Issues and opportunities for science impact in Africa. Slides from the ESPA event held in Nairobi 15/16 March 2016

1. Issues and opportunities for growing impact in
Africa
Sam Mwangi
Regional Evidence Advisor- Africa

2. Growing Impact: Key Issues
• Developing a shared understanding + vision on IMPACT
• Responding to fundamental problems in development
articulation: basis for research
• Relevant issues: Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries, Water,
Poverty, Urbanization, Trans-boundary Ecosystems,
Climate/Disasters Vulnerabilities, SDGs, etc etc etc
• Where is the need?
Information
The Evidence Base
Institution
Managing/changing existing
practices
Innovation
New ways of doing things

3. ESPA is focused on People
Ecosystem
Political
Economy
Institutions,
Markets, …
People (Responsibilities)
Influence
(Rights)
Services

4. Suggested Actions..
• Leverage existing opportunities: Sub-national + National +
Regional levels with Governments, Donors, Private Sector,
Academia
• Demonstrate the opportunities for ecosystem-based planning
and linked investments: Agriculture, Forestry, Infrastructure,
Urban Planning, Resilient livelihoods, DRM
• Help design innovative approaches: by collaborating with the
intended end-users of ESPA research

5. Projects Brief
• ALTER
• Unravelling Biofuel Impacts on Ecosystem Services
• EcoLimits
• ASSETS: Attaining Sustainable Services from ES thru’
Trade-Off Scenarios
• EcoPoor

6. Projects Brief
• CESEA: Coastal Ecosystem Services in EA
• SPACES: Sustainable Poverty Alleviation from Coastal
Ecosystem Services
• East African Great Lakes Observatory
• Dynamic Drivers of Disease in Africa