DAY 4:Theme IV: Leading Through Science Diplomacy: From Action to Impact

Thursday 8 October 2026 was the fourth day of the EARW Science Diplomacy Leadership Programme, held at Maseno University under the theme “Leading Through Science Diplomacy: From Action to Impact.” 
 

After a short reflection on the Challenge Lab from Day 3, participants turned to leadership. Daniel Nyanganyura’s session covered the skills needed to work across the science–policy–diplomacy interface, including building trust and credibility, influencing without authority, and leading ethically and adaptively in complex policy settings. Participants also reflected on their own leadership journeys and picked the competencies they most want to strengthen.

Ezekiel Mecha then looked at how leaders start, sustain and scale partnerships among governments, universities, funders, civil society and the private sector. Topics included South–South and triangular cooperation, resource mobilisation and communities of practice, and participants identified strategic partners for their own institutions and countries.

Road Map

The session had participants work on their road-map assignments for thematic areas, and another guided them through planning and evaluating initiatives, including how to measure hard-to-capture outcomes such as trust, networks and influence. Each participant drafted an implementation plan with objectives, stakeholders, indicators of success and ways to learn and adapt. The day closed with the Maseno Dialogue and Commitment to Action, an intergenerational discussion that brought together high school and university students, staff and workshop participants. Together they reflected on the future of science diplomacy in East Africa and the Global South and drew up shared recommendations and commitments to strengthen regional collaboration and sustain the community of practice. The workshop’s closing ceremony and field experience followed