Bridging theory with Practice: eBASE Africa strengthens capacities of Community of Practice members on Protocol Development. 

Following the successful Evidence Synthesis Training eBASE Africa has completed the first round of Write-Shops for its Communities of Practice in Bamenda and Yaounde, marking an important step in strengthening evidence synthesis for education policy and practice in Cameroon.

The Write-Shops were designed as collaborative working sessions that move participants beyond training to the practical development of systematic review protocols. Bringing together researchers, education practitioners, policymakers, and technical experts, the workshops focused on refining review titles, developing research questions, establishing PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome) and PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) frameworks, designing comprehensive search strategies, and assigning protocol sections for collaborative writing.

Community of Practice members have been organised into three thematic working groups: Governance, Accountability and Data Systems; Pedagogy, Teacher Practice and Professional Development; and Inclusion, Equity and Vulnerable Learners. Each group will produce an evidence synthesis addressing priority questions identified through the Centre Region Learning Agenda, ensuring that research responds directly to the needs of policymakers and practitioners.

These workshops mark the beginning of a longer evidence synthesis process. Over the coming months, participants will refine protocols, register their reviews, conduct literature searches, screen and appraise studies, synthesise findings, and prepare reports for publication with ongoing technical mentorship from eBASE Africa. 

Through these Communities of Practice, eBASE Africa is fostering a sustainable culture of evidence generation and use, ensuring that locally relevant research increasingly informs education decisions and improves foundational learning outcomes across Cameroon.