Afrobarometer highlights citizen data’s role in evidence-based policymaking at Africa evidence summit
Afrobarometer has highlighted the importance of citizen-generated data in shaping evidence-based policies across Africa at the 2026 Africa evidence summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The pan-African research network made the case during a hands-on technical workshop held at the two-day summit on July 23 and 24.
The 14th edition of the annual summit was convened by the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA), and the Policy Studies Institute (PSI).
It brought together more than 400 researchers, scholars, policymakers, civil society organisations and development practitioners to explore ways of strengthening the use of evidence in policymaking across the continent.
Carson Christiano, executive director of CEGA, said the summit provided an opportunity for researchers and policymakers from different disciplines and sectors to build stronger links between research and policy.
“Each year, this summit brings together a diverse community spanning disciplines, sectors, and continents to explore how high-quality research in Africa can inform policy making across the continent,” Christiano said.
“Together, we have the opportunity to build a more connected, evidence-informed ecosystem, equal to the complexity of the challenges ahead.”
Fitsum Assefa, Ethiopia’s minister of planning and development, while giving a keynote address stressed the importance of reliable and timely data to achieving development goals.
“To achieve our national goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063, we need reliable, real-time evidence,” Assefa said.
“Strengthening our data systems is essential. We should actively build a culture in which data are routinely collected, transparently shared, and effectively used to guide policy from start to finish.”
During the Afrobarometer workshop, Kamal Yakubu, the organisation’s capacity-building manager for the advanced track, and Daniel Iberi, communications coordinator for East Africa, introduced participants to the network’s survey methodology, thematic and geographical coverage, and online data analysis tools.
Participants also received practical training on how to access, analyse and apply Afrobarometer data for research, advocacy and development programmes.
Juba Kafumba, a workshop participant and doctoral student in public policy at the University of North Carolina, said Afrobarometer’s datasets had proved useful in his previous research.
“I’ve relied extensively on Afrobarometer data sets in my past research because they help turn raw numbers into meaningful stories that can inform evidence-based policy,” he said.
“If you want to move beyond simply looking at data to truly understand what citizens are experiencing, these data sets are unmatched.”
Afrobarometer also presented a poster featuring survey findings on climate change, highlighting how citizens’ experiences and perceptions can provide useful evidence for climate research, adaptation planning and policy responses.
The Africa Evidence Summit is an annual gathering of African scholars, policymakers and development practitioners focused on research relating to economic development and poverty reduction.
The 2026 edition also explored ways to strengthen the integration of evidence into decision-making, amplify the voices of African scholars and increase stakeholder engagement in policymaking.
