Africa Diaspora Academic Network – United Kingdom (ADAN-UK) Trustee Report: 01 June 2021 – 31 May 2022
1. About ADAN-UK
ADAN-UK was created to enable African academics to harness their capabilities and help solve pressing development and governance needs across the Africa continent. The network offers a platform for constructive discussion leading to improved policy advice, partnership engagement, practical outcomes, and cross pollination of best practices both in Africa and the UK. Our aim is to foster and sustain a community of practice in the United Kingdom dedicated to promoting, debating and advancing practical solutions to Africa’s development and governance challenges through research, learning, training and exchange of information and ideas.
The network strategic objectives are:
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i. To serve as a hub of expertise on a wide range of educational, cultural, and sociopolitical and economic issues affecting Africa for UK-based policy makers, institutional leaders, civil society and development partners;
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ii. To actively engage in and contribute to national and transnational collaboration and partnership initiatives that spur innovation and knowledge exchange across UK and Africa;
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iii. To empower and strengthen the visibility and capacity of ADAN-UK members to readily identify, actively engage and thereby influence the dominant agendas, discussions, and programs of the UK government and higher education institutions relating to Africa;
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iv. To engage as equitable partners with key UK based academic institutions, policy makers and development partners when providing advise on, or the development of ideas, information and application tools that support positive policy development and practise on Africa;
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v. To actively engage with and influence UK’s informal and formal research agenda and activities on all aspects of Africa and advise on rigorous and appropriate interpretation and dissemination of research findings and their use to underpin initiatives aimed at advancing Africa’s sustainable development;
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vi. To identify, develop and share best practice in Africa and globally;
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vii. To facilitate opportunities to increase the impact of the contribution of the African diaspora academics to the development and good governance of Africa directly with: Africa and UK Governments, Academic Institutions, and Development Partners;
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viii. To contribute to the capacity building of HE and FE institutes, government departments and other development partners both in the UK and in Africa on the treatment of Africa and its development through networks and partnerships across organisational boundaries
Trustee Names : Judy Muthuri, Angela Muthoni and Frank Kamau
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2. Activities and objectives in the year ending 31 May 2022
ADAN-UK has been operating with no funds since Covid-19. We relied on the work of volunteers who are mostly academics, and its University partners who contribute in-kind support (i.e. space, time and refreshments) to achieve our objectives. The volunteers are academic members of staff in different UK universities who believe in the objectives and values of the organisation.
Despite the limited financial and material capital, we were able to accomplish the following:
2.1 Policy Engagement
We participated in UK policy dialogues on delivering the UK international agenda to 2020 and beyond; as well as dialogues on youth engagement for climate action.
2.2 Capacity Building Webinars
We were able to convene three successful webinars on: 1/ publishing qualitative research 2/ Decolonising management education; and 3/ Engaged research in Africa.
2.3 Mentorship
We mentored 4 new PhD students of Africa origin who were matched to senior Africa academics who provide support to help the students navigate the academic terrain whilst drawing from their unique cultural and social experiences.
2.4 Widening Participation Events
ADAN-UK supported its members in the implementation of community engagement events during the 2022 Black History Month. These events included career session and university visits for black primary and high school students in community of our members’ universities. For example, the Nottingham University Business School collaborated with local community organisations and hosted in their campus 63 young back students who were exposed to coding classes and designing a climate action campaign.
3. Challenges and Opportunities
ADAN-UK suffer human and financial capital limitations, and we rely on volunteers for institutional building. Given the high costs of living, we are finding it difficult to attract volunteers who have traditionally given their time and resources to our cause.
4. Appreciation
We are grateful to all the ADAN-UK academic volunteers, our supporters and the institutions that continue to support our members to deliver our objectives: for example,
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Mojatu Foundation
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Africa Academy of Management
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Nottingham University Business School
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Africa Research Group
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The Kenya Nottinghamshire Welfare Community
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Society of Black Academics
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