On 6th to 9th November, Mawazo’s Voices Programme Officer, Silvia Mwendia, and Software Engineering and Technology Lead, Ray Wanjiru, participated in the Falling Walls Science Summit held in Berlin, Germany. During the summit, Silvia engaged in the Hub Manager’s Forum, where leaders from Falling Walls Engage discussed the future of its global Hubs, including the one hosted by Mawazo in Kenya. Key topics of discussion included strategies for fostering year-round engagement, expanding access to public engagement resources, and institutionalizing Hubs through certifications and memoranda of understanding (MoUs). 

In parallel, Ray served as a distinguished jury member at the summit, where six groundbreaking scientific achievements across multiple categories were selected. Their role underscored Mawazo’s commitment to recognizing and promoting innovative scientific advancements.

We are inspired by the insights gained from this event as we continue to advance public engagement efforts. We remain committed to supporting our alumni and fellows while fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing. Through these initiatives, we aim to shape the future of women in research and create meaningful impact for Africa.

On 4th to 7th November, Mawazo’s Director of Programmes Dr. Caroline Mose and Research Officer Aisha Mugo represented the organisation at the 2024 Africa YouLead Summit in Arusha. The two participated in a panel discussion emphasising the need to enhance women’s involvement in research and led a career and mentorship clinic focused on navigating academic careers. The summit, hosted by the Danida Fellowship Centre, also marked the launch of the More Women in Research Manifesto.

The More Women in Research manifesto, created by 50 women researchers from various countries including Dr. Caroline Mose, is a crucial initiative addressing the under-representation of women in academia and research across Africa. It provides actionable recommendations to close the gender gap and targets diverse stakeholders including women, youth, academia, research communities, civil society, media, government agencies, and policymakers urging them to implement concrete measures to combat this disparity.

On November 23, 2024, Mawazo Institute led a session at the Kisima Festival 2024 titled ‘Rest, Renew, Thrive: Cultivating Balance for Sustainable Living and Leadership’, focusing on the significance of rest at personal, organisational, and community levels. The festival, held in a Baobab Forest in Kilifi, Kenya, is East Africa’s largest wellness event. 

Mawazo was represented by Fellowship Associate Dorsila Ogola, Voices Officer Silvia Mwendia, Voices Associate Catherine Amayi, Data Insight Associate, Shirley Irungu, and Software Engineering Lead, Ray Wanjiru. 

The session began with a grounding exercise and discussed the impact of women leaders and African feminist leadership styles that prioritise emotional intelligence and teamwork. Mawazo concluded by offering practical suggestions for integrating rest into daily routines, reinforcing our commitment to compassionate leadership and wellness for its staff and network of women researchers.

The Mawazo Institute was excited to participate in the 20th Edition of the Going Global Africa Conference, organised by the British Council in Abuja, Nigeria, from November 26th to 28th. We were represented by the CEO, Dr. Fiona Wanjiku Moejes, and the Strategic Partnerships Lead, Elaine Mungai, who aimed to highlight the gendered challenges faced in higher education and explore collaborative solutions. 

On November 27th, Dr. Fiona served as a panellist in a session titled “What Can We Do to Close the Gender Gap in Tertiary Education?” During this session, she presented a five-step approach that Mawazo employs through our programs and advocates for in policy discussions: first, ensuring that our training sessions are accessible to the women we support; second, offering complimentary skills training, such as leadership development, to enhance their competencies beyond traditional courses; third, increasing access to networks that provide essential opportunities; fourth, encouraging and facilitating collaborative projects to boost women’s career mobility; and fifth, improving work environments to better accommodate women’s needs, including provisions like nursing facilities.

During the conference, Dr. Fiona was interviewed by CNBC Africa about the importance of collaboration and policy reform to improve the Higher Education ecosystem in Africa. Engaging in these conversations is integral for Mawazo as a regional leader dedicated to improving academic and research environments for women and ultimately closing the gender gap.

The Mawazo Institute had the honour of attending a reception commemorating 60 years of partnerships between the Wellcome Trust and Kenya. The event not only celebrated six decades of investment in research and science within the country, but also served as a vital networking opportunity, uniting key stakeholders from both state and non-state sectors within the research ecosystem.

The reception took place at the Residence of the British High Commissioner in Nairobi and featured notable attendees, including Dr. Julia Gilliard, Chair of the Wellcome Trust Board of Governors; Professor Irene Tracey, Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford; and Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary. Each speaker underscored the importance of increasing investments in research and science while fostering greater collaboration with international partners. The collaboration between Kenya and the Wellcome Trust has led to significant scientific advancements, including groundbreaking research aimed at combating malaria, pneumonia, meningitis, HIV, and malnutrition. 

At Mawazo, we remain dedicated to recognising, appreciating, and advancing new partnerships; this commitment is central to our mission. We advocate for the active inclusion and application of research ideas from women in the research ecosystem to drive meaningful change in development across Africa. Our efforts are focused on breaking the glass ceiling for women in research.

Theme: Optimizing Data, Evidence, and Innovations for Wealth Creation and Inclusive Governance in Africa

Join us at the Evi4Dev Conference, where government officials, researchers, civil society members, private sector representatives, and media will discuss the role of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in evidence-informed policymaking (EIP) across Africa. This conference aims to support the implementation of the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Mawazo is proud to partner in this initiative and looks forward to impactful discussions that promote socio-economic transformation in Africa.

Learn more: www.evi4devconference.org

Call for Applications ISTA Institute of Science and Technology in Austria PhD Program (Deadline 8 January)

The Institute of Science and Technology in Austria is accepting applications from graduate and master's students. The ISTA PhD program aims to produce intellectually broad, curious, open-minded scientists who can approach problems from different angles and collaborate with diverse types of scientists. ISTA welcomes students with different academic backgrounds who can bring their skills and experiences to the scientific setting.

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