African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)

04/09/2026

Non-communicable diseases are becoming an increasingly significant health challenge across Africa.

Tackling them requires action across the health system — from reducing risk factors and detecting diseases early to ensuring people can access affordable, quality treatment.

But if you had to choose one priority, where should African countries focus their efforts?

Vote and tell us why in the comments. 👇🏾

03/09/2026

African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), through the Learning Together to Advance Evidence and Equity in Policymaking (LEEPS) Project, hosted a Research Communications & Policy Engagement Training in collaboration with Karatina University, bringing together their academic staff from various disciplines and departments to strengthen their capacity to translate research evidence into policy and practice.

Held from 31 August - 2 September 2026, the training equipped researchers with practical skills in policy engagement, stakeholder analysis, strategic communication, messaging and policy brief writing. The sessions also focused on helping researchers identify key audiences and their interests, craft compelling evidence based messages and communicate their research in ways that can support policy change.

During the training, researchers developed policy briefs, presented their work and received feedback. This hands-on approach strengthened their ability to communicate research evidence to policymakers. The training also helped Karatina University kick off its Utafiti Dialogue Initiative supported by the National Research Fund Kenya, which aims to strengthen its Think Tank role - ensuring that the research and innovations it produces helps solves development challenges in Kenya and beyond.

Broadly, the partnership aligns with the LEEPS partnership collaborative approach to advancing evidence and equity in policymaking to achieve the SDGs in Africa.

02/09/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2021, eight of the ten leading causes of death in the WHO African Region were non-communicable diseases (NCDs), up from just four in 1990. Over that same period, overall NCD-related deaths across Sub-Saharan Africa doubled.

Africa is now facing a growing double burden of disease: Persistent infectious diseases alongside a rapidly rising burden of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease.

The health challenges are changing. Our policy responses and health financing must change with them.

Read our Health Financing for Noncommunicable Diseases: Landscape Analysis of Practices and Challenges in the Sub-Saharan Africa Region for insights into the financing gaps and opportunities: https://afidep.org/publication/health-financing-for-noncommunicable-diseases-landscape-analysis-of-practices-and-challenges-in-the-sub-saharan-africa-region/

01/09/2026

Non-communicable diseases — including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases — are already responsible for 37% of all deaths in Africa.

This represents a major shift in the continent's health landscape.
Yet the response has not always kept pace with the changing burden. Many countries continue to face gaps in NCD prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care.

NCDs are not a future health challenge for Africa. They are a challenge we are facing now.

📖 Read the Landscape Study on NCDs in Sub-Saharan Africa: https://afidep.org/publication/health-financing-for-noncommunicable-diseases-landscape-analysis-of-practices-and-challenges-in-the-sub-saharan-africa-region

01/09/2026

Gender inequality remains a significant constraint to inclusive and sustainable development across Africa. While many countries have adopted policies and frameworks to promote gender equality and women's empowerment, challenges persist in translating these commitments into adequately resourced programmes, effective implementation mechanisms and measurable development outcomes.

African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), in partnership with the National Development Planning Commision (NDPC) - Ghana is hosting a 3-day workshop.

The workshop aims to address existing gaps and strengthen evidence-informed planning and policymaking, with a particular focus on integrating gender-responsive approaches into national planning and budgeting processes. AFIDEP's Research and Policy Analyst Dr Maame Brayie Peterson is among the facilitators leading the workshop.

📆 Aug 31 to Sept 2, 2026

📍Accra, Ghana

The training represents a strategic opportunity to move beyond awareness creation and toward the practical operationalisation of Ghana's Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB)Toolkit.

Participants include district planning and budget officers with practical skills to apply the GRB Toolkit within their existing institutional mandates, the initiative will contribute to:

🔸stronger planning systems,
🔸improved accountability and
🔸more inclusive development outcomes.

The workshop will also generate practical lessons and tested materials that can inform a phased scale-up of GRB capacity-building to MMDAs in the remaining regions of Ghana.

28/08/2026

African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) joined , regional partners, experts, and youth champions in Mombasa, Kenya for the Research Project Community of Practice ( ) convening.

Read our latest for insights from the session: https://afidep.org/lessons-from-the-youth-futures-community-of-practice-convening/

26/08/2026

Every year, between 800,000 and one million young enter the labour market, yet the formal created only 78,600 jobs in 2024.

This reality set the tone for the Policy Dialogue on Youth in Kenya, held in Nairobi. What new approaches can help Kenya create more and better opportunities for its growing youth ?

Read our latest for insights from the dialogue: https://lnkd.in/dZu5pg9f

25/08/2026

Our Executive Director, Dr Eliya Zulu, paid a courtesy call on Malawi’s Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Welfare, Hon. Mary Thom Navicha, M.P.

The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to turning evidence into action that improves the lives of women, girls and children. Dr Zulu highlighted AFIDEP’s work to put evidence at the centre of decision-making, strengthen the capacity of institutions to use evidence effectively, and support investments that deliver results while reducing the risk of wasted resources.

Dr Zulu also highlighted AFIDEP’s work with the African Union, through a World Bank-funded project, to explore how Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) can become more inclusive and responsive to the needs of women and girls. This includes examining curriculum reforms, policy changes and gender-transformative financing to increase women’s participation in both traditional and non-traditional skills areas.

The discussion further explored opportunities to use the Ministry’s data to inform investments in districts identified by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), with Malawi potentially serving as a case study for evidence-informed investment.

Hon. Navicha welcomed the engagement, noting that the issues raised are central to the Ministry’s priorities. She emphasised the urgent need for strong partnerships that can translate evidence into tangible solutions for women and children, and expressed her appreciation for AFIDEP’s partnership with the Ministry in advancing this agenda.

24/08/2026

24/08/2026