From Research to Insight, Insight to Impact

Learn More Get in Touch

|

Welcome to Thousand Hills Research and Action Collective (TRAC Africa), a space where inquiry meets impact, and knowledge becomes a tool for transformation.

We envision a continent where knowledge, skills, and innovation are mobilised for social impact. Leaning on our pillars -- Capacity Building, Research & Evaluation, and Science Advocacy -- we empower individuals and institutions to turn ideas into impact, champion evidence-led decision-making, and generate insights that solve complex challenges.

Whether you're a development partner, a scholar, a policymaker, or a curious learner, we invite you to journey with us as we mobilize knowledge, foster reflection, equip young people, and shape strategies for a more just and thriving society.

Thank you for visiting. We look forward to thinking and acting together.

Ayo Ojebode, Ph.D

Director, TRAC Africa

Our Pillars

Pillar 1: Capacity Building

Empowering African researchers, research users, policy actors, academics and others with the essential skills to turn ideas into impact.

Pillar 2: Research and Evaluation

Providing expert evidence and technical insights to solve complex social, corporate and developmental challenges.

Pillar 3: Science Advocacy

Championing the use of data and innovation to influence policy and drive evidence-led decision-making.

About Us

Our Mission

To bridge the gap between knowledge and action; research and policy, by equipping researchers, academics, innovators, and policy actors to drive evidence-led solutions in Africa.

Our Vision

A catalyst mobilising the continent's knowledge, skills and innovations for social impact.

Our Theory of Change

TRAC Africa aims to contribute to the emergence of just, resilient, and thriving African societies where decisions in political, economic, and social domains are informed by rigorous, credible evidence. TRAC Africa achieves this by supporting organizations and governments with high-quality research and building capacity among early-career researchers and decision-makers in evidence-informed practices, ensuring evidence drives policy change and reduces bias in decision-making.

Full version >>>

Our Core Values

Integrity

We uphold the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and accountability, thereby ensuring that our work is trustworthy, respectful, and socially responsible.

Collaborative Wisdom

We believe in the power of co-creation, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering inclusive partnerships that enrich knowledge and deepen impact. We take cognizance of and respect cultures, histories, and other peculiarities.

Agility

We combine accuracy with speed ensuring timely delivery of services and completion of projects.

Impact

Actionable knowledge is the destination and reason for our existence. We mobilize insights into strategies, dialogues, and decisions, thereby bridging the gap between research and real-world transformation.

What We Do

01

Research Support for Organizations

We design and deliver tailored research services that illuminate pathways for impact, equity, and innovation.

02

Multimethod Research, Innovative Pedagogy and Communication Training

From qualitative depth to quantitative precision, we build capacity through hands-on coaching and customized training programs in multi-method research; we build capacity in innovative pedagogy, and communication in various contexts: public speaking, organizational communication, interpersonal communication, policy advisory writing, media advisory writing, and communication ethics.

03

Graduate Support for Industry Readiness

We enable and support graduates' industry readiness and entrepreneurship in the knowledge sector through training, equipping, networking, internship and coaching.

04

Collective Reflection & Change Facilitation

We guide teams and networks through reflective processes that unlock learning, cohesion, and adaptive change.

05

Policy Engagement and Dialogues

TRAC Africa convenes inclusive spaces for evidence-informed policy conversations, bridging research and decision-making.

06

Knowledge Mobilization Services

We translate insights into action—crafting accessible outputs, strategic briefs, and knowledge products that drive uptake.

07

Higher Education Strategy and Advisory

Our team supports universities and colleges in shaping visionary strategies, fostering academic excellence, and navigating change.

Our Core Team of Experts

Ayo Ojebode, PhD

Ayo Ojebode, PhD
(Multimethod Research, Communication Skills, Research Uptake, Collective Reflection Expert)

Director & Principal Consultant

A seasoned academic leader and strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience in research, pedagogy, and higher education leadership across Africa. Formerly a full professor at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Director, Research Systems Strengthening and Knowledge Mobilization at the Mastercard Foundation, Ayo has mentored dozens of scholars, led multimillion-dollar grantmaking initiatives, and championed interdisciplinary collaborations that drive societal impact. At TRAC Africa, he brings a unique blend of intellectual rigor, empathetic leadership, and a passion for mobilizing knowledge into transformative action.

Ibrahim Oanda, PhD

Ibrahim Oanda, PhD
(Political Economy; Higher Education; Research Uptake)

Consultant

Ibrahim Oanda is an impact-driven higher education and international development professional with over 20 years of experience and a proven track record in program design, capacity strengthening, and knowledge dissemination across the social sectors (Education, Gender, health, public policy and governance, agri-food systems). He is skilled in stakeholder engagement, program design and management, leadership and mentoring and capacity building. Ibrahim is passionate about issues of sustainable and inclusive transformations, especially for young people and communities at the margins, and knowledge for transformation from below. He is an expert in political economy analysis across several sectors.

Connie V. Nshemereirwe, PhD

Connie V. Nshemereirwe, PhD
(Science Policy; Leadership; Research Uptake; Policy Dialogues)

Consultant

Connie V. Nshemereirwe is an Independent Science and Policy Facilitator who supports researchers across Africa to bridge the gap between their science and society by running workshops on science communication, policy-engaged research, and science leadership. She has also previously been the Director of the Africa Science Leadership Programme (ASLP) and hosts the podcast "A is not for Apple". Before that she had a 15-year career as an academic at the Uganda Martyrs University.

Gifty Appiah-Adjei, PhD

Gifty Appiah-Adjei, PhD
(Comparative Studies; Communication Research; Qualitative Methods)

Consultant

Gifty is a communication scholar with over 15 years in higher education, specializing in media studies, digital rights, and authoritarianism. She combines academic rigor with policy relevance, producing evidence-based insights on journalism education, disinformation, surveillance, gender, and media representation. As Head of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Education, Winneba, and Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg, she has published widely and collaborated with institutions, civil society, and development partners.

Events and Dialogues

Stay tuned for upcoming events, workshops, and policy dialogues. We convene inclusive spaces for evidence-informed policy conversations, strategic learning sessions, and collaborative knowledge exchanges across Africa and beyond.

What to Expect:

  • ✓ Policy dialogues and roundtable discussions
  • ✓ Capacity building workshops and training sessions
  • ✓ Strategic learning exchanges and collaborative forums
  • ✓ Research dissemination events and webinars

Insights and Resources

Access our publications, research briefs, strategic insights, and knowledge products. Check back soon for valuable resources on research, policy, and transformative change.

What to Expect:

  • ✓ Research publications and working papers
  • ✓ Policy briefs and strategic insights
  • ✓ Knowledge mobilization tools and guides
  • ✓ Training materials and toolkits

JOIN MORE THAN 04+ PARTNERS

We're proud to partner with leading organizations, governments, research institutions, and NGOs across Africa and globally to drive evidence-informed change.

SOME OF OUR PARTNERS

Trusted by leading organizations across sectors

What Our Clients Are Saying

Hear from the organizations we've partnered with

Contact Us

Let's collaborate to mobilize knowledge into transformative action

Get in Touch

We welcome partnerships, collaborations, and inquiries from development organizations, academic institutions, policymakers, and researchers.

Email:

info@tracafrica.com

Location:

Africa & Beyond