Global Research, Policy, and Academic Leaders Convene at Transforming Evidence Network Conference in South Africa

Participants gathered for the Transforming Evidence Network conference in Cape Town, South Africa, in November 2024. Co-hosted by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Pan-African Collective for Evidence, and the African Center for Equitable Development, attendees discussed how to advance research that benefits communities.

Event Nov. 19-21, 2024

The Transforming Evidence Network (TEN), a global cross-sectoral forum for academic and policy experts, practitioners, and researchers, held its second conference Nov. 19-21, 2024, in Cape Town, South Africa. The event brought together over 250 people from more than 20 countries around a common purpose: advancing equitable and effective strategies for using research and evidence to address societal problems.

Over three days, this group of innovators discussed the real-life impact of their work to conduct research and use evidence in decision-making in varied geographic, social, and political contexts. Conference attendees also built and strengthened relationships during networking sessions and planned next steps for collaboration to create meaningful change and impact. Together, The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Pan-African Collective for Evidence, and the African Center for Equitable Development hosted the conference.

Below you will find recordings of each of the conference’s plenary sessions.

Opening and welcome

Welcome and setting an agenda for the Transforming Evidence Network Conference.

Speakers

Rumeli Banik, principal officer, evidence project, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Angela Bednarek, director, evidence project, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Fréjus Thoto, executive director, African Center for Equitable Development
Zeenat Ishmail, head of provincial data office, Department of the Premier, Western Cape Government, South Africa
Andile Madonsela, director of innovation and equity, Pan-African Collective for Evidence
EBASE Africa, performers

Conference overview

Presenters discussed the conference focus areas: the science of research use and impact; research incentives and infrastructure; and knowledge brokering (partnerships that connect research production and use), mobilization, and communication. Pew staff members explored how research institutions are rewarding faculty for work that produces tangible change and making financial investments to sustain a prolific stream of research products for stakeholders in evidence creation, funding, and usage. They also discussed progress toward building capacity for the essential skills and processes that bridge the gaps between research, policy, and practice to create social impact.

Ben Miyamoto, manager, evidence project, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Benjamin Olneck-Brown, officer, evidence project, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Rumeli Banik, principal officer, evidence project, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Supporting research for the common good: Engaged universities leading change

Participants shared their own efforts to incentivize and institutionalize approaches that promote the value of scholarship for the common good. Leaders in universities, funding organizations, and key research organizations described their interrelated efforts to help engaged universities—those that connect research with policymakers and practitioners— work more effectively to address their communities’ most entrenched challenges and create opportunities for the global community of similarly engaged scholars.

Max Crowley, director, Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University
Na'ilah Suad Nasir, president, The Spencer Foundation
Darren Lortan, associate professor of mathematics, Durban University of Technology
Molly Morgan Jones, director of policy, The British Academy
Nodumo Dhlamini, director, ICT services and knowledge management, Association of African Universities

Note: Nodumo Dhlamini died on April 25, 2025.

Co-investing in the global evidence ecosystem

Representatives of large funding organizations highlighted efforts to invest in the work of a community of researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and funders—what they called the global evidence ecosystem—who work to make the transitions between research discoveries and policy applications more seamless. This session encouraged greater coordination and collaboration among funders, and strategic investment in organizations and individuals who can draw insights from diverse perspectives and research approaches accessible in the policymaking process. These system-focused investments are promising, and require careful implementation and coordination among many actors, including funders, to achieve their full potential.

Angela Bednarek, director, evidence project, The Pew Charitable Trusts
James Canton, deputy director of public policy and engagement, Economic and Social Research Council, U.K. Research and Innovation
Isabel Fletcher, technology manager, Wellcome
Chris Chibwana, program officer, gender equity and governance, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Nomthandazo Malambo, program officer, knowledge and translation, International Development Research Centre
Adam Gamoran, president, William T. Grant Foundation

Transforming evidence through artificial intelligence and other technologies

This session explored the opportunities, considerations, and concerns for the use of artificial intelligence and other technologies in evidence generation, mobilization, and use, including the ability and promises to advance or undermine this work.

Laurenz Mahlanza-Langer, executive director, Pan-African Collective for Evidence
Fréjus Thoto, executive director, African Center for Equitable Development
Firmaye Bogale, director - knowledge translation, Ethiopian Public Health Institute
Kelly Fitzsimmons, founder and CEO, Project Evident
Julian Elliott, co-founder and CEO, Future Evidence Foundation
Paulinah Teffu, CEO, Digital Solution Foundry
Harsha Dayal, director of research and knowledge management; Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation; Government of South Africa

Bridging divides: Strengthening knowledge brokering for global impact

Leaders addressed advances in evidence synthesis, the process of identifying and combining data across studies to create a clear understanding of a particular body of research. They discussed efforts to support the use of research in government decisions in low- and middle-income countries and provided examples of equitable, innovative ways to strengthen the global evidence ecosystem, including by investing in research synthesis and knowledge brokering organizations based in the Global South.

Abeba Taddese, senior program director, Results for Development
Isabel Fletcher, technology manager, Wellcome
Shelly-Ann Hunte, research fellow, Caribbean Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, University of the West Indies
Alice Taylor, head of public policy research and place strategy, Economic and Social Research Council, U.K. Research and Innovation
Ismael Kawooya, senior research scientist and head of office, Center for Rapid Evidence Synthesis
Firmaye Bogale, director - knowledge translation, Ethiopian Public Health Institute

An introduction to evidence-based storytelling

This workshop followed up on a storytelling event performed by eBase Africa that opened the conference. Workshop attendees received an in-depth introduction to the concepts, methodologies, and process of evidence-based storytelling.

Leonel Ayafor Ngwa, storyteller, eBase Africa
Nange Lisette, storyteller and researcher, eBase Africa

Standing atop the mountain of evidence—what can we see? Insights from studying evidence use

Researchers shared about recent efforts to systematically review studies of evidence use. They discussed how the use of evidence in policymaking might contribute to improved outcomes in health, education, sustainable development, and a variety of other areas.

Kathryn Oliver, professor of evidence and policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Annette Boaz, professor of health and social care, King’s College London
Promise Nduku, principal, evidence synthesis, Pan-African Collective for Evidence
Christine Kelly, lead evaluation specialist, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation
Tanja Kuchenmüller, unit head, evidence to policy and impact, World Health Organization

What have we learned? What is next? Reflecting on the 2024 TEN conference

This session started with reflections from two attendees who brought their perspectives on ways the conference has changed and views about how evidence can be produced, used, and funded. All conference attendees were then invited to share key takeaways.