We create the evidence, insight, and scholarship that make African excellence indisputable.
OVERVIEW
The Directorate of Research, Knowledge and Publications is ABWR’s intellectual engine. It produces the rigorous research, curated archives, and high-quality publications that turn verified achievements into lasting knowledge. By combining empirical research, fieldwork, oral history, and editorial excellence, this Directorate establishes ABWR as the definitive reference on African legacies, innovation and cultural heritage.
MANDATE
1. Produce credible, evidence-based research and publications that document Africa’s achievements.
2. Build and steward knowledge assets (indexes, archives, journals, datasets) used by governments, scholars, media and the public.
3. Translate academic research into accessible insights and policy briefs that influence decision-makers.
4. Preserve oral histories and field archives in ethical, community-led ways.
5. Support ABWR’s verification work with robust methodologies and reproducible data.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Research & Methodology
a. Design and execute mixed-method research (quantitative, qualitative, ethnographic).
b. Develop transparent methodologies for the African Legacies Index, Legacy Certification and other ABWR products.
c. Coordinate fieldwork teams to collect primary data.
2. Publications & Editorial
a. Produce flagship reports, peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, books, and magazines.
b. Maintain editorial standards, peer review processes, and publication ethics.
c. Commission long-form storytelling that complements media produced by Events & Media.
3. Archives and Oral Histories
a. Collect, preserve and curate oral histories, recordings, transcripts and primary documents.
b. Implement ethical consent, provenance tracking, and community ownership models.
c. Build accessible digital and physical archives in partnership with local custodians.
4. Data, Analysis & Indexing
a. Create datasets and analytics for the African Legacies Index, sectoral reports, and partner requests.
b. Publish open datasets and provide controlled access for sensitive collections.
c. Run reproducible analyses and maintain data governance practices.
5. Fellowships, Grants & Capacity Building
a. Award research fellowships, grants and internships to scholars, archivists and community researchers.
b. Run training programs on documentation, oral-history methods, and research ethics.
6. Knowledge Translation & Policy Influence
a. Produce concise policy briefs and partner with governments, UNESCO affiliates, and NGOs to convert research into action.
b. Host expert roundtables and evidence-based dialogues that inform cultural policy and heritage protection.
PROGRAMMES & SERVICES
1. Flagship Research Products
a. African Legacies Index: an annual, replicable measure of excellence and enduring contributions across sectors.
b. State of African Excellence Report: a biennial synthesis of trends and opportunities.
c. Sectoral Whitepapers: deep dives (culture, science, entrepreneurship, sport, intangible heritage).
2. Publications & Media
a. ABWR Journal of African Excellence: peer-reviewed research and commentary.
b. Long-form Books & Photo-Essays: high-production publications for institutions and partners.
c. Policy Brief Series: short, actionable summaries for decision-makers.
3. Archives & Oral History Initiatives
a. Living Archive Program: community-led recording of elders, artisans and custodians.
b. Digitization Lab: low-cost digitization kits and training for partner museums.
c. Ethical Provenance Registry: track origins, ownership and consent for archived materials.
4. Fellowships & Training
a. ABWR Research Fellowships: support for PhD students, independent scholars and practitioners.
b. Archive & Adjudicator Training: courses on documentation, standards and evidence handling.
c. Community Research Grants: microgrants for grassroots documentation projects.
5. Data & Tools
a. Open Data Portal: downloadable datasets and methodology documents.
b. Research Dashboard: interactive visualizations of index results and sector metrics.
c. Methodology Library: publicly available protocols used to verify legacies and records.
FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES
1. African Legacies Index (Annual)
A rigorously designed index that ranks and profiles durable contributions across countries and sectors, accompanied by an open dataset and methodology appendix.
2. Living Archive Vault
A multilingual, searchable digital vault of oral histories, recorded with community consent and preserved with long-term stewardship plans.
3. ABWR Research Fellowship Program
A competitive fellowship that funds scholars producing policy-relevant work on African legacies, exhibitions, or conservation.
4. Policy Roundtables & Evidence Clinics
Regular convenings that bring researchers, policymakers and cultural custodians together to convert research into actionable policy.
VALUE PROPOSITION: WHY THIS DIRECTORATE MATTERS
1. High-quality research establishes ABWR as an authority and credible source that governments, media and academia trust.
2. Archives and oral histories ensure that legacies survive beyond singular events or records.
3. Research directly informs cultural protection, tourism strategy and education curricula.
4. Community-driven documentation ensures under-represented voices are preserved and elevated.
5. Provides the empirical backbone for recognition, events, media and digital products.
GOVERNANCE, ETHICS & COMMUNITY RIGHTS
1. Implement strict ethical research standards (informed consent, data minimization, community ownership).
2. Use transparent, reproducible methodologies and publish them openly.
3. Provide benefit-sharing models, communities retain rights and receive copies, capacity support, and revenue-sharing where relevant.
4. Maintain clear data retention, access and de-accession policies.
Do you have an archive to digitize, a research idea, or a community story that must be preserved?
Contact the Directorate of Research, Knowledge & Publications to submit proposals, request fellowship information, or commission a study.
Send a mail to drkp@africaworldrecords.com
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