Dr. Isang Awah, Head of Advocacy at the Global Parenting Initiative, based at Oxford’s Department of Social Policy and Intervention(DSPI), was awarded an OPEN Fellowship to address a critical gap in child protection policies in Nigeria. While research on the topic highlights the severe impacts of abuse on children and the effectiveness of parenting programmes in improving family outcomes, this knowledge has not always translated into policies that benefit Nigerian families.
The Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN) Fellowship is an initiative that enables Oxford researchers to connect with policymakers and bring their expertise to bear on some of society’s most pressing issues. The fellowship is part of a broader effort by the University of Oxford to encourage researchers to collaborate across disciplines and with government partners, ensuring that public policy is informed by the best available research evidence.
During her fellowship, Dr. Awah collaborated with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, specifically with the Gender, Adolescent, School Health, and Elderly (GASHE) division. Her goal was to bridge the divide between research and policy by providing technical guidance to adapt and implement evidence-based parenting programmes within the local context. By working directly with policymakers, Dr. Awah was able to contribute to the development of policies that support healthier family dynamics and provide a more protective environment for children in Nigeria.
This fellowship highlights the impact that Oxford’s OPEN network can have in connecting academia with the policymaking community, allowing research insights to shape policies that foster positive change in communities around the world. Dr. Awah’s work is an example of how research can drive policy improvements that resonate well beyond academic boundaries.
Watch Isang’s research story below.
