The Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS), with the generous financial support of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, is pleased to announce the release of its latest comprehensive publication: Bridging Research and Policy: Assessment of Population and Development Activities of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences.
Released in December 2025, this volume serves as a critical retrospective and analytical roadmap, documenting the milestones and outputs of the “Bridge Project” implemented by the Academy from 2016 to 2024. The book provides a rigorous assessment of how scientific evidence generated through population and development initiatives has been utilized to catalyze policy dialogue and enhance decision-making frameworks within Ethiopia.
Core Insights and Institutional Contributions
The publication distills nearly a decade of strategic engagement into actionable knowledge. Key highlights include:
- Evidence-Based Policy Advice: An evaluation of consensus studies and high-level roundtable discussions that brought pressing population dynamics to the forefront of national development planning.
- Demographic Dividend (DD): Detailed analysis of Ethiopia’s potential to harness a demographic dividend by 2040–2075, emphasizing the necessity of investing in human capital, healthcare, and job creation.
- Gender Equity and Empowerment: Documentation of the establishment of the Ethiopian Gender Learning Forum (EGLF) and the successful cultivation of “Gender Champions” across 30 public universities and nine research institutes.
- Capacity Building: A review of intensive training programs designed to equip women researchers with skills in grant writing, scientific manuscript preparation, and policy brief development.
Strategic Relevance
This work is intentionally curated for a diverse audience of policymakers, academic researchers, development partners, and practitioners. It offers practical pathways for strengthening the research-to-policy interface, demonstrating how sustained investment in evidence generation and stakeholder engagement can lead to more responsive and inclusive national policies.
A Legacy of Partnership
The Ethiopian Academy of Sciences extends its profound gratitude to the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for its invaluable and sustained support over the past eight years. This long-term partnership has been instrumental in fostering a culture of evidence-based decision-making and advancing the Academy’s mandate as a non-partisan scientific advisor to the nation.