The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) at the University of Ghana, in partnership with the International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED), the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), and the Research and Evaluation Center (REC), will host the 2026 Evidence to Action (E2A) Conference from June 22 to 26, 2026.
The conference, which will be held under the theme “Reimagining the Evidence-Informed Policy- and Decision-Making Ecosystem in Africa,” is expected to bring together policymakers, researchers, evaluators, development practitioners, civil society actors, funders, and knowledge intermediaries from Africa and beyond for evidence-led dialogue and practical learning on the use of evidence in decision-making.
Now in its ninth edition, E2A 2026 comes at a time when there is growing recognition that whilst Africa has a rich tradition of knowledge production, much of the evidence informing policy and development decisions remains fragmented, externally driven, or disconnected from local realities.
The conference will feature two days of pre-conference workshops and side events from June 22 to 23, followed by three days of plenary sessions, technical presentations, exhibitions, and interactive breakout labs.
Discussions will focus on government systems, financing and investment, civil society implementation, research and policy innovation, and private sector decision-making.
Executive Director of ICED, Dr. David Ameyaw, said the conference seeks to elevate African-led research and strengthen its role in shaping policy and development outcomes across the continent.
“Africa’s contribution to the global research ecosystem remains disproportionately low. E2A 2026 seeks to shift that dynamic by creating a space where African-led research evidence is placed at the centre of policy dialogue, where researchers and practitioners share what has genuinely worked and why. Our ambition is that the conversations and commitments that emerge from this conference will meaningfully advance Africa’s ownership of its own development story.”
ISSER, which previously hosted E2A 2024 and E2A 2025, will once again serve as host institution for the 2026 edition at the ISSER Conference Facility on the University of Ghana campus.
Director of ISSER, Prof. Robert Darko Osei, said hosting the conference for a third consecutive year reflects the institute’s commitment to ensuring research contributes directly to development outcomes.
“ISSER is committed to advancing knowledge for development through partnerships and knowledge sharing. Hosting E2A 2026 for a third consecutive time reflects this commitment and our focus on ensuring that research and evidence are effectively translated into solutions for society’s challenges.”
A defining feature of E2A 2026 will be its shift beyond traditional conference formats toward participatory, action-oriented learning labs where real-world evidence use is shared – what works, how it works, why it works, and how it can be scaled.
