DAR ES SALAAM: TWO Tanzanian companies have announced a strategic partnership to address the critical need for effective research communication in Tanzania.
Through a platform, UTAFITI FORUM, licensed by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and set to kick-off in January 2025, the partnership aims to bridge the gap between researchers and journalists, fostering a more informed and engaged public discourse on scientific research in Tanzania and the wider East Africa Region.
The two companies: ResearchCOM, a specialist in Science Communication, and BSM Washauri, a knowledge-based business company, inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam, aiming to leverage their combined expertise to lead initiatives in media training, writing for global and policy impact, data communication and the dissemination of research beyond academic circles.
By expanding the reach of research findings, the partnership seeks to have a significant impact on communities and policy making.
Through the partnership, UTAFITI FORUM is set to introduce a unique model–a three-stage process–
designed to empower researchers to communicate their findings effectively.
“We have been working on a structured approach for inspiring the mindset transition of researchers from solely focusing on traditional academic publishing to broader public engagement, which is now taking shape,” said Dr Syriacus Buguzi, CEO of ResearchCOM, and a Science Communication specialist.
“The aim is to achieve greater impact, through novel ideas that we, as science communicators, believe can help researchers unleash their potential.”
Mr Bakari Machumu, CEO of BSM Washauri and a media leadership guru, emphasized the need to bridge the gap between research and society.
He noted that many research findings remain confined to academic journals, and researchers often lack the skills to communicate effectively with the public, hence the need for such a partnership to bridge the gap.
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“Experts say that for any business to succeed, it must aim to solve a significant problem in society or the market,” said Mr Machumu, adding: “We’ve realized that many researchers lack the skills to communicate with the wider public. We want to collaborate with them to build these skills so that their work can have a greater impact on Tanzanians and the world.”
In recent years, a growing number of researchers and journalists have expressed keen interest in research
communication and enrolled on the platform: UTAFITI FORUM.
