Background
In March 2027, PACKS Africa will mark ten years since its establishment in 2017. Over the past decade, the organisation has evolved from a negligible regional initiative focused on strengthening evidence-informed decision-making into a recognised contributor to evidence ecosystems, institutional capacity development, and contextual approaches to evidence use in Africa. Through its engagements with policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and development partners, PACKS Africa has contributed to strengthening the demand for, production of, and use of evidence in public decision-making while advancing conversations on context, power, and epistemic justice.
The organisation’s first decade has been characterised by institutional growth, strategic partnerships, intellectual innovation, and a commitment to advancing African-centred approaches to evidence use. Among its notable contributions is the development and piloting of the Thandika Mkandawire Evidence Use Index (TMEUI), a framework designed to examine evidence use across institutional and national settings, mainly to diagnose teething contextual issues, but also to generate insights that guide EIDM interventions. As the organisation prepares for its second decade, there is an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned, consolidate institutional achievements, and articulate a bold vision for the future.
To commemorate this milestone, PACKS Africa has adopted the theme “Legacy | Learning | Leap” as the organising framework for its Decennial Anniversary Programme. The anniversary year will not be treated as a retrospective celebration alone, but as a strategic transition point from institutional consolidation toward continental influence and impact.
Starting with a Virtual Launch Event, the Anniversary will officially commence the Decennial Anniversary Programme and introduce stakeholders to the activities, reflections, and strategic commitments that will define the anniversary year leading to March 2027.
Purpose and Objectives of the Event
The Virtual Launch Event seeks to formally inaugurate the PACKS Africa Decennial Anniversary Programme and provide an opportunity for partners, stakeholders, alumni, and supporters to reflect on the organisation’s journey while engaging with its vision for the future. The event will also serve as a platform to unveil the anniversary framework, communicate planned anniversary activities, strengthen stakeholder ownership of the milestone, and signal the organisation’s ambitions for the period 2027–2035.
Specific objectives of the launch event are to:
- Officially launch the PACKS Africa Decennial Anniversary Programme
- Introduce the anniversary theme and strategic framework of Legacy | Learning | Leap
- Reflect on key milestones and achievements from the organisation’s first decade
- Preview the major anniversary activities, including the “10 Lessons from 10 Years” Series and the Decennial Report
- Initiate conversations around the future of evidence leadership and institutional reform in Africa
- Build momentum and stakeholder engagement toward the March 2027 Decennial Event
Expected Participants and Key Messages
The Virtual Launch Event is intended to convene a diverse cross-section of stakeholders who have contributed to, benefited from, or share an interest in the advancement of evidence-informed decisionmaking and institutional strengthening in Africa. Participants will include representatives from government, academia, civil society, development partners, regional networks, programme alumni, and other strategic partners from Ghana and beyond. Through this broad engagement, the event will communicate the central messages underpinning the Decennial Anniversary Programme: celebrating the organisation’s Legacy of contribution and impact over the past decade; reflecting on the Learning that has shaped its growth, resilience, and institutional evolution; and articulating the Leap toward a future characterised by continental engagement, subregional presence, and the institutionalisation of contextual approaches to evidence use, including those on our TMEUI framework.
Expected Outputs
The launch event is expected to deliver the following outputs:
- Official commencement of the PACKS Africa Decennial Anniversary Programme
- Public introduction of the Legacy | Learning | Leap framework
- Increased stakeholder awareness of anniversary activities
- Launch of the “10 Lessons from 10 Years” Series
- Announcement of the Decennial Report process
- Enhanced visibility of PACKS Africa’s contributions and future ambitions
- Strengthened engagement with partners and supporters
- Digital content and recordings to support anniversary communications throughout the year
