I’m thrilled to share that I will be attending the AVA Summit in Nairobi this July, the first-ever AVA Summit hosted on African soil. This landmark event convenes advocates dedicated to systemic change: removing animals from our food system and other forms of human exploitation.
This will be my very first animal and vegan advocacy summit. Guided by the principles of Effective Altruism, I want my work for animals to be strategically informed, evidence-based, and scalable, especially in the uniquely complex contexts of Africa.
🎯 Core questions i hope to explore.
As I prepare, I am intentionally mapping out key questions that I hope to investigate, discuss, and unpack alongside peers at AVA:
1️⃣ Which organizations in Africa demonstrate exceptional efficiency, transparency, and measurable impact in advancing animal welfare and advocacy?
2️⃣ How are African-based advocates navigating systemic barriers like weak policy frameworks, inconsistent implementation, or corruption?
3️⃣ In what ways are strategies being adapted to Africa’s rich cultural diversity and the nuanced local beliefs about animals?
4️⃣ Which species are receiving significant advocacy attention, and which remain underserved or neglected in African contexts?
5️⃣ How does this summit tangibly strengthen the animal welfare ecosystem within Africa, and what unique value does it deliver to the region?
6️⃣ Who are the key individuals, grassroots initiatives, and formal organizations driving regional progress for animals?
7️⃣ What practical, locally relevant interventions are proving most effective on the ground?
8️⃣ How are governments across Africa responding, supportive, indifferent, or obstructive?
9️⃣ What is the current level of technical expertise, organizational capacity, and leadership within African animal advocacy circles?
🔟 What factors contribute to the limited visibility and recognition of African animal advocacy efforts, both regionally and globally?
🌍 Why this matters ?
This summit is a rare chance to learn directly from those at the forefront of the movement in Africa. I see it as an opportunity to critically examine gaps, surface best practices, and identify actionable pathways for improvement, all through an EA lens of cost-effectiveness, evidence, and impact.
🤝 An open invitation to connect.
If you’re attending AVA Nairobi, or have insights related to any of these areas, I would greatly appreciate connecting, whether during the summit or in advance.
A few questions for the community:
🔍 Final thoughts.
I’m eager to explore what becomes possible when EA principles meet grassroots realities, and to contribute, in a humble yet determined way, to elevating high-impact animal welfare in Africa.
Looking forward to connecting, learning, and building together!
Congratulations on attending the AVA Summit in Nairobi! Great to see your enthusiasm! Unfortunately, I can't attend due to scheduling conflicts, but I'm very excited about strengthening global advocacy networks through events like this.
I find it most valuable to create personal connections with people. These personal connections make it much easier to contact people afterward for fresh input and collaborations.
I'd love to see your thoughts on those core questions you mentioned - maybe as a detailed forum post after the summit? Strategic insights from pioneers in emerging advocacy areas could be incredibly helpful for others considering similar work in underrepresented regions, and for advocates from other regions like myself.
Have a great time at the summit!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful message and warm congratulations. Your encouragement truly resonates with me as I prepare to immerse myself in this impactful gathering. While it is unfortunate that scheduling constraints prevent your participation this year, I fully appreciate and echo your perspective on the value of strengthening global advocacy linkages through convenings like the AVA Summit.
I wholeheartedly agree that building genuine, personal connections is foundational to sustaining collaborative momentum beyond the event itself. I intend to prioritise meaningful interactions with fellow delegates, ensuring that these new relationships can translate into continued dialogue, knowledge exchange, and actionable collaborations long after we leave Nairobi.
Indeed, I will be crafting a comprehensive forum post after the summit. I aim to distil strategic insights, share key takeaways, and spotlight pioneering ideas that could benefit others working to expand advocacy in underrepresented regions, and offer relevant perspectives for colleagues like yourself operating in diverse contexts.