Mawazo Launches the Emerging Research Trends Report |
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The Mawazo Institute launched the Emerging Trends Research Sector Brief in September 2023, the culmination of a study that sought to gain a deeper understanding of the emerging priorities, needs, and opportunities for research being conducted in Africa, for Africa. This move arose from the need to better identify applicants to the Mawazo Fellowship Programme pursuing high-level research.
The study findings helped us to develop an Emerging Trends Research Report which highlighted four cross-cutting themes: climate change; natural resources and the environment; gender, rights, and governance; information and technology; and indigenous knowledge systems.
The hybrid event brought together Mawazo’s key stakeholders including fellows, alumni, representatives from academia, development partners and experts in thematic areas across Africa. Their thought-provoking inputs will help to improve the final report before it is disseminated to all our stakeholders. We envisage to conduct such analysis on an annual basis.
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Mawazo Participates in the University of Embu Public Lecture |
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Kenya’s University of Embu was the venue of a remarkable event on 24th August 2023. The University’s Charter Hall hosted a rare public lecture titled “Collaborative Research to Maximise the Potential of Data-Driven Approaches in Interdisciplinary Breakthroughs”, whose focus was fostering knowledge and innovation synergy. The lecture drew a diverse audience underscoring the critical role of collaboration and data-driven research in tackling contemporary challenges.
This lecture garnered substantial support from the university’s leadership, faculty, students, and external participants, ensuring its resounding success. The financial backing from the University of Embu (UoEm), in conjunction with UNESCO, the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), and the Mawazo Institute, played a pivotal role in its success.
Notably, this public lecture marked a significant milestone for 2021 Mawazo Fellow Dr. Marilyn Ronoh’s research career. It served as a crucial public engagement event, one of the key deliverables in the UNESCO-OWSD funded project.
The noteworthy work presented by the Innovate AI Health Lab, where Dr. Marilyn, a founding member, along with their transparent dissemination of research through their website, captured the attention of the National Syndemic Disease Control Council, where they expressed interest in establishing a partnership with the Innovate AI Health Lab.
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Mawazo Joins Women who Build Africa Assembly |
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Women Who Build Africa (WWBA) is a global community which aims to support the growth of women in Africa's tech ecosystem. On the 13th of September 2023, they held an Assembly community event, which I learnt about through the Mawazo Connects WhatsApp group. My work involves the development of biological control tools for the management of agricultural pests.
The event featured experienced investors in various fields of finance, transport, health, agriculture, beauty products, etc, among the keynote speakers and panel discussions. They had useful tips on how to run successful businesses, including how to navigate challenges (e.g capital), bridging the gender gap, and what they look for while selecting talents/employees or start up business they could invest in.
My major takeaways were that it is important to invest in ventures that one is passionate about to enhance prospects for growth, profitability and drawing in other stakeholders such as clients and donors. Early career women founders especially, should network and combine forces with like-minded individuals that have complementing capabilities and strengths. The phrase “Your network is your net worth” is true in many dimensions and useful for personal growth, business growth and impact to communities.
Trizah Njihia - 2018 Mawazo Fellow
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Mawazo Supports its Fellow to Commemorate Somali Gender Day |
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Somali women in higher education, research and academia held a one day conference on 27th September 2023, at the British Institute In East Africa offices in Kenya. The conference was the third annual conference organised by the Somali Gender Hub, headed by Mawazo Policy Fellow Sahra Ahmed Koshin in partnership with the Mawazo Institute. The event brought together over 90 participants both in person and online, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in the higher education sector.
It was the first attempt to combine the experiences and expertise of both early career and established Somali women researchers and academics. The conference provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress of women in higher education, to share experiences, perspectives, and responses to the challenges, and also look to the future.
Mawazo Voices Programme Officer Silvia Mwendwa shared how the Mawazo Institute continues to work with its Fellows and Alumni especially in amplifying their work in research.
She recalled Mawazo’s founder, Dr. Rose M. Mutiso's first meeting with Sahra in 2021 and her expressing a desire in expanding her work with women in higher education. Mawazo had then referenced Sahra's work with the Policy Fellowship to build and connect some funds for their research, conference, and policy works.
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Graduation news for our 2018 Fellows! |
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Congratulations to two 2018 Mawazo Fellows, Jacqueline Akoth Owigo and Judith Koskey, who graduated with PhD programmes this October. Both Fellows thanked Mawazo for its support over the years, and celebrated the news with others in the Mawazo Connects network.
Jacqueline earned a PhD in International Relations from the United States International University- Africa (USIU) while Judith graduated with a PhD in Environmental Science from Egerton University.
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Maliasili’s First-ever African Community-Led Conservation Forum |
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More than 90 conservation leaders converged in Naivasha, Kenya between 25th and 30th September, for the first-ever African Community Conservation Forum. The event, organised by Maliasili, brought together environment and conservation leaders from across the continent to share perspectives, ideas, and experiences and harness the power of the collective to improve partnerships and power dynamics between local African CSOs, international NGOs, and donors.
The forum, which was also graced by our CEO, Dr. Fiona Moejes, placed power at the centre of the discussions - power in person, power in practice and power in partnerships. Our friends and partners from Open Circles and Women for the Environment Africa facilitated the power in person sessions, leaning on their extensive experience delivering personal leadership training.
The discussions and discourse that took place during the forum led to the creation of the The Naivasha Vision - where communities are placed at the centre of African conservation. The vision emphasises that communities are key actors in conservation, and not just beneficiaries. It prioritises supporting and strengthening community governance institutions, including rights over lands and natural resources, respecting their local and Indigenous rights, customs, livelihoods, and values.
If in the environmental and/or conservation sectors, please read through The Naivasha Vision and if you and our organisation agrees with the principles and it is aligned with your beliefs, please do endorse the Vision.
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Southern Voice conference for Sustainable Development |
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Mawazo’s relationships with key players in the global think tank sector has been steadily broadening since the early days of our Fellowship Programme. One such connection is with On Think Tanks (OTT) - a leading global source of information, support and community for people working in, with and funding think tanks. OTT helped us to initiate our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and supported us through our leadership transition in 2021.
Since then, we have participated in their annual On Think Tanks conferences, where we were introduced to Southern Voice - a network of think tanks from the Global South working on the Sustainable Development Goals and rebalancing knowledge asymmetry. (Listen to Dr Fiona Moejes and Southern Voice Director, Andrea Ordoñez, speak on the role of women in think tank leadership roles on an episode of OTT Talks for International Women's Day 2022 here).
Southern Voice invited us to participate in their 2023 Southern Voice Conference: Driving the next decade of sustainable development held in Nairobi on 24 and 25 October, where key topics critical to the Sustainable Development Goals were discussed. The two-day conference touched on key topics critical to the Sustainable Development Goals.
During the event, Mawazo connected with several organisations including the Global Centre for Policy and Strategy (GLOCEPS) based in Nairobi. We are also beginning the process of becoming official members of the Southern Voice network.
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Southern Voice conference for Sustainable Development |
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Mawazo Institute joined the celebrations to mark the launch of the EED Research Institute (ERI). EED Advisory is a Pan-African Consulting Firm offering technical, analytical, and advisory services in energy, water, and climate change. The launch of their Research Institute has been in the works for many years, as was explained by Murefu Barasa, the Managing Partner at EED.
According to Murefu, there is a need to “start contributing to knowledge generation” in sustainability. To ground the launch in relevant discourse, ERI hosted a panel discussion on “Reframing Trickle-Down Research: How to Rebalance Global North-South Partnerships for Responsive Research Outcomes” joined by Dr. Evelyn Gitau (Director, APHRC), Dr. Evans Kituyi (Board Member, EED Advisory), and Dr. Charity Wayua (Director, IBM Research Africa).
The panel triggered an exciting and relevant discussion on the importance of African research conducted by Africans, the need for increased funding for African research and researchers, and potential ways of contextualising and supporting African research.
Murefu’s closing words remain poignant for the continent that in creating space for more African research, we must begin by re-examining the Global North’s research language, financing and frameworks that, up until now, our research has been so heavily influenced by.
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Mawazo Participates in the Mozfest House event. |
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MozFest is a unique hybrid event: part art, tech and society convening, part maker festival, and the premiere gathering for activists in diverse global movements fighting for a more humane digital world. East and Southern Africa gathered to engage in these conversations under MozFest House: Kenya between 21-22 September 2023.
Mawazo was particularly interested in participating in discussions around: rethinking gender in the voice ecosystem, how tech affects women and health care, and how Africa's culture can shape responsible AI and was represented by Mawazo’s Strategic Partnerships Lead Elaine Mungai and our Programme Officer Silvia Mwendia. MozFest contributed to ongoing conversations about centering AI tools in the African context, how it can be used to aid higher learning, and what ethical considerations to be made. As we continue to consider the needs of our Fellows and Alumni. AI will continue to be more and more relevant for Mawazo.
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Mawazo’s Forward Thinking Philosophy Affirms my Values. |
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I have had the pleasure of working at Mawazo for five years now and have come to love Mawazo’s forward thinking philosophy, which affirms my values. I love the way Mawazo takes care of its employees by giving us a 4-day work week, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, mental health days and a wellness break that ensures we reveal the best versions of ourselves ready to produce high quality work to support African women researchers. I’m so proud to be affiliated with Mawazo.
Ashley Wangui Muthaka
Director of Operations - Mawazo Institute
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Mawazo’s Mission Speaks to me Deeply! |
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Why did you join the Mawazo Institute Board? |
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Mawazo’s mission speaks to me deeply both as a female and someone who has worked 15 years in research and management. The under-representation of African women in publications and professorships means much needed perspectives and voices are missing at the table of policy and influence. “A PhD is a path to elevate women’s voice and influence, but the journey can be fraught - for all women, but particularly for women in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Having role models and allies who demonstrate that a PhD is achievable is transformative. What I appreciate is the spirit of solidarity and mentoring that underpins the heart of Mawazo. I’m honoured to support this effort by serving on the Board.
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If Mawazo Institute was to be on the cover of your favourite newspaper or magazine in five years, what would the story be about? |
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“This is what social change looks like!” - featuring the confident faces and stories of Mawazo’s powerhouse co-founders, Dr Rose and Rachel – and the many Mawazo Fellows who have pioneered the way to obtaining their PhDs with babies in tow, beating all odds. Maybe even a Nobel prize winner or two in the making!
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New Staff Members Announcement! |
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Alvin Wandabwa |
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Alvin joins us as the Strategic Communications Associate. Alvin brings a wealth of Communications experience and expertise to our team, having previously worked in a similar capacity at PROCMURA (Programme for Christian Muslim Relations in Africa).
His fresh perspective and enthusiasm will contribute significantly to our team's success and his skills and knowledge will be invaluable assets to the Comms team and Mawazo as a whole.
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Aisha Mugo |
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Aisha joins the Mawazo Institute as a Research Officer. She brings a wealth of experience in project management, research, stakeholder engagement, and program planning, having previously worked as a Research Associate for the "Women for Integration: From Neighborhoods to Europe '' project, at Malmö University.
Aisha’s research, analytical, collaboration and stakeholder management skills will contribute significantly to our team's success and her input will be invaluable to the Mawazo team.
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Support Africa's Next Generation of Change-makers |
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You can help us shape the female future of science on the continent by making a donation. No amount is too small – or too big. Make a donation today via debit/credit card, Paypal, or MPESA.
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Spread the word |
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