In this episode of Connecting The Dots, our host Juliette sits down with Dr. Rose Oronje, Deputy Director at the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), to explore the intersection of politics, evidence, and policy in Africa. Dr. Oronje shares insights from over 20 years of leadership in policy engagement, research, and strategic communications. She explains why evidence often takes a backseat to politics, and what this means for decision-making in health, population, and governance across the continent. Key topics in this episode: • Why governments sometimes ignore strong scientific evidence • The role of citizens in holding policymakers accountable • How researchers can bridge the gap between science and policy • The future of evidence-informed policy in Africa If you care about the future of African governance, science communication, and policymaking, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more African voices on science, policy, and innovation.