On Thursday, 3 September 2026, the African Centre for Development Impact (ACDI) welcomed Chris Maloney and Chris Chibwana, Program Officers in the Gender Equity and Governance Program at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, for a working visit and wide-ranging conversation about ACDI’s work, growth and future direction.
The discussion was led by ACDI’s Executive Director, Prof. Charles Amoatey, and Mr Richard Otoo, Senior Manager, Operations and Partnerships, together with other members of the ACDI team.
The visit provided an opportunity to share how ACDI is working towards its strategic goals through capacity building, research and evaluation, evidence translation, partnerships and engagement with policymakers across Africa.
A central part of the conversation focused on how ACDI is strengthening the pathway from evidence generation to evidence use. The team shared how ACDI builds the capacity of researchers and policymakers, brings them together around policy priorities, supports co-created research, and translates evidence into formats that are appropriate and accessible for government decision-makers.
The discussion also reflected on examples of how this approach has contributed to public decision-making, highlighting evaluations of Ghana’s Free Senior High School and pre-engineering programmes, with the latter providing evidence that supported the programme’s continuation.
Looking ahead, Chris and Chris shared perspectives on how ACDI can deepen its connections with other research and evidence organisations, think tanks and networks across the continent. The conversation explored opportunities around evidence synthesis, methodological flexibility and how ACDI can leverage existing relationships and continental platforms to strengthen partnerships and expand its reach across Africa.
The team also discussed ACDI’s broader institutional development, including efforts to strengthen its systems, partnerships and operational capacity as the organisation continues to grow.
The working visit provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on ACDI’s progress, explore new possibilities for collaboration and consider how the organisation can continue strengthening its contribution to Africa’s evidence ecosystem.
ACDI appreciates Chris Maloney and Chris Chibwana for the thoughtful exchange, valuable perspectives and connections shared during the visit.
