SCCB-AFRICA Participates in Development Impact West Africa Summit 2025
Accra, August 25–26: The State Capacity and Citizenship Building Research Centre (SCCB-Africa) joined a host of institutions including the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Ghana Statistical Service, Parliament of Ghana, and members of academia at the 2025 DIWA Conference held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra.
The two-day summit highlighted the importance of evidence, partnerships, and co-production in driving sustainable development. Participants underscored the need to strengthen state institutions while also cultivating citizenship aptitude and capacity to push for effective policy and development interventions. This is a recognition that aligns with the core mandate of SCCB-Africa. Discussions emphasized the need to make evaluation an integral part of policy design rather than treating it as an afterthought. Delegates also called on governments and organizations to release more resources for evaluation while also underscoring the need for innovative, internal funding mechanisms in light of global cuts in development finance.
There were series of presentations showcasing evidence-driven policy research across West Africa, including studies on early childhood education in Benin, the impact of Ghana’s free maternal health policy on family planning and child nutrition, irrigation policies for smallholder farmers, ECOWAS free movement and regional integration, as well as strategies for translating research evidence into policy. While participants acknowledged the persistent difficulty in getting policymakers to adopt research evidence, they also pointed to notable success stories to demonstrate the potential of partnerships and collaborations.
Reflecting on the summit, SCCB-Africa Director Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim stated: “We are delighted to have participated in this forum as it aligns with the work that we do at SCCB-Africa. We believe in evidence-informed policy, but we also recognise that the policy process is not always linear and technocratic.”
Dr. Ibrahim further noted that ” Understanding the political dynamics of policymaking helps in developing recommendations that are both actionable and attractive to those at the forefront of policy development and implementation. The forum also provided an opportunity to network with development practitioners, government officials, and other stakeholders committed to evaluation and impact. We are grateful to DIWA for this opportunity and look forward to future collaborations.”
Also in attendance was SCCB-Africa early-career associate Ms. Amina Ibrahim, who volunteered with the conference organizers. SCCB-Africa is intentional about building the capacity of young researchers and development practitioners to drive development agendas in various fields. Drawing on her experience working in various projects on rural education, health, and social services with Ghana’s National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and local NGOs, Ms. Amina Ibrahim reiterated the importance of amplifying grassroots challenges across different domains of development at high-level research and policy forums such as DIWA.
The summit organizers thanked participants and reiterated their commitment to working collaboratively with governments, local actors, and international partners to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and impact assessment. Professor Charles Amoatey, DIWA Director, further announced plans to expand DIWA’s operations beyond West Africa to the wider African continent. SCCB-Africa welcomes this announcement and reaffirms its commitment to advancing research that builds citizenship and strengthens state capacity across Africa.