14 May 2025
The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) is an African-led, regional non-profit policy think tank established in 2010 to help bridge the gaps between research, policy and practice in development efforts in Africa. They analyse, synthesise, and translate evidence (i.e. data and research) and use it to generate or strengthen political commitment, inform resource allocation, programme design and implementation. The aim is to contribute to the realisation of sustainable development by enabling the formulation of sound policies and programme interventions.
Their work is categorised in four areas. One of these areas is strengthening capacities to use evidence in policymaking spaces. This is a crosscutting area of their work that spans development sectors. They use three development sectors to provide direct support to policymakers in enabling evidence use, and these form the remaining three areas of their work, including: population change and sustainable development; reproductive, maternal, newborn child, and adolescent health; and education and skills development.
Their Context
In spite of on-going efforts to improve the utilisation of research evidence in decision-making in Africa, there remain major challenges. Available research is largely fragmented in different scientific publications and not appropriately packaged for use by decision-makers. Furthermore, the evidence often does not fully meet the policy and programme needs of decision-makers since they rarely contribute to the initial identification of the knowledge gaps that the evidence seeks to fill. Use of evidence is particularly weak in closing the big gap between policies and implementation, which remains one of the most critical development challenges in Africa. This is partly because there is limited research evidence to inform effective design and implementation of interventions that have the best potential to improve lives.
Main Objectives
To contribute to addressing these challenges, AFIDEP has three overarching objectives:
Since its inception, AFIDEP has made notable contributions in translating and enabling the uptake of research evidence in various decision-making processes in its areas of focus at national and regional levels in sub-Saharan Africa. AFIDEP’s 2015 – 2019 Strategic Plan provides a framework to guide the Institute in building on these past gains as well as expanding and strengthening the scope of their programmes.
Specifically, they will expand the thematic and geographic scope of their research; intensify efforts that enable increased utilisation of research and related evidence in decision-making at national, regional and international levels; initiate innovative programmes that strengthen the capacity of decision-makers and scientists in translation and utilisation of evidence; and strengthen strategic partnerships with governments and other key policy actors in sub-Saharan Africa.
To achieve these aspirations, they will also strengthen their internal systems and processes. AFIDEP has assembled a multi-disciplinary core staff comprising of experts trained in various social sciences, public health, policy analysis and communications. This team will be expanded during the next five years in line with the changing needs of their programmes. The Institute’s core staff is complemented by a network of Associate Fellows who contribute to their work and seek to strengthen the impact of their own work through their programmes and connections. AFIDEP is governed by a Board of Directors comprising distinguished experts, who provide strategic guidance and oversee the running of the organisation.
Vision
They make research evidence matter in African-driven development.
Mission
To translate and enable utilisation of evidence in policymaking to accelerate socioeconomic transformation and sustainable development in Africa.
