Learning, Reflections & Innovation @ INASP Pilot projects April 2018 Capacity development in ‘harder to reach’ places Bringing together people, activities and learning to explore work in Sierra Leone and the Somali regions
Conflict and instability - and resulting factors such as the loss of educated and professional people to other countries - can be damaging to national research systems. To learn more about the real needs of researchers in such countries and how INASP’s different capacity development approaches could be best used in these situations, we carried out pilot projects in two Brainstorming and planning collaborations among the higher education institutions of Sierra Leone such countries, Sierra
Leone (from 2013) and development of skills and expertise have research needs and people Somalia (from 2015). within countries. keen to do research. We have The projects provided seen this in the participation of support with access, INASP has tended to work researchers from conflict-affected in countries where research countries in the online courses research communication, and knowledge systems are in research writing run by our journal publishing and established, even if not working AuthorAID project (see table on gender equity in higher particularly well. However, page 2). These numbers also education. They revealed countries that are or have recently hint at some of the problems been disrupted by conflict also encountered in these countries; the importance of understanding context, strong local champions, Key INASP themes Sierra Leone Somalia partnership and convening, and adaptability. Academic publishing * Gender & equity (*) * For over 25 years INASP has Higher education & learning * * worked in various ways to support research and knowledge systems Information access * in the Global South. Over recent years, a strong emphasis of this Research communication * * work has been on supporting the
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Participants from fragile states on AuthorAID Challenges – research writing MOOCs from the first five English- anticipated and language MOOCs unanticipated
Not Completion Both countries have faced Country completed Completed Total % significant challenges in their recent pasts and there were Somalia 145 85 230 37% also significant challenges for INASP to work in these countries. Sierra Leone 17 10 27 37% Working in Somalia is hampered by known difficulties in visiting the country, for example the threat of Liberia 12 13 25 52% kidnapping exists in some parts of the country and security remains South Sudan 2 3 5 60% problematic. What we did not anticipate at the start of this work was that Sierra Leone would, for a the completion rates tend to be on gender equity and how women significant portion of this project, lower than the figures for the could be better supported. In also become impossible to visit course overall and anecdotal both countries, there were strong due to the Ebola outbreak in 2014. feedback points to issues such overlaps with work done through as problems with intermittent other pilots in the SRKS project, These challenges could have internet connectivity. However, the particularly the work with National caused the projects in the two feedback also indicates that the Research and Education Networks countries to stall. However, in fact courses are extremely relevant for (NRENs)2 and with gender.3 they helped to shape the work, the researchers and academics in strengthening the reliance on these countries. Sierra Leone and Somalia have local people on the ground and some similarities and some guiding the flexible and adaptive Keen to understand more about differences and we recognized that approach taken. To minimize risk how to support research and it was important to share learning and to ensure that both INASP knowledge systems in such between the two projects, and and our partners could learn as countries – and with DFID’s more widely INASP’s experiences, our work together progressed, particular focus on fragile while at the same time seeking we developed the projects states1 - INASP ran pilot projects to understand and respond to the incrementally, with each activity in two countries as part of our unique contexts in each place. being reviewed and then built on Strengthening Research and Prior to starting this piece of work, in the next stage of support. This Knowledge Systems (SRKS) we commissioned country studies allowed us to understand how the programme. We started with Sierra of four countries – Sierra Leone,4 partners would manage the work Leone (in the first year of SRKS, Somalia,5 Liberia6 and South in their context. It enabled a pace 2013) and brought in Somalia (in Sudan.7 of implementation that meant that the third year of SRKS, 2015). activities could be adapted as we The country studies, as well as and our partners learned more In both countries, we worked with connections with people with about the needs and capacities. It local partners to bring together existing knowledge and experience also meant we could maximize the aspects of INASP’s work in a way of the countries, guided our relatively small budget available that was appropriate to the country selection of the two countries for for pilot projects. and context. In Sierra Leone, this these pilots. They also guided our meant supporting and making approaches within those countries connections to support research and particularly in partner Understanding information access, research selection. Because of the difficulty local needs and writing, journal publishing and IT in working intensely within the opportunities infrastructure. In Somalia, the low countries we needed to find numbers of women in the research partners who demonstrated that In Sierra Leone, our project started and higher education sector meant the work was important to them 12 years after the civil war had that our partner was keen to focus and built on existing work. ended and after significant World
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Bank investment in rebuilding basic infrastructure such as roads. We have documented in previous Learning, Reflections and Innovation articles the activities that were carried out so here we will particularly focus on the aspects of the work that share learning with the project in the Somali regions.8
We conducted a scoping visit in 2013 to meet as many people as possible and gather information. The aim was to assess whether the ICT and research infrastructure in Sierra Leone made this an appropriate project at this time and to ensure this project was necessary and did not duplicate work that was already being done. It also enabled us to develop a team of partners we could work Making connections: INASP’s Anne Powell (bottom right) with Thomas with during the course of this Songu (middle, front row), Miriam Conteh-Morgan (middle, second row) project and to build awareness and other local partners of the value of online research literature. Given the existing opportunities library consortium and an NREN. of R4L resources, the project was With both of these, we played a Sierra Leone has a couple of initially shaped around research brokering and networking role universities that are carrying out information access, with INASP for our partners in Sierra Leone, research and the active Sierra providing training and guidance on linking them to other individuals Leone Agriculture Research the use of the materials available and institutions who can support Institute. As our budget for pilot through R4L. their work. projects was not large, the fact that most research institutions are This included bringing together located in Freetown or Njala meant Making connections the new Sierra Leonean library Sierra Leone was a relatively easy across the research consortium with more established country in which to carry out a system and experienced consortia from pilot project without too much Ghana and Kenya and connecting time or money spent travelling. As universities in Sierra Leone the ICT staff to regional expertise closed and travel became for ICT support (linking the new We also knew that a significant impossible due to Ebola, together SLREN into regional networks). number of institutions in the with our local partners we explored There were further opportunities country were registered to use other options for supporting the for regional networking when one Research4Life (R4L) resources, research and knowledge system in of our key partners in Sierra Leone, demonstrating an interest in, and the country. This led to AuthorAID Miriam Conteh-Morgan, spoke as hopefully ability to access, online online training materials being part of a panel of African library research literature in English. This adapted for Sierra Leone, including consortia at INASP’s Publishers for readiness was important as we addressing internet connectivity Development conference in the UK were determined this should not issues with our first use of in 2017.9 be an “in-and-out” intervention, Moodle’s offline mode of operation but one that would meet real for our AuthorAID scientific In addition, in response to a desire needs and would work in depth. research writing course. from Sierra Leone to re-establish This would require commitment the country’s journal publishing on both sides, from within Sierra As travel became possible again, activities, a connection was made Leone as much as from INASP over we responded to requests from with INASP’s long-term partner the five years of the project. our partners within the country for and former project African Journals support in establishing a national Online (AJOL). Representatives
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from Sierra Leone took part in an AJOL workshop in Ghana.
And there were wider links to be made too. Miriam Conteh- Morgan explained in a recent case study10 how she and two female colleagues convened a “Women in Academia” group in her university. She explained why:
“I am at senior management level and there are many times that I go to meetings and I am the only woman around the table. I’m comfortable with that - I grew up with five brothers - but it is very striking that there are only two of us women who are associate professors or professors at my institution.” Inaugural meeting of the Sierra Leone Academic Libraries Network
This group is not part of INASP’s academics together with the Rift Somali research and knowledge Sierra Leone pilot. However, the Valley Institute to discuss research system were not unique, and the connections established between and knowledge systems in the Somali and Kenyan counterparts INASP and the University of Sierra Somali context. This roundtable were able to discuss and learn Leone during this project meant shared some similarities with the from each other. that Miriam and her colleagues scoping visit to Sierra Leone a were aware of another INASP pilot couple of years earlier in providing However, the roundtable did project in gender. Specifically, in an opportunity to meet some key reveal a striking feature of the addition to discussing the situation actors within the Somali research Somali research system – a severe and challenges in their own system. under-representation of women institution, they also watched a in research and academia. Only video from University of Dodoma The roundtable brought together one of the Somali participants at in Tanzania about the Gender members of the Somali research the roundtable was female. Sahro Mainstreaming in Higher Education and development community, Ahmed Koshin is a Somali-Dutch work there and discussed how representatives from the gender and governance specialist they might use INASP’s Gender Kenyan research community, with over 10 years of experience Mainstreaming in Higher Education and representatives from in governance and gender issues Toolkit11 in Sierra Leone. research funding and supporting in conflict zones. organizations. It aimed to improve Learning about understanding of research and She explained in a recent case knowledge systems in the Somali study10 the challenge that was Somali research and context, and revealed some highlighted by the attendance at knowledge systems interesting trends (see box: Main the meeting: points from Somalia roundtable). Work in the Somali regions took a “I happened to be firstly, one of similarly responsive and adaptive In a similar way to Sierra Leone, at the few Somalis there, but also approach, recognizing that the the roundtable, Somali academics the only Somali woman. I was initial timeframe (to fit within were able to meet Kenya there as a speaker about SIDRA, the SRKS programme) would be counterparts to share experience, so I completely changed my shorter than in Sierra Leone. contacts and resources. This presentation to inquiring why included the Kenyan library there are very few women. I said: Following the country report, consortium and journal editors. ‘What’s happening, we’re leaving in March 2016 INASP held a The roundtable revealed that half of the community, half of the roundtable in Nairobi for Somali many of the challenges facing the population, we’re speaking about
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Somalis and there aren’t many Institute for Development female. The issue of the absence Somalis here, and we’re speaking Research and Analysis (SIDRA) and of women in research in Somalia about Somali women, and it’s very so we began to discuss with SIDRA was discussed at the workshop. important to have their input as how to support a conversation Participants discussed negative well in knowledge production.’” around gender in higher education attitudes, a male-dominated in the country. sector, the lack of role models Sahro had, at that time, recently for young women and girls, how returned to Somalia from the Exploring the gender important decisions are reached Netherlands and her drive to without the input and consultation address this challenge was an gap in the Somali of women, and the absence of important feature of the success regions female lecturers. SIDRA also of this project. It also had an discovered that the electronic interesting similarity with the Following a grant awarded manner of applying for the training project in Sierra Leone where the earlier in the year, SIDRA ran an was a barrier for many female work was largely driven by two AuthorAID-supported workshop students, and so in subsequent champions, Miriam Conteh Morgan in July 2016. Of the 50 applicants workshops reached out to female and Thomas Songu, both of whom that applied to join the workshop, participants and encouraged them were returned diaspora from the only seven were female, despite to apply by submitting hand- US. SIDRA taking extra measures written applications. to find female applicants. Of At the time of the conference, the 30 who finally participated At this first training activity, SIDRA Sahro was working for Somali in the workshop, only five were paved the way to gather gender-
Main points from Somalia roundtable 12 There is a need for more research in the Somali regions to inform and drive state-building, decision making, change and development. However, there is little local demand and most of the demand is driven by the international community. - A lack of visions or research agendas to frame Somali research needs was also revealed. Some organizations or individual ministries have a research agenda, but difficult to access data. Agendas of the international agencies is scattered and tends to skew research towards their agenda. - Researchers and research institutions are hired as consultants, which lead to competition between the institutions to win funds. There is also little Somali ownership and much of the research conducted in Somalia ends up in Nairobi. - Discussions showed the fragility of a research system built on shifting donor funding and the importance of engaging in open dialogue with donors and finding other sources of funding. This highlighted the need for safe spaces for free thinking, critical discussion and collaboration. - There are no national archives or repositories where data and research outputs can be kept, so the results of prior studies or projects can only be accessed from the individuals or organizations who conducted them. - Capacity often sits with individuals and outside of institutions. Many universities are established as businesses and research institutes tend to lack funding, fostering competition rather than collaboration. - There is under representation of women in the system and research is still very male dominated. It is difficult for Somali women to study and to combine a career with family and social and cultural expectations. The Ministry of Education has established a gender unit to consider how to increase the number of girls and women in education. - Somali culture is traditionally nomadic, based on oral traditions so there is high illiteracy, an absence of a reading culture, and a preference for oral traditions. There is therefore a need for more creative ways to disseminate research, other than the expectation that research has to be communicated in a written form. - Many of the challenges faced by the Somali regions are not unique, and other countries are facing similar challenges and problems. Bringing people together can enable joint problem solving around those common challenges. There are inequities in the global research and knowledge system that both exclude people and force people to leave their country to study.
5 www.inasp.info @INASPinfo Learning, Reflections & Innovation @ INASP PilotSustainability projects AprilNovember 2018 2016 sensitive information regarding of Labour, Youth and Sports and the political, social, economic and the Ministry of the Constitution, educational limitations women and Democratisation and Federal young girls face in the education Affairs. There were also sector in the Puntland region of representatives from higher Somalia. education institutions in Puntland and education sector partners Following this, in November including UNDP, Care Somalia, 2016, SIDRA, with INASP support, FAWESOM and the Puntland ran a three-day knowledge Women Writers Association. exchange event on gender in higher education and research in As a result of the policy Puntland. This brought together dissemination event, SIDRA students, academics, researchers, was invited by the Ministry of civil society representatives and Education to present the policy government representatives to brief at the launch event of discuss the gender issues and the Somalia Higher Education gaps affecting researchers and Development Support project research in the Somali region of (SHEDS) in Nairobi on 12-13 Puntland and initiated dialogue on September. It is hoped that Following a knowledge exchange how some of these gaps can be SIDRA will be able to support this event, SIDRA developed a policy addressed and closed. Participants project by ensuring that gender is paper on gender equity in higher included senior women academic included in the project design and education in Puntland researchers, women bloggers, implementation in the future. women writers, activists and civil women in research and academia society. Supporting women would be to enable women to provide support to each other. The From the knowledge event, a researchers participants suggested setting policy brief13 was developed with The first Knowledge Exchange up a network that could support input and recommendations Event confirmed the many women researchers. As a result, from the event. The initial policy challenges facing female SIDRA set up a Community of brief was written in English researchers, students and Practice (COP) for female Somali and translated into Somali, academics in Somalia. The researchers, creating an online and in September 2017 SIDRA participants shared experiences space where they can feel safe held a dissemination event for ranging from a lack of parental to discuss issues, collaborate and policymakers and other relevant support, to difficulties in travelling share their research and other stakeholders to share the to school or university unattended, resources. INASP has provided findings and recommendations to a lack of voice and decision- some advisory support to SIDRA of the policy brief. Participants making ability in largely male- in running this COP. It is still in included representatives from dominated environments. the initial stages but women have the Ministry of Education, the started to sign up and SIDRA has Ministry of Women’s Development The participants recognized that begun sending out introductory and Family Affairs, the Ministry one valuable step to supporting information to the members.
Somalia’s gender context, in brief 14 The Gender Inequality Index for Somalia is 0.766 (with a maximum of 1 denoting complete inequality), placing Somalia at the fourth highest position globally. Extremely high maternal mortality, rape, female genital mutilation and child marriage rates, and violence against women and girls is common, although statistics are difficult to find. Participation and role of women in politics and decision-making spheres is extremely limited, perpetuating narrow gender based roles and inequalities. Issues are not openly discussed. Girls are married early, with 45% of women aged 20 to 24 married before the age of 18. According to the 2006 Somalia Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, the adult literacy rate for women is estimated to be 26% (compared to 36% for men, and 32% overall). Research and higher education are dominated by men, both in conducting research and in teaching and learning.
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mobilize some small initiatives to support women within this challenging environment.
The events and production of the policy paper were very much directed and led by SIDRA, which had a good understanding of the context and the pace at which such discussions could be introduced. INASP supported the process through regular conversations with the SIDRA team over Skype regarding the progress, how the events had been received and what were the feasible next steps. Taking a partner-driven and incremental approach to this work was essential to ensure that the work was culturally-sensitive and framed appropriately for the audience.
Making connections As in Sierra Leone, where possible Sahro Ahmed Koshin (back left) joined other INASP partners in discussing INASP supported SIDRA by linking gender equity in higher education at the 2017 AuthorAID meeting in them to other initiatives and Sri Lanka projects which could provide opportunities for collaboration, The papers presented by the Exchange Event, VU agreed with cooperation and learning. female researchers at the SIDRA to run a second research Knowledge Exchange Event have methods and communication To facilitate wider sharing of ideas been edited and will be published course that would focus on female from this work in Puntland, we locally by SIDRA as part of an lecturers. invited SIDRA to participate in a effort to support women to have gender roundtable meeting that their research published and Towards the end of this training was held as a side-meeting to the accessible. support, INASP supported SIDRA to AuthorAID partner meeting in Sri run a second Knowledge Exchange Lanka in December 2017. Sahro In addition to working with INASP, event in August 2017, with a Ahmed Koshin attended as the SIDRA has been part of the higher focus on the challenges facing lead for the gender work within education component of a larger female lecturers, employment SIDRA. The one-day roundtable education capacity development and promotion and research and allowed INASP partners – including project, called Waxbarashaddu publication. The women lecturers those from Tanzania and Ghana as Waa Ifitiin (Education is Light), who were part of the VU training well as Somalia and our hosts for funded by the European Union. shared their experiences at the this meeting in Sri Lanka - to meet Vrije Universitiet (VU) of the second knowledge exchange together and to share experience Netherlands has been leading the event, and a short video was also and learning about gender in higher education component and made of the event, which SIDRA higher education. working with SIDRA to provide plans to disseminate widely.15 some of the training and capacity We also linked Sahro to a like- development. The Knowledge Exchange Events, minded Kenyan woman, Mary the COP and the training for Murimi, who is currently a In 2016 this project ran a research women researchers have all Professor in Nutritional Sciences writing skills workshop for 25 helped to initiate a discussion at Texas Tech University in the US. lecturers, of which only one in the Somali context about the Mary has been supporting Jijgiga participant was female. Following experience of women and girls in University in the Somali region of the INASP-supported Knowledge education and research, and to Ethiopia to develop a women’s
7 www.inasp.info @INASPinfo Learning, Reflections & Innovation @ INASP PilotSustainability projects AprilNovember 2018 2016 leadership programme, after enabled the team in Somalia to having attended a conference on develop relationships with others Looking ahead breast feeding and nutrition at the with similar or complementary university that was only attended interests and skills. This has help These two pilot projects enabled by male academics. Sahro was the organization to expand and us to explore, with partners, able to travel to Jijgiga University develop its own work beyond the ways to respond to local contexts in December 2017 to support partnership with INASP. and needs to support national Mary to run a one-day women’s research and knowledge systems. leadership workshop. Both Mary Reflections The pilots resulted in some and Sahro benefited greatly from notable successes, especially the experience and were inspired The pilot projects in the two in the building of longer-term by each other’s work and life countries happened in different relationships as the basis for stories. ways and met different challenges. future work. They also highlighted However, some common themes many opportunities and needs for We have supported SIDRA to emerged that are important further work. develop skills and contacts for to consider in future work. other aspects of its work too. In particular, although our In Somalia it is anticipated that The training courses with Vrije interventions in both Somalia and some of this work will continue Universitiet have involved online Sierra Leone have been modest, within a new programme, Strong training utilizing the INASP they have allowed opportunities and Equitable Research and AuthorAID research writing for INASP and our in-country Knowledge Systems (SERKS), course run on the INASP Moodle. partners to work with others to which we are just starting with INASP has also supported the cascade and continue the work. initial funding from Sida and which development of the course we are hoping to attract further content, by providing a module We have linked to other funding to. Depending on the on An Overview of the Publishing institutions supporting work in priorities defined with partners Landscape, written by one of the these contexts, which has enabled during the inception phase of this AuthorAID team members. Some more comprehensive support programme, continuing work in SIDRA staff members were also and assistance. In Sierra Leone, Somalia could include working invited to be “guest facilitators” the University of Bath in the UK with institutional partners to on our research writing MOOCs, to partnered with us on face-to- implement recommendations from enable them to experience online face writing courses, while in the SIDRA gender policy, or to facilitation before they began the Somalia the courses on research build on the women’s leadership online training with VU. methods and communication that work initiated in the Somali region SIDRA has been working with of Ethiopia. SIDRA is also keen SIDRA has, like our partners Vrije Universitiet on have been to explore the need to better in Sierra Leone, also been supported by our materials and mainstream gender within public keen to build up the region’s Moodle. institutions and has recently publishing activities and has completed a study examining been researching the feasibility In Sierra Leone, the project the progress of three Puntland of establishing a research and benefitted from working in the institutions in this regard.17 SIDRA development journal. We were two lead universities which could is also keen to continue convening able to provide support to the cascade learning and activities to stakeholders in the region to SIDRA team in this work by other institutions in the country discuss gender issues through the providing feedback on their draft where possible. Working in knowledge exchange events. ideas, introducing them to the depth with two universities while Journal Publishing and Practices developing approaches that can INASP is continuing to work with and Standards (JPPS)16 framework, be rolled out to others enabled Sierra Leone – and with many of and putting them in touch with us to be nimble and responsive, the same partners – as part of a the African Journals Online (AJOL) and to keep the project moving new DFID-funded stream of work team. through the Ebola crisis. Similarly, on quality assurance of higher in Somalia, SIDRA has used and education, where INASP will be Connecting SIDRA to other championed INASP’s gender work developing tools to support critical partners we work with, and and has the potential to cascade thinking in higher education. The supporting the organization to this by supporting the gender partnership arose from the good take part in existing initiatives, aspects of the Somalia Higher connections built during this pilot has been cost-effective in terms of Education Development Support project. However, this new work staff time and resources, and has project (SHEDS). is in a different area from the pilot
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and we are also keen to explore newly formed SLREN so there are opportunities to build on the areas opportunities to provide further of the pilot that would benefit support there. from further work. For example, the European Union has provided We are interested to explore significant investment into fibre further options for further work in optic cabling in Sierra Leone and both these countries and others also much of the funding required where the lessons from these to continue the work of the pilots can be shared. INASP team Anne Powell, Programme Referrences Manager, Information Access 1. UK aid: tackling global challenges in the 9. www.pubs-for-dev.info and Publisher Liaison national interest, DFID, 2015. assets. Ruth Bottomley, Senior publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ 10. www.inasp.info/womeninscience Programme Manager, Research uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/478834/ODA_strategy_final_ 11. www.inasp.info/gendertoolkit Development and Support web_0905.pdf 12. Understanding research and knowledge 2. Accessing and contributing to systems in the Somali regions. Report Sierra Leone team global research: the problem of the of a roundtable convened by INASP Thomas Songu, ICT Director, last kilometre www.inasp.info/en/ and the Rift Valley Institutte, BIEA, Njala University publications/details/271 15th March 2016. www.inasp.info/en/ publications/details/232 Miriam Conteh-Morgan, 3. Gender in Research & Knowledge Deputy University Librarian Systems www.inasp.info/gender 13. SIDRA gender policy brief www.inasp. and Campus Librarian, Institute info/en/publications/details/275 4. Country profile: Sierra Leone www. of Public Administration and inasp.info/en/publications/details/273 14. UNDP 2012. Somalia Human Management, University of Development Report 2012. Empowering Sierra Leone 5. Country profile: Somali regions www. Youth for Peace and Development, inasp.info/en/publications/details/220 p. xviii; UNDP, Gender in Somalia brief. Somalia team 6. Country profile: Liberia www.inasp.info/ 15. www.youtube.com/ en/publications/details/221 watch?v=XFgytUpfSoQ Sahro Ahmed Koshin, Gender Consultant, SIDRA (until late 7. Country profile: South Sudan www. 16. www.journalquality.info 2017) inasp.info/en/publications/details/219 17. Gender Mainstreaming in Puntland Guled Salah Barre, Founder 8. Improving research access and Public Institutions, SIDRA, 2018. www.inasp. & Executive Director, SIDRA communication in Sierra Leone www. info/en/publications/details/315 inasp.info/en/publications/details/155
Lessons learnt: This pilot project revealed some important common themes for success in working in a new country, particularly one in a fragile or conflict situation: - The importance of understanding country context at the start - The role of in-country champions, who are often returned diaspora - The importance of strong partnerships and working with others that already have connections in a country, for example, the Rift Valley Institute in the case of Somalia - Opportunities to increase effectiveness and reach by making connections with other INASP work - The importance of sharing experiences and learning from other countries, for example the new library consortium in Sierra Leone had mentoring from longer-established consortia in the region - The need for adaptability and iterative approaches - in both countries we did things quite incrementally because of the risks involved and this enabled us to adapt to meet evolving needs - The importance of readiness in terms of partner institutions who have clear ideas about what is required and the motivation to get it done - The role of technology - strong social media and online presence played an important role in the Somalia work, while in Sierra Leone online – and an offline version – courses provided continuity when face-to-face work was not possible.
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