Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA)

Day 2 of our ESSA team retreat in Naivasha, Kenya, was another amazing day. As a remote-first organisation, we deeply value these in-person retreats. They strengthen our relationships, build trust, and foster greater collaboration—crucial elements for driving our impactful work forward. Enjoy this video highlight. Lucy Heady Izel Kipruto Patrick Dunne Pauline Essah, PhD Laté A. Lawson, Ph.D Leyla H Abdullahi Rexford Akrong Richard Amoah,PhD Elsie Effah Kaufmann, PhD Chris Foy Tom Vandenbosch Omanyo D Jonathan Ane Nancy Matimu Founder and TechPreneur Stephen Acquah Samuel Asare, PhD Divine Kpe, MEd. Nii Lankwei Lamptey Benjamin Piper

This looks like and exciting event from On Think Tanks! Mobilising funding from Africa was one of the priorities flagged by African researchers as part of the EERA process facilitated by Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA) and Southern Hemisphere. Find out more about the researchers' perspective here: Enhancing Education Research in Africa (EERA) | ESSA.

We are thrilled to be gathered in beautiful Naivasha, Kenya, for our off-site retreat. We are taking the time to get to know each other better, build stronger connections, and enhance our collaboration and impactful work. Check out this video highlighting yesterday's activities. Surrounded by Naivasha’s stunning landscapes, we are ready to continue making a difference together. Stay tuned for more highlights from our retreat. Lucy Heady Clare James-Roll (nee Cunliffe) Pauline Essah, PhD Richard Amoah,PhD Rexford Akrong Laté A. Lawson, Ph.D Samuel Asare, PhD Andrea Aryee Krista Cecille Samson MICHELLE S. WANGARI Eli Tsegah Patrick Dunne CAREN NAMALENYA Woulamé OUDJIM BOAFO SARAH Nii Lankwei Lamptey

Happy International Women's Day. Women remain underrepresented in education research across Africa—facing barriers in funding, authorship, and publishing opportunities. While some progress has been made, deep inequalities continue to persist in career growth, leadership, and access to global platforms. This #IWD2025, let’s move beyond awareness and #AccelerateAction for gender equity in research.

Entrepreneurship should be a path to opportunity, not just a necessity. As we mark #IWD2025, Rexford Akrong explores how higher education can transform female entrepreneurship in Africa by: ∙Modernising STEM curricula to align with industry needs ∙Strengthening university-industry partnerships for funding & mentorship ∙Revamping career services to nurture entrepreneurial talent ∙Building powerful networks to support women-led startups 🚀 When we #AccelerateAction, we unlock Africa’s next generation of female innovators, job creators & leaders. Read the full #IWD2025 blog: 

Education data systems in Africa face many challenges, from fragmented digital platforms to limited access and use of evidence for decision-making. For education data to drive real impact, we need more human-centered, collaborative, and Africa-led approaches to unlocking its potential. Later this month, at CIES - Comparative & International Education Society, Laté A. Lawson, Ph.D will be on a panel to explore solutions to bridge the gap between data producers and users, ensuring evidence informs policy and practice. Join us in this critical discussion.

Reducing reliance on international donors is crucial for strengthening education research in Africa. Proposed Intervention 2 focuses on mobilising local funding from governments, think tanks, philanthropies, and the private sector. By fostering partnerships and influencing these stakeholders, we can create sustainable mechanisms for long-term investment in education research. A thriving research ecosystem depends on funders adopting a long-term vision—one that prioritises local ownership, reduces dependency, and ensures impactful, Africa-led solutions.   Several countries in Africa currently have dedicated science granting councils or national research funds. These include, for example, the National Research Fund in Kenya and the National Research Foundation in South Africa. In many countries, the national ministries responsible for science, technology and innovation play the role of research funding bodies. One can start working with these early adopters to develop a funding model. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ehiqs9Bh #EducationResearch #EERAinterventions Imaginable Futures, Echidna Giving, Jacobs Foundation, Southern Hemisphere, Dena Lomofsky, Lucy Heady, Izel Kipruto, Pauline Essah, PhD, Patrick Dunne, Cathy Chames, On Think Tanks, African Population and Health Research Center

EERA is not just a proposal—it is a collective vision built with input from African researchers, funders, and institutions. Through extensive consultations, we have identified challenges and co-designed solutions that can transform the research landscape. Learn more about the process: https://lnkd.in/ehiqs9Bh #EducationResearch #EERAinterventions Imaginable Futures, Echidna Giving, Jacobs Foundation, Southern Hemisphere, Dena Lomofsky, Lucy Heady, Izel Kipruto, Pauline Essah, PhD, Patrick Dunne, Cathy Chames, On Think Tanks, African Population and Health Research Center 

Sesame Workshop South Africa is conducting a study to identify Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes that include fathers and social fathers. The objective is to identify programmes and initiatives in Africa aimed at empowering all fathers to get more involved in the lives of their young children. Your responses will help us understand the landscape of these programs and identify gaps. Please click here to complete the survey: https://lnkd.in/d7D_hTbZ

📢 A big thank you to everyone who applied for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) research grants! These grants are being offered by ESSA and Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre, with generous support by Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. We’re inspired by the incredible interest in strengthening ECD research across Africa. Applications are now closed, and we look forward to reviewing the submissions. Stay tuned for updates.