Young, African and Stirring the Evidence Pot

It’s not every day a girl from the hills of Bamenda finds herself in Nairobi, standing beside policy giants, debating how Africa can turn data into decisions. But that’s exactly where I was from May 6th-8th 2025 representing eBASE Africa at the first-ever Evidence for Development Conference. The theme? Optimising the role of Data, Evidence, and Innovations in Africa’s efforts to Create Wealth, Empower Citizens, and Foster Responsive and Inclusive Governance. In short: how do we make all the talk about development actually work?

Now, I’ve been in my fair share of policy circles, but this one? This one was special. This was continental. Organized by The African Institute for Development Policy(AFIDEP), AUDA-NEPAD, and the Science for Africa Foundation, the conference brought together delegates from 21 African countries, each trying to make sense of Agenda 2063, and all the numbers and narratives in between. Picture it: Government ministers, researchers, technocrats, and a few of us youthful dreamers, all speaking the language of impact (with occasional translation headaches, because Africa).

The opening ceremony was a powerful starting point. It began with the national anthem of Kenya and the anthem of the East African Community, setting a sense of shared purpose across borders. What followed was a powerful line-up of speakers including Dr. Eliya Zulu of AFIDEP, Dr. Evelyn Gitau from the Science for Africa Foundation, and Dr. Frejus Thoto from the African Center for Equitable Development. They didn’t hide behind optimism. They acknowledged Africa’s missed targets and the urgency of shifting from talk to transformation. But what stood out was not despair, it was determination. The message was clear: if this generation does not course-correct with evidence at the center, the gap between promises and progress will only widen.

The Panel That Made Me Sweat (In a Good Way)

Representing our team lead, Okwen Patrick Mbah, I was invited to speak on the panel: “Advancing Inter-Regional Evidence-Informed Policymaking (EIP) Practice in Africa” a long name for an even longer conversation. My co-panelists? Titans. There was Prof. Boniface Dulani from Malawi, Dr. Frejus Thoto from Benin, Prof. Alex Riolexus Ario from Uganda, and Siziwe Ngcwabe from South Africa, moderated by the brilliant Dr. Rose Oronje. And then, there was me: Charlotte Ndum from eBASE Africa, a researcher and youth voice in the room.

Let’s be honest, I had mild impostor syndrome. But the minute I began sharing our work across borders, the wins, the facepalms, the WhatsApp calls that somehow turn into strategy meetings, the room leaned in. I spoke about how language barriers, uneven data access, and policy mismatches can feel like trying to build a house with mismatched bricks. Each country has its own playbook, and sometimes those playbooks don’t even have the same rules. And don’t get me started on funding that ends before the pilot even takes flight.

But I also shared what gives us hope.

The Sessions That Sparked Something

Beyond my own panel, I attended 15 out of the 49 sessions, each one a fresh lens into how data, evidence, and innovation are shaping Africa’s path toward Agenda 2063. What struck me most was the range, from high-level policy talks to grassroots-led breakthroughs, from seasoned academics to vibrant youth innovators. Each session was a reminder that the evidence ecosystem is as wide and as layered as the continent itself.

Over the three days, I hopped from session to session, notebook in hand and brain buzzing. I attended a session on AI Ethics, moderated by Dr. Winston Ojenge from the African Center for Technology Studies. The panelists included John Kiarie, a Kenyan MP and Chair of the Committee on Communication and Innovation, alongside researchers like Dr. George Musumba and Florence Ogonjo. Their conversation unpacked what it means to build AI tools that serve rather than surveil, especially in contexts where data rights are still murky and infrastructure uneven.

One of the most affirming sessions for me was the one on gender observatories and inclusive data systems, moderated by Dr. Rodrigue Castro Gbedomon. Panelists like Dr. Hararou Kassoumou from Benin and Augustin Lavry from Côte d'Ivoire shared how their national observatories are not just collecting gender data but actively influencing how policies are shaped. The language of that room was technical, but the impact was deeply human. Because when data systems are built to see women, girls, and marginalized communities, they begin to count, literally and politically.

Another unexpected gem was the panel on educational transformation, chaired by Gift Kadzamira from Malawi’s National Council for Science and Technology. The presentations ranged from realigning lifelong learning models to implementing autism in East Africa. One that stuck with me came from Miriam Laiser, who shared participatory research insights on inclusive education that moved the conversation beyond accessibility toward dignity and agency. It reminded me why I got into this work: to make systems kinder, smarter, and more just.

There was one moment that hasn’t left me. In a session on citizen-generated evidence, someone said, “We’ve made evidence elite. We need to make it every day.” That line followed me all week. Because it’s true. Evidence doesn’t have to be hidden in dense reports or guarded by experts. It lives in community knowledge, in classroom attendance records, in women’s health diaries, in youth-led innovations coded at 2am over a spotty Wi-Fi connection. Evidence is not an ivory tower. It’s a mirror , and everyone should be able to see themselves in it.

What I Took Home (Besides Extra Luggage)

This conference was a reminder that Africa’s transformation won’t come from fancy reports gathering dust, but from bold, inclusive, and youth-powered action. We need more seats for young people at these tables. Not because it’s trendy, but because we bring fresh eyes, lived realities, and an energy that’s less about endless frameworks and more about asking, “Okay, but who’s actually going to do the thing?”

And we need to stop treating evidence like a secret society. Let’s simplify it, localize it, and use it to solve real problems, like why some kids still can’t count at age 10, or why policies take five years to implement (and by then, half the people they were meant for have moved on or moved out).

Nairobi Was the Moment but Not the End

I left Nairobi inspired, challenged, and caffeinated (Kenyan coffee is no joke). But most importantly, I left with the conviction: Africa doesn’t lack ideas. We just need to connect the dots better. So here’s to the Evidence for Development Conference, to brave conversations, to new friends, and to the quiet revolution of people who believe that with the right tools and the right heart, change is not only possible, it’s inevitable.