The ninth African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) International Conference took place from March 11–15, 2019 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. As the most important event in the African evaluation sector, the AfrEA conference brings together a variety of international organizations and individuals to share knowledge, collaborate, and network while promoting AfrEA’s “Made in Africa” approach. The theme for this year’s conference was “Accelerating Africa’s Development: Strengthening National Evaluation Ecoystems”. On this theme, Banyan Global presented its strategy for a more transformative approach to integrating gender and equity in evaluation, highlighting our work on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/President’s Malaria Initiative-funded Malaria Action Program for Districts (MAPD) in Uganda.

Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Uganda, where gender equality and equity is one of the most powerful social determinants of health risks, results, and outcomes. MAPD addresses the overlooked but obvious connections between malaria and gender to improve the health status of the Ugandan population by reducing childhood and maternal morbidity and mortality caused by the disease. As part of the MAPD consortium, Banyan Global conducted a qualitative gender analysis to identify how gender-related gaps, challenges, and constraints may hinder malaria treatment and prevention behaviors and activities. In response to these findings, the team is piloting a customized gender integration checklist to ensure that activities are responsive to, and address the needs of, women, men, boys and girls.

During the roundtable discussion at AfrEA, Banyan Global shared the draft checklist and presented the results from the pilot test to receive feedback, strengthen the effectiveness and application of the checklist, and contribute to Africa’s national evaluation ecosystem. Emmanuel Ssegawa – MAPD Gender and Youth Director, and Ricky Orenia – MAPD Youth Specialist, with support from Tanya Hurst –  Senior Program Officer for Evaluation and Learning at Banyan Global, joined representatives from USAID and other project staff in the presentation on Thursday, March 14 from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. at the Sofitel Ivory Hotel.