Partners to share about RAN highlighting RAN’s Systems Thinking Approach
The late morning of August 12th, 2022, saw a team from Michigan State University, Kosmos Innovation Center in Accra Ghana, and the Africa Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) in Accra Ghana visit and engage with the RAN team. This engagement was in the RAN Innovation Lab space located on Plot 28, Upper Kololo Terrace, Kampala Uganda.
The team engaged in-depth in the RAN Boardroom
This international team was in Uganda for the Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (Mak-CAES) Innovation Scholars Program Showcase; see details shared on https://news.mak.ac.ug/2022/08/caes-innovation-scholars-programme-boosts-critical-thinking-innovativeness-amongst-staff-students/ .
The engagement at RAN was an opportunity to further share the work the RAN team has been doing over the last 10 years with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Women, the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, and the Government of the Republic of Uganda among others. It was noted that RAN’s main mandate then was to respond to carry out research and propose solutions to respond to multidisciplinary resilience challenges. RAN’s initial award from USAID contributed to Innovation setting, development, and rollout. It largely supported Innovation research under which the team formulated challenges and offered awards through several rounds. The RAN team also ran a mentorship program engaging both female and male beneficiaries from Higher Education Institutions and other organizations including the communities. Over 400 multidisciplinary project teams were mentored with over 100 grants dispersed. The RAN team started with awarding bigger grants of approximately USD50,000 then we narrowed it down to grants amounting to USD 5,000. The RAN team also shared details about RAN’s strong, informative, and dynamic community co-creation arm noting the need for iteration to inform the next stages throughout the research and innovation process.
“There is Power in partnerships”, so much can emerge from these discussions
Before the visitors toured and appreciated the RAN space, the two teams also discussed possibilities for partnership among others. In addition, the RAN team also shared about our work within the LASER-PULSE Consortium directed towards evidence generation and sharing to inform policy noting that the RAN team is also implementing self-reliance projects directed toward building the capacity of local governments in Uganda and Malawi to implement community-led interventions in Basic Education, Agriculture, and Youth Livelihood and projects that will equip cooperatives and extension workers on how best to leverage ICT for Agriculture among others. More so, the RAN team also shared about the ongoing support in the implementation of the Research Technical Assistance Centre (RTAC) activities including activities geared towards Supporting Holistic and Actionable Research in Education (SHARE) for example ongoing Uganda’s Non-State Schools Assessment among others. To date, the RAN team is also largely involved in delivering the Systems Thinking Approach to institutions, organizations, and groups of individuals.
Dr. Roy William Mayega, RAN Deputy Chief of Party sharing about and showcasing the RAN EpiTent (a tent that breathes)
Ms. Freda Yawson, Senior Manager Infrastructure and Innovation at the Africa Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) appreciated the EpiTent prototype in the RAN Innovation space.
Group Photo after appreciating the RAN initiative
More Photos are shared on https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FwWpzNF4AxAxng76yguq-iLyZ7PY9tnN
Compiled by Harriet Adong, RAN Director Communications, Learning and Knowledge Management
Contributor: Dr. Angela Atukunda, RAN Engagemeent Manager