The University for Development Studies (UDS) in collaboration with the MasterCard Foundation, recently hosted a landmark workshop in Tamale aimed at advancing research and development in Africa by decolonizing conventional approaches. The three-day workshop, inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Professor Seidu Al-Hassan, brought together academics and researchers from various African countries to reshape Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) methods tailored specifically to African contexts.

Professor Seidu Al-Hassan emphasized the critical need to challenge conventional norms in development, stating, "This project is essential for African development and must be approached with utmost sincerity." He underscored the significance of African cultural practices, highlighting that "Taboos, festivals, and storytelling are integral aspects of African culture that warrant further study."

The workshop aimed to stimulate innovative thinking around development by advocating for context-specific approaches. Professor Seidu Al-Hassan emphasized Africa's right to assert its unique knowledge systems and challenge dominant global paradigms, stating, "We must decolonize our mindset towards development and recognize its inherent contextual nature."

Dr. Ishmael Ayanore, co-lead of the UDS team, emphasized the importance of retraining project evaluators, highlighting that "Project evaluation and evaluators themselves must de-school and reschool even before going to the field for evaluation". He stressed the necessity of incorporating indigenous perspectives into project design to ensure local ownership and relevance.

Ms. Adeline Sibanda, Senior Director of Programs Impact Support and Advisory at the MasterCard Foundation, celebrated the workshop as a realization of Dr. Sule Gariba's vision, stating, "We are entering a new dawn of Monitoring and Evaluation in Africa, and it is heartening to see Dr. Gariba's dream finally coming to fruition."

The workshop's second day featured vibrant cultural displays and dynamic intellectual exchanges. Traditional rhythms and dance welcomed participants. This set the stage for a day of intensive brainstorming sessions and idea-sharing within designated groups. Participants engaged in thematic areas such as project design, community entry, culturally responsive monitoring, and transformative learning.

The integration of cultural heritage with scholarly discourse exemplified the workshop's objective of crafting innovative and context-specific development paradigms within Africa. This event, deeply rooted in community engagement and indigenous knowledge systems, signifies a new era of collaborative scholarship aimed at fostering sustainable approaches to research and development across the African continent.

On the final day, presentations of the ideas generated during the workshop were made. Mr. Sajilu Kamwendo, Director of Outcome and Impact Evaluation at the MasterCard Foundation, expressed gratitude to the University for Development Studies for hosting the event. He commended UDS as a strategic partner and thanked all facilitators for their contributions. "We have so much confidence in UDS and hope we can harness this partnership. As a foundation, we wish to test this idea and use it in Africa", he remarked.

The culmination of the workshop highlighted UDS's commitment to pro-poor academic excellence and community engagement through initiatives like the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP), which emphasizes knowledge generation from local communities. This event represents a significant step towards reshaping development approaches and promoting indigenous perspectives in African research and scholarship.

Story by; Sumaila Mohammed (UDS Media)