even though I didn't know those concepts at first. As I learned more, I realised that this area aligns perfectly with my career goals, skills, and interests. Since then, I've been motivated to keep pushing forward in this area, knowing I can help meet our communities' needs by advocating for and ensuring that decisions are based on evidence.
Can you share a specific accomplishment you're proud of where EIDM played a key role? How did it make a positive impact?
COVID-19 is a recent memory to all of us, and it was a time when the importance of evidence use was particularly evident. During the pandemic, there was a huge demand for evidence but limited time to synthesise it quickly. In my work setting, the knowledge translation team was crucial to the emergency response team. The value of EIDM was highlighted through the daily evidence updates provided by this team, which were published in the daily situational report (SITREP report), a critical source of evidence. Important policy questions also needed to be addressed to ensure proper management of the pandemic. For instance, our rapid review was one of the key pieces of evidence used to change the country's management of mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. We also conducted rapid reviews to address other critical issues, such as the use of antibody tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and the management of bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Thus, the role and importance of EIDM were clearly demonstrated during the COVID-19 crisis.
Have you faced any challenges promoting EIDM within your community or area of work? How did you overcome them?
Yes, there are multiple challenges related to EIDM. One of the many challenges is a lack of trust in the EIDM process, often stemming from insufficient awareness of what EIDM truly entails. Sometimes, people perceive EIDM as rigid and do not accommodate contextual factors beyond published findings, which is inaccurate. In my setting, we focus on raising awareness and building capacity at various levels while engaging stakeholders in discussions and work related to EIDM. A key strategy to address these challenges is fostering a sense of ownership of EIDM among users, decision-makers, and stakeholders.
Your Vision for the Future:
What are the biggest challenges you see facing EIDM implementation in Africa right now?
In Africa, the journey toward EIDM has its share of challenges. Often, limited budgets, outdated data/evidence systems, and a shortage of skilled professionals is faced to push EIDM forward. Plus, there's sometimes a disconnect between researchers and policy-makers, making it challenging to turn research into actionable policies. On top of that, cultural and political factors can get in the way, affecting how evidence is viewed and used in decision-making and making it hard to embed EIDM in the system.
How are you working to inspire and empower other young people to get involved with EIDM?
I'm all about getting young people excited and involved in EIDM. I work with groups and teams to set up workshops and programs that give young professionals the skills they need in research, evidence synthesis, knowledge translation, and communication while also creating opportunities for them to connect with policy-makers, researchers, and with each other. I also believe in being an example, so I’m always committed to working hard, presenting my best capacity in EIDM, and inspiring young people to get into this space. I also emphasise the importance of teamwork and innovation, which is why I am part of platforms like the Africa Evidence Youth League that bring a fresh perspective that emphasises youth voices.
Imagine the future of EIDM in Africa. How do you see EIDM evolving and creating a more positive impact?
Looking ahead, I see a promising future where EIDM is a core part of African policy-making. With advancements in technology and better systems, we'll have access to quality, real-time evidence, allowing for timely decisions. I imagine a growing culture of collaboration where researchers, policy-makers, and communities work together, valuing and using evidence at every level. This change will be driven by a new generation of leaders prioritising quality, transparency, accountability and inclusivity. As EIDM grows, we'll see more effective interventions, fair policies, and better outcomes across the continent. It's an exciting journey, and I can't wait to see where it takes us!
Sharing Your Passion (Quote):
Is there a powerful quote or statement you can share that captures your passion for EIDM and its importance?
“Evidence-informed decision-making is not merely an option but a necessity, as all our work aims at serving the greater good and reducing inequalities, and decisions made without a strong evidence base are more likely to be flawed and less likely to succeed.”
About the author: Firmaye Bogale has over a decade of experience in the field of public health, having effectively navigated clinical and non-clinical healthcare realms. Her experience encompasses key roles in primary healthcare delivery, health program evaluation, public health research, knowledge translation, and evidence-informed decision-making.
With a master’s degree in public health, she currently leads the Knowledge Translation Directorate at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute as a directorate director. In this capacity, she leads and works on various initiatives and projects to translate scientific evidence into actions for informed decision-making in healthcare. Notable among her engagements are her involvement in projects such as the Partnership for Evidence and Equity in Responsive Social Systems (PEERSS), her instrumental role in assessing Ethiopia’s health technology assessment landscape, and her development of the country's health technology assessment roadmap. Firmaye has authored and co-authored over 20 evidence synthesis products and research papers, reflecting her commitment to advancing evidence-informed decision-making.
She is passionate about contributing to advancing the EIDM space, especially in Africa. To this effect, she works on capacity building for researchers, knowledge translators, and decision-makers at different levels, focusing on general knowledge translation and specific aspects like systematic review development.
Firmaye's engagement extends to global and regional links, as she actively participates in networks dedicated to evidence-informed decision-making, including the Africa Evidence Youth League and the Ethiopian Knowledge Translation Center for Health, where she is one of the lead trainers of the comprehensive systematic review and scoping review training program. Her advocacy efforts encompass diverse platforms, where she shares insights through presentations and panel discussions.
Firmaye is dedicated to advancing evidence-based decision-making methods, actively seeking to explore contextualisable approaches for scientific evidence utilisation in health decision-making.
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: Bogale, F. (2024) Championing Evidence: My Experience with Evidence-Informed Decision-Making in Africa. Blog posting on 6 August 2024. Available at: https://www.africaevidencenetwork.org/en/learning-space/article/338/
