The Impact of Food Systems Research Network for Africa on Fellows Professional Development at Midline, 2023

A dataset was created from responses to a fellows midline survey conducted to assess changes in professional development of Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa) fellows since completion of the Baseline survey at the start of the FSNet-Africa Fellowship, which is part of an early career researcher development program. The survey specifically targeted 20 FSNet-Africa fellows from higher education institutions in Africa. Its objective was to assess fellows' professional development in the following areas: networks and visibility, potential, skills development, performance improvement, and personal growth across eight dimensions of professional development. These dimensions include conducting integrated research, research data management, integrating gender in research, research ethics, monitoring and evaluation, disseminating research findings, and stakeholder engagement.<p>The Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa) will strengthen food systems research and its translation into implementable interventions in support of interrelated Sustainable Development Goals related to food systems in Africa (focusing on SDG2 - Zero Hunger). The network partners - University of Pretoria (UP) (ARUA-CoE in Food Security host), University of Leeds (UoL) (GCRF-AFRICAP host) and the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) (GCRF-AFRICAP partner) have been selected based on their track record of working together, strengths in food systems research and existing partnerships with food systems stakeholders. The major contribution of FSNet-Africa to addressing the challenge of SDG2 will be its focus on developing a new understanding of the African food systems through developing the FSNet-Africa Food Systems Framework and utilising systems-based methodologies to conduct research that enhances understanding of the components of the framework, the interactions between these components, and ultimately the leverage points for food system transformation. The latter will be implemented by an interdisciplinary cohort of early career research fellows (ECRF) who are supported in their research to identify (in dialogue with food systems stakeholders) and evaluate climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive, poverty-reducing interventions. FSNet-Africa will collaboratively produce context-relevant, interdisciplinary research through creating 2-year long structured opportunities for up to 30 ECRF, majority female, who obtained their PhD's less than 10 years ago to (i) conduct impact-focused, gender sensitive, interdisciplinary research related to African food systems, (ii) build lasting research networks, and (iii) develop their skills to translate their research impactfully. ECRF will be selected from 10 academic partner institutions in six countries - Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. The three formal components of the fellowships (science, mentorship and leadership development) will ensure that the ECRF are positioned in the necessary enabling environment and are provided with the opportunity to develop the necessary skills to produce excellent research, achieve the project objectives and significantly advance their academic careers. During the fellowship, each fellow will be assigned at least two mentors - one from an African university and the other from the UK. These research-triads will be carefully matched to ensure that the triad is an interdisciplinary team, enabling the ECRF to receive the support they need to develop and implement quality interdisciplinary research projects. The Science Component of the fellowship will be comprised of a fellowship orientation workshop, funding for research, participation in a split-site winter/summer school and a write-shop. After attending an Orientation Workshop with their mentors, ECRF will be expected to develop their research proposals that focus on climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive and poverty-reducing food systems solutions. Six months later, a 10-week split-site winter/summer school (at UP's Future Africa Campus and at the University of Leeds) will provide the ECRF with the opportunity to finalise their research proposals for implementation and to participate in various capacity development workshops. The Leadership Component will give ECRF the opportunity to develop skills the skills they need to be future food systems science leaders - such as managing research teams and leadership in science-policy communication. As a mechanism to facilitate research uptake and impact, every project undertaken by the ECRF will be co-designed and implemented in partnership with relevant policymakers, private sector role players or grassroots level organisations who will engage directly with the research teams at the Orientation Workshop, during the Winter School and in-country to implement the research.</p>本数据集源自针对非洲粮食系统研究网络（Food Systems Research Network for Africa, FSNet-Africa）学员开展的中期调研反馈，旨在评估该网络学员自FSNet-Africa项目启动时的基线调研完成后，其职业发展的变化情况；FSNet-Africa项目属于早期职业研究员发展计划的组成部分。本次调研专门面向来自非洲高等教育机构的20名FSNet-Africa学员，其目标是从职业发展的八大维度评估学员的职业发展状况，涵盖网络构建与影响力、发展潜力、技能培养、绩效提升以及个人成长；八大维度具体包括：整合性研究开展、研究数据管理、研究中的性别融入、研究伦理、监测与评估、研究成果传播以及利益相关方参与。 非洲粮食系统研究网络（FSNet-Africa）将强化粮食系统研究，并推动其转化为可落地的干预措施，以支撑与非洲粮食系统相关的各项关联可持续发展目标（Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs），重点聚焦可持续发展目标2（SDG2）——零饥饿。 该网络的合作机构包括比勒陀利亚大学（University of Pretoria, UP，非洲研究联盟卓越中心[ARUA-CoE]粮食安全项目承办方）、利兹大学（University of Leeds, UoL，全球挑战研究基金非洲能力建设计划[Global Challenges Research Fund-AFRICAP, GCRF-AFRICAP]承办方）以及粮食、农业与自然资源政策分析网络（Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network, FANRPAN，GCRF-AFRICAP合作方）；上述机构的遴选依据为其既往合作履历、粮食系统研究领域的优势，以及与粮食系统利益相关方已有的合作基础。 FSNet-Africa对解决SDG2相关挑战的核心贡献在于：通过构建FSNet-Africa粮食系统框架，并运用基于系统的研究方法开展相关研究，以加深对非洲粮食系统的认知——具体包括理解该框架的构成要素、要素间的相互作用，以及最终实现粮食系统转型的关键切入点。上述研究将由跨学科的早期职业研究员（Early Career Research Fellow, ECRF）团队开展；该团队将获得研究支持，以与粮食系统利益相关方对话的方式，识别并评估气候智能型、营养敏感型以及减贫型干预措施。 FSNet-Africa将通过为至多30名早期职业研究员（ECRF）提供为期两年的系统化培养机会，合作开展贴合当地场景的跨学科研究；该批研究员中女性占比过半，且均为获得博士学位不足10年的科研人员。培养目标包括：（1）开展聚焦影响力、兼顾性别平等的非洲粮食系统相关跨学科研究；（2）构建持久的研究合作网络；（3）提升技能以实现研究成果的高效转化。ECRF将从六个国家（加纳、肯尼亚、南非、马拉维、坦桑尼亚及赞比亚）的10个学术合作机构中选拔产生。 本项目的培养包含三大正式模块：科研模块、导师指导模块与领导力发展模块，旨在为ECRF营造必要的支持性环境，并为其提供机会以掌握所需技能，从而产出高质量研究成果、达成项目目标，并显著推动其学术职业发展。在培养期间，每位学员将配备至少两名导师：一名来自非洲高校，另一名来自英国高校。此类研究三人组将经过严格配对，确保团队具备跨学科属性，使ECRF能够获得开展与实施高质量跨学科研究项目所需的支持。科研模块包含项目启动研讨会、研究经费支持、分营地冬/夏令营参与权以及论文撰写工作坊。在与导师共同参与启动研讨会后，ECRF需制定聚焦气候智能型、营养敏感型及减贫型粮食系统解决方案的研究提案。六个月后，为期10周的分营地冬/夏令营（分别在比勒陀利亚大学未来非洲校区与利兹大学举办）将为ECRF提供机会，以敲定可落地的研究提案，并参与各类能力建设研讨会。领导力发展模块将帮助ECRF培养成为未来粮食系统科研领军者所需的技能，例如研究团队管理以及科研-政策沟通领导力。 为推动研究成果的采纳与影响力落地，ECRF开展的所有项目均将与相关政策制定者、私营部门参与者或基层组织合作共同设计与实施；上述合作方将在启动研讨会、冬令营期间以及实地调研阶段直接与研究团队对接，推动项目落地。