Buni Banda

24/04/2026

𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.
Here’s what part of Buni Banda has to say about working here.

15/04/2026

𝟯 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗛𝗖𝗗 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴
𝟭. 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Teams run a “user workshop” and retreat to their bubble. The real power of HCD comes from iterating with people, not just taking notes once.
𝟮. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁
We optimize for “motivated, tech-literate participants” while ignoring structural constraints: time, power, gender norms, poor connectivity, and competing priorities. That’s why promising pilots often fail at scale.
𝟯. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀
When funders want “HCD outputs” (maps, personas, prototypes) but not changes in decision-making, HCD becomes decoration. True HCD redistributes power—from experts to end users, from HQ to frontline teams.
Need stronger HCD in your programs? Contact us: [email protected]
| 0714 287073

15/04/2026

𝟭𝟬 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝘀

1. Starting from a Blank Page – Unclear research questions stall drafting.
2. Unfocused Objectives – Too many or vague objectives confuse endpoints and analysis.
3. Balancing Rigor and Feasibility – Strong science can clash with operational reality.
4. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria – Too narrow limits recruitment; too broad dilutes results.
5. Ethics & Regulatory Alignment – Different requirements cause repeated rewrites.
6. Methods That Are Hard to Follow – Ambiguous procedures risk deviations and poor data quality.
7. Stakeholder Collaboration – Conflicting inputs create version chaos.
8. Statistical Sections – Non-statisticians struggle to translate guidance into protocol-ready text.
9. Poor Structure & Redundancy – Inconsistent, fragmented sections slow review.
10. Late Feedback – Waiting until IRB or funder review forces major revisions.

Need help with research protocol writing? Reach out to us at [email protected]

13/04/2026

𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
1. 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Dovetail Acceleration Programme.
𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀: Early-stage, locally-led African organisations with budgets of less than US$500 000.
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 28th April 2026
𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://dovetailimpact.org/acceleration-program

2. 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘: Global Impact Challenge: A Global Challenge transforming agrifood innovation.
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 15th May 2026.
𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://thriveagrifood.com/thrive-global-impact-challenge-2026/

3. 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲.𝗼𝗿𝗴 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Ai For Science: Accelerating scientific breakthroughs with the power of AI.
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 1st May 2026.
𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://www.google.org/impact-challenges/ai-science/

4. 𝗶𝗙 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗙: SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE. The iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE supports projects that contribute to improving our society.
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 20th May 2026.
𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://ifdesign.com/en/if-social-impact-prize

5. 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵:The grant will support a research project or programme for up to three years.
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 1st May 2026 00:00 (SAST)
𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://jworesearchgrant.org/grant-application/

6. 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙: Strengthening the resilience of the local capacity to respond to the educational and protection needs of the children affected by the crisis.
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 20th April 2026.
𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://www.unpartnerportal.org/api/public/export/projects/20449/

08/04/2026

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Have you signed up for our April Research Protocol Writing Training yet? This is your chance to strengthen your research skills,

Sign up now and enjoy a 𝟭𝟬% 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁! https://forms.gle/YfL36ua6h2eDKBA86
Jkuat Main Campus Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology University of Nairobi

Welcome to the April 2026 Research Protocol Writing Training! Join our 10-week training designed for professionals and scholars building their research careers in health. You’ll learn how to: Write protocols that get approved faster and avoid delays Use AI tools and templates to improve your writi...

07/04/2026

Welcome back to work!
Have you reset your password already? 😂

03/04/2026

Happy Easter! As we enjoy the long weekend, let’s take a moment to reflect on the first quarter: the wins, lessons, and opportunities and plan accordingly for a great second quarter.

02/04/2026

Today we visited the Kenya Institute of Public Health to explore potential collaboration.

During our discussion with the CEO and training coordinator, we reflected on how needs assessments and human-centered design are often underutilized, yet they are essential for real impact. Skipping these steps can make even well-funded interventions fall short.

Conversations like this reinforce an important truth: intentional design and deep problem understanding should never be an afterthought.

We’re excited about the possibilities this engagement could unlock.

31/03/2026

Time is ticking. Have you booked your slot for the April cohort yet?
Book here: https://forms.gle/nRX5SjcMwQB13BfLA

26/03/2026

At Buni Banda, we believe in the power of collaboration and were glad to meet with FriendnPal (PREDICTIVE AI MULTILINGUAL MENTAL HEALTH) to explore potential partnerships.
Are you or your organisation working in any of these areas:
1. Climate and Health
2. Digital Health and Telehealth
3. Mental Health
4. Health Artificial Intelligence (AI)
5. Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)
and interested in partnering with us? Reach out to Shirley Otieno at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

04/03/2026

They said, “Just write a proposal.” They didn’t say, "define the problem, choose methods, justify analysis, ensure validity, and still meet deadlines."😭
Research Methodology Research Institute for Tropical MedicineTinada Youth Action Africa

17/02/2026

Pausing for a photo after an insightful discussion on AI and health with Dr. Fred Mutisya, one of our esteemed partners. His expertise is a tremendous asset to our collaborative initiatives, advancing smarter, evidence-driven solutions.

At Buni Banda, we believe the best solutions are never created alone. Collaborations like these bring together diverse expertise, turning ideas into impactful interventions.

We partner across key areas, including:
• 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
• 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲
• 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵: covering Climate & Health, Mental Health, Sexual & Reproductive Health, and Digital Health

Are you working in any of these areas and interested in partnering with us? Email us at [email protected] to explore partnership opportunities.