Africa faces a significant burden of child developmental delays and disabilities, with an estimated 29 million children in Eastern and Southern Africa affected, according to global estimates. At the same time, the region continues to experience a critical shortage of locally generated brain health evidence and trained neuroscientists to guide context-specific solutions for its rapidly growing population.
Experts highlighted the need to strengthen brain health research capacity in Africa as they gathered at the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Human Development (IHD) 10th anniversary celebrations, held in Nairobi. The call came during discussions under the theme “Unlocking Human Potential for Optimal Development Across the Lifespan: A Decade of Evidence, Innovation, and Policy Impact,” with stakeholders advocating for increased investment in research, innovation, and evidence-based policy solutions to improve health and development outcomes among children.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. Yet for many children, circumstances beyond their control prevent them from reaching their full potential. Investments in research allow us to identify effective interventions, understand local realities, and generate the evidence needed to improve child health and development outcomes,” said Prof. Amina Abubakar, Director, Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, 18 percent of children under five are stunted, while only 31 percent of children aged 6–23 months receive a minimum acceptable diet and 37 percent meet minimum dietary diversity. Poor nutrition during early childhood is a key risk factor for brain development, particularly in the first eight years of life when rapid brain growth occurs, and is associated with poorer cognitive and learning outcomes later in life.
Speaking during the conference, the Guest of Honour, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation in Kenya’s State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, underscored the importance of investing in science and research, particularly in child development and brain health, to drive sustainable development.
“When we invest in research, we invest in better decisions. Evidence helps us understand what challenges our communities are facing and which solutions are most likely to improve lives. For governments, this knowledge is essential for designing policies and programmes that respond to people’s needs and create opportunities for future generations,” said Prof. Abdulrazak.
At the centre of this call is the Africa Leadership for Measuring Brain Health in Children and Adolescents (ALMA) consortium, an African-led initiative working to strengthen neuroscience research capacity and train the next generation of scientists in child and adolescent brain health.
Launched in 2023, ALMA is currently training more than 50 early-career researchers across four African countries: Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia, to conduct high-quality, locally relevant research on brain development and mental health in children and adolescents.
Read Also: IUCN Patron Calls for Greater Investment in Africa’s Blue Economy
Qatar Airways Expands African Network with New Flights and Increased Frequencies
The programme is implemented through a network of leading African and global research institutions, including the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Human Development in Kenya, the University of Cape Town in South Africa, the University of Zambia, and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi, with additional collaboration from the University of Oxford and Massachusetts General Hospital.
In Kenya, ALMA research is already contributing to emerging evidence on child and adolescent mental health, including the development of a Mental Health Literacy Toolkit for adolescents, designed to improve awareness of mental health conditions, reduce stigma, and strengthen supportive learning environments in schools.
“The challenges facing human development today require the participation of everyone, researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and communities. The conference provides a platform to strengthen our understanding and contribute to creating equitable evidence-based impact for all,” said Dr. Tania Bubela, Provost and Vice President, Academic, Aga Khan University.
The initiative builds on growing evidence from Kenya, including findings from early childhood development research and implementation programmes in Nairobi County, which highlight persistent gaps in school readiness, unequal developmental outcomes between informal and formal settlements, and limited access to nurturing care such as early stimulation and responsive caregiving.
These findings align with broader national efforts to strengthen early childhood development systems and reinforce the need for locally generated evidence to guide policy and practice. Kenya’s Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Strategy for Early Childhood Development (2023–2026) highlights ongoing gaps in nurturing care practices and service delivery, and calls for strengthened investment in caregiver support, health systems, and early learning environments.
