The inaugural kick-off meeting of Cochrane Ethiopia was successfully held on 26 January 2026, bringing together national, regional, and global leaders in evidence synthesis to celebrate a major milestone for Ethiopia and the wider African evidence ecosystem. Hosted at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), the event marked Ethiopia’s formal entry into the global Cochrane network, rein
forcing the country’s growing leadership in evidence-informed health policy and practice.
The meeting opened with a keynote address delivered by Dr. Aklilu Alemu, on behalf of Professor Afework Kassu, Director General of AHRI, underscoring AHRI’s longstanding commitment to high-quality research and knowledge translation.
In her acceptance and welcoming remarks, Dr. Karla Soares-Weiser, Chief Executive Officer of Cochrane, emphasized the strategic importance of Cochrane Ethiopia in strengthening the global evidence synthesis ecosystem, highlighting its potential to amplify voices from low- and middle-income countries and advance equity-driven health decisions worldwide.
Regional solidarity and collaboration were strongly echoed during the meeting. Ms. Barbara Bahkito, Director of Cochrane Kenya, described the establishment of Cochrane Ethiopia as a defining milestone for East Africa, paving the way for a stronger, more coordinated regional block within Cochrane Africa. Professor Tamara Kredo, Director of Cochrane Africa, reflected on AHRI’s exemplary leadership in evidence synthesis, particularly through the CEBHA+ (Collaboration for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Public Health) initiative, noting its lasting contributions to building sustainable evidence systems across the continent.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Cochrane Ethiopia: Strategy for Advancing Collaborative Evidence-Informed Healthcare Decision Making, Minyahil Tadesse, Director of Cochrane Ethiopia and a PhD Fellow in Evidence Based Healthcare, outlined a bold and inclusive vision for the affiliate. The strategy focuses on strengthening national capacity for systematic reviews, fostering multi-sectoral partnerships, supporting policy-relevant evidence generation, and positioning Ethiopia as a regional hub for evidence synthesis and knowledge translation.
The launch of Cochrane Ethiopia was marked by a shared sense of optimism, collective purpose, and momentum. As Ethiopia joins the global Cochrane community, the initiative stands poised to contribute rigorously synthesized evidence that informs health policy, improves clinical practice, and ultimately advances better health outcomes locally, regionally, and globally.