The Mawazo Institute

18/08/2026

"A braid is never the work of a single strand."

A letter from our CEO, Dr Fiona Wanjiku Moejes.
Fiona reflects on a year woven from many hands: our largest cohort yet, tailored support for our Fellows, and a new Policy & Advocacy Department carrying their research into the rooms where decisions are made - milestones that, together, made 2025 a year of growing well, strand by strand.

Read her letter above, then explore the full 2025 Annual Report here : https://mawazoinstitute.org/annual-reports/

07/08/2026

🍃 Every harvest begins long before the crops reach the field. It starts with the research that helps farmers grow food more sustainably and communities thrive.

🇨🇮 As Côte d’Ivoire celebrates Independence Day, we’re proud to spotlight Brou Akouassi (2025 MF) whose research is advancing climate-smart agriculture.

🍃 Her work explores how climate change is influencing root-knot nematodes that threaten vegetable production and identifies naturally resistant eggplant varieties as a sustainable alternative to chemical pest control. By strengthening crop resilience, her research has the potential to support food security while protecting the environment.

🍃 As we celebrate Côte d’Ivoire's independence, we applaud the researchers whose work is helping improve the communities around them. Read more about Brou's research here https://mawazolearningexchange.org/brou-akouassi-henriette-kouadio/

05/08/2026

Cities are always changing. Streets grow busier, neighbourhoods expand, and new communities emerge. In Ouagadougou, that growth is unfolding alongside the reality of a changing climate.

🌆 As Burkina Faso celebrates Independence Day today, we're proud to spotlight Léticia Nadège (2025 MF) whose research is helping shape more resilient cities for the future.

🌆Through her PhD research, Leticia is exploring how rapid urbanization and climate change are transforming Greater Ouaga. By examining everything from heat waves and flooding to mobility, sanitation, and urban planning, her work seeks to equip policymakers with the evidence needed to build cities that are more sustainable, inclusive, and prepared for the years ahead.

🌆Today, we celebrate Burkina Faso and researchers like Leticia, whose work is helping communities navigate today's challenges while planning for tomorrow.

Find out more about her research here : https://mawazolearningexchange.org/wendpouire-leticia-nadege-nonguirema/

Happy Independence Day, Burkina Faso! 🇧🇫

30/07/2026

This August, Mawazo is taking a breather. We're on our annual Wellness & Reflection Break from 3rd to 20th August.

The team is still available! We're just replying at a gentler pace while we catch up on pending admin work and get ready for a full end to the year, so if a response takes a little longer to reach you; that's why.

Thank you for your patience. We're back to our usual hours from 24th August.

13/07/2026

📅Women researchers, what are you doing on 15 July from 3:00 - 5:00 pm CEST? Whether you're just beginning to share your research publicly or looking to strengthen your voice, this session is for you! 👉 Register here: https://dfcentre.zoom.us/meeting/register/Bci4Y2UhR52vvPs8F2XWPw

Join us for the live storytelling and closing session of “Owning your spotlight” - part of the Learn & Lead Together initiative by Danida Fellowship Centre and The Mawazo Institute, open to women researchers worldwide.

Owning your spotlight is designed to help researchers build the confidence and practical skills to communicate their work and engage with audiences.

Our closing session brings together researchers at different stages of their public engagement journeys to share honest stories, practical lessons, and the strategies that helped them overcome self-doubt. We're also delighted to be joined by a leading journalist, who will share insights from the media perspective.

Meet our guest speakers:
🎤 Shelly Walia - Executive Editor, The Quint (India), with extensive experience leading award-winning journalism on gender, climate, health, and human rights.
🎤 Dr. Mary Wetani Agoriwo - Physiotherapist, researcher, and lecturer at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (Ghana), whose work advances neurological rehabilitation, Parkinson's disease research, and equitable access to rehabilitation services across Africa.
🎤 Prof. Jacqueline Goldin – Anthropologist, participatory researcher, and educator whose work bridges science and society through citizen science, arts-based approaches, and knowledge co-creation.

👉 Register here: https://dfcentre.zoom.us/meeting/register/Bci4Y2UhR52vvPs8F2XWPw

09/07/2026

💌Fiona , thank you for leading with both heart and conviction. Your courage, kindness, and unwavering commitment have shaped not only Mawazo's journey but also the people fortunate enough to work alongside you. We're deeply grateful for your leadership and all that you do.

💌 Eight years of showing up with purpose, generosity, and heart. Ashley, you have helped shape our journey and strengthened our community in so many meaningful ways. Thank you for everything you've brought to Mawazo over the years.

Happy , Fiona and Ashley! 🎉

06/07/2026

Kenya launched a new framework this year to unify its research and innovation ecosystem - the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation - Kenya Synergy Blueprint. It's ambitious. And it comes with data.

In her latest opinion piece for The Daily Nation, published on 2nd July 2025, our Senior Policy and Advocacy Lead Carolyne Tunnen unpacks what the Blueprint's numbers reveal about the state of Kenyan research:

- GERD sits at 0.8% of GDP (Sh92 billion), well below the African Union's 2% target
- 74% of Kenya's research funding comes from external sources
- The country produces just 23% of its annual PhD target
- Universities host over 70% of researchers and control 1.7% of national research equipment value
- Only 16.7% of institutions have functional commercialisation offices
- Of the 36% of women with PhDs, only 17% reach professorship

The Blueprint's proposal is to raise GERD to 2% (Sh499 billion) by 2031, end the dependence on external funding, and close the gender gap in senior research roles.

Whether Kenya delivers on that ambition depends on the work that comes next. Carolyne Tunnen's analysis is essential reading for anyone thinking about research policy, gender equity in science, or Kenya's path to a knowledge economy.

Read the full piece here :

Kenya has made notable progress in establishing infrastructure necessary to strengthen the SRI sector.

06/07/2026

Stepping into the spotlight isn't always easy. For many researchers, public engagement and visibility can feel intimidating, even overwhelming. But sometimes, being visible is part of creating impact.

If you missed the launch of Module 2: Owning Your Spotlight, developed by Danida Fellowship Centre and Mawazo Institute as part of our Learn & Lead Together initiative for , you can catch up here: 🎥 https://youtu.be/tFVR5tdGrUw?si=TJR3DQZAw2UUeq_b

The Learn & Lead Together sessions and learning resources are free and open to women researchers around the world. Explore the self-paced materials here: https://mawazolearningexchange.org/resources/

This module 2 is designed to help researchers build the confidence and practical skills to communicate their work, engage with audiences, and own their spotlight. It combines tutorials, inspiring stories, and actionable advice to support you every step of the way.

We'll be meeting again on 15 July, 3:00 - 5:00 pm CEST to wrap up the module, and you're warmly invited to join us!👉 Register here: https://dfcentre.zoom.us/meeting/register/Bci4Y2UhR52vvPs8F2XWPw

Watch the last session here : https://youtu.be/tFVR5tdGrUw?si=TJR3DQZAw2UUeq_b

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

02/07/2026

This is your cue to drop a 🎉 in the comments

Vivian Mushi in Tanzania. Rebecca Nuwematsiko in Uganda. Angela Ayimbire PhD in South Africa. Ma-Lyse Nema in Côte d'Ivoire.

Each of them carried years of research, sacrifice, and determination to this moment and each of them made it. Last month, four Mawazo Fellows crossed that finish line - they defended their research, and walked out with PhDs.

Read more about their impact on the latest newsletter : https://preview.mailerlite.com/x1m3d4n5k4

30/06/2026

It's Democratic Republic Of Congo's Independence Day today 🇨🇩 and as we celebrate, we share the story of Furaha Kazinguvu; whose research is exploring how crowdfunding will reshape access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises in the DRC.

Her work identifies what makes campaigns succeed, innovating practical tools that entrepreneurs in DRC can use to fuel growth and long-term sustainability. Across the continent, our Fellows are tackling local challenges with research rooted in their own communities.

Read More about her here : https://mawazolearningexchange.org/furaha-kazinguvu/

Across the continent, African Women Researchers are tackling local challenges with research rooted in their community's unique and shared experiences. We take immense pride in investing in these women. Their research and the future they're building.

Happy Independence Day, DRC 🇨🇩