EGAP Plenary Meeting in Review: Paris, October 2024
Author: Clara Bradley
Over 100 EGAP members and friends gathered at Sciences Po in Paris for two packed days of discussion, feedback, and knowledge exchange this October. The meeting was organized in collaboration with the Center for Political Research (CEVIPOF) at Sciences Po and hosted by Kevin (Vin) Arcenaux, EGAP member and Director of CEVIPOF. The event was EGAP’s largest in-person meeting to date and we are thrilled to report it was a huge success.
At the meeting, 12 EGAP members received targeted feedback on papers and research designs from leading experts in experimental research and practitioners working in the fields of policy and development. Attendees also took part in three panel discussions and two breakout sessions focussed on sharing updates and reflecting on EGAP’s projects, activities, and mission today and into the future.
In the opening session, EGAP’s Trainings & Methods Co-Directors led a conversation with members of the Learning Days teaching team and past participants from Latin America and Africa discussing the history, impact, and future of the workshops.
The research dissemination and experimental literacy in media and journalism panel featuring Daniel Rubenson (TMU) and Macartan Humphreys (WZB Berlin) in conversation with Julia Angwin of Proof News and Cooper Gatewood (BBC Media Action) prompted members to consider the role of the EGAP community in supporting effective and accurate evidence-based reporting in the face of mis and disinformation.
Two parallel sessions presented an opportunity for attendees to learn more about and provide feedback on two ongoing EGAP projects– Metaketa V and The SSRC Mercury Project: Health Ambassadors. Metaketa V seeks to answer the question: “How can women be better mobilized to participate in consultative processes that would likely improve public services provision?” While the Health Ambassadors project is testing the hypothesis that for the vaccine hesitant, unilateral information provision is inadequate, and a more interactive approach to building trust in the health system will increase vaccine willingness.
A final plenary, chaired by Morgan Holmes of USAID, featured past EGAP Executive Directors, Macartan Humphreys, Susan Hyde and Cyrus Samii, along with current Executive Director, Daniel Rubenson, who mapped the network’s activities to date and considered future directions.
The meeting closed out with a reception and policy event hosted by The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Ambassador to France featuring a panel discussion on The Challenge of Governance in Polarized Societies. The panel was made up of EGAP members Kevin (Vin) Arcenaux, (Sciences Po), Jessica Gottlieb, (University of Houston), and Peter Loewen, (Cornell University) with moderation by Hélène Viau, Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of Canada in France. We’re grateful for the Ambassador’s warm welcome and support of EGAP’s work.
Throughout the meeting attendees consistently remarked on the unique commitment amongst participants to providing thoughtful and detailed feedback. This is a testament to EGAP’s collaborative model of rigorous and respectful exchange of knowledge, ideas and skills, and we’d like to express our sincere gratitude to all attendees for your dedication to and enthusiasm for the core spirit of EGAP.
Testimonials
“Thank you for the opportunity to observe the format of the EGAP meetings and draw so much inspiration from them. These meetings have provided valuable insights that will allow me to review many of our organization’s processes and develop a clearer approach to advancing the scientific aspects of our work.”
Elnura Kazakbaeva, MK V Kyrgyzstan Research Team Member
“I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to attend the EGAP Plenary Meeting. Participating in this event has been an incredibly valuable experience, and I am grateful for the insights, knowledge, and connections I gained.”
Loveness Soko, IPOR, MK V Malawi Implementing Partner Representative
“Thank you so much for all your efforts in organizing the trip to this remarkable event! The experience of engaging in such enriching intellectual conversations has been truly unforgettable. As a representative of civil society, I have to propose solutions to government bodies and politicians, including based on international experience. But I am not always sure what practical consequences these solutions will lead to. Skills in experimental research, obtaining evidence and data to confirm the impact are a common gap in the work of practitioners during reform advocacy. In this context, EGAP has shown an example of an experimental evidence-based approach, provided an understanding of what skills need to be strengthened, including in order to increase the effectiveness of impact in the area of women’s political empowerment.”
Nadejda Dobretsova, DPI, MK V Kyrgyzstan Implementing Partner Representative
See the full list of meeting participants here.
