What defines impact in policy research spaces? In the digital and data policy context, whose milestones are so often defined by bureaucratic progress, impact can look like new legal frameworks, convention commitments and ratifications. Beyond these technical achievements, however, it is communities that embody the impact of our work.
Research ICT Africa’s Theory of Change considers impact not only as a linear progression from research to policy influence, but also as a long-term investment in the interconnected networks that shape our work and define our values.
Over the past month, these pathways to impact have been tested at various levels, from stakeholder engagements to policy papers and disseminations.
The September newsletter covers them all, including:
- The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Resolution 620 Workshop, for ‘Promoting and Harnessing Data Access as a Tool for Advancing Human Rights and Sustainable Development in the Digital Age’.
- The M20 Media Summit with Media Monitoring Africa and an array of independent journalists, attended by Zara Schroeder.
- The first of our Just AI Lab convenings with media stakeholders.
- An ‘Integrated Data Governance Framework for DPI’ discussion with ICRIER.
- Featured research on Intellectual Property and AI, by Dr Andrew Rens
- Research for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) on DPI’s ability to address informality and the shadow economy, by Dr Roland Banya and Dr Sandra Makumbirofa.
- Two exciting announcements on a new AI governance institution and a global Academic Advisory Board for Digital Technologies.
See full newsletter edition for RIA insights, research, events and more.
