Mawazo Voices
This programme elevates the big ideas and voices of African women researchers and thought-leaders, through public and policy engagement as well as facilitating their crossover into non-academic sectors where solutions are developed to address critical societal issues on the continent and beyond.
Public Engagement
Our Public Engagement Programme establishes African researchers on the continent as a source of timely, relevant, and credible evidence for informed decision making at all levels. The programme is designed to get the high-quality research of Mawazo’s beneficiaries and other African experts into public discourse in order to facilitate open discussion on the challenges currently facing the African continent, and possible solutions. To learn more about our public engagement activities, click the links below.
Communications Outreach
We use innovative communication tools and multiple channels to maximize impact, and amplify the reach of the work of African researchers. This includes the Mawazo Blog and Media page, our quarterly Newsletter, and Mawazo’s social media feeds.
In order to promote the recognition of African scientists at home, Mawazo also develops popular science publications that showcase Africa’s rich science culture and African scientists.
As part of our communications outreach, we also share learnings from our work to encourage evidence-informed decision making in the African higher education and research ecosystem. Mawazo makes all its reports publicly downloadable to improve accessibility for stakeholders.
Policy Programme
Using training, mentorship, and support for policy engagement activities, we insert the voices of young African women into pressing policy discussions and shape our beneficiaries into policy-oriented researchers who can leverage their expertise to influence decision-making at the national, regional and global level
The Mawazo Policy Fellowship is our main programme in this area: a six-month non-residential fellowship for young African women conducting policy-relevant research in Africa. Mawazo’s 2021 Policy Fellow, Sahra Ahmed Koshin, is a Somali-Dutch PhD Candidate at the University of Nairobi and the University of Copenhagen, researching gender issues in Somalia with a focus on diaspora humanitarianism in complex crises.
African Futures - Kenya
African Future is a series long initiative of the Mawazo Institute that comprised of in-person events,podcasts,virtual events, articles and blogs exploring thematic areas related to Africa. The initiatives were coordinated by a team led by Dr.Fiona Wanjiku Moejes featuring a panel of East African and international experts, Mawazo Fellows as well as local celebrities.
Climate Week - Kenya
Climate week is a week-long initiative of the Mawazo Institute that comprised of in-person and virtual events that seeks to consolidate ideas and research that can strengthen the community’s approach to solve climate change. the events were coordinated by Dr. Fiona Wanjiku Moejes, Chief Executive officer of the Mawazo Institute, Edna Kimenju, Sustainability Advisory Manager and guest appearance by media personalities, Wanjira Longauer and Georgie Ndirangu. Major funding and support was provided by The Open Society Foundation and Falling Walls Engage Hub Kenya .
Africa Science Week - Kenya
Africa Science week is an initiative of the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) that comprised of concurrent week-long science engagement events taking place in countries across the continent. ASW-Kenya 2018 & 2019 were coordinated by a team led by Dr. Rose M. Mutiso, Co-Founder of the Mawazo Institute and NEF Ambassador for Kenya (2018-2019). Major funding was provided by the Fondation L’Oréal, Next Einstein Forum, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, and the Mawazo Institute. You can visit our blog for coverage of the 2019 Africa Science Week-Kenya.