Africa Diaspora Academic Network – United Kingdom (ADAN-UK) Trustee Report: 01 June 2022 – 31 May 2023
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 2023
ADAN-UK relies on in-kind support (e.g. time, space) and academic volunteers from UK universities to conduct its business and meet its objectives. Unfortunately, due to the limited funding opportunities, we have not received any funding from donors but have been able to implement the following
2.1 Capacity Building Webinars
Convene two successful webinars on: 1/ publishing in top academic journals, and 2/ Navigating the UK Institutional Environment
2.2 Mentorship
We mentored 3 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.
2.3 Widening Participation Events
ADAN-UK organised Black History Month bringing primary and high school students of black heritage to our members’ universities.
3. Challenges and Opportunities
ADAN-UK face financial and human capacities. Given the difficult financial pressures UK universities are facing that has led to high workload, 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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Africa Academy of Management
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Africa Research Group
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Mojatu Foundation
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Nottingham University Business School
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