When You Are Visible, More Opportunities Will Come.

FPNN Community Reporter Esenam Amuzu connected with Research Scientist Dr. Anthony Ajayi at the Power Shifting Pre-conference co-hosted by the African Population Conference (APC) and the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) on Sunday, 19 May 2024 in Lilongwe, Malawi.

This conversation, rich with action items, included important ways key figures in the global population and reproductive health community can uplift young researchers and integrate them into all aspects of the research process.

Dr. Ajayi also explained concrete ways young people themselves can take action to make their work more visible, share their outputs widely, and advance their careers. He suggested young people be strategic and intentional about how they put themselves out there, giving the guidance:

• Talk about any (and all) research, advocacy, administrative, and/or community work you have done.

• Share evidence you are gathering.

• Build your social media profile.

• Write a short article for news media.

• Call on multiple stakeholders in your work—NGOs, traditional leaders, religious leaders, government officials, etc.—and invite them to get involved.

Dr. Ajayi, who spoke on a panel during the pre-conference, works at the African Population and Health Research Center and is the host of the My PhD Experience Podcast.

Watch the full conversation between Esenam and Dr. Ajayi below!

Timestamps of Key Moments:

• 0:24 - QUESTION: How do you think we can bridge the gap and ensure young people who are interested in coming into the research space get access to funding to put their evidence out there, and we are able to use those data to transform issues around sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and family planning?

• 2:27 - QUESTION: What would you say to any young person who is interested in research (or who is already in the research space) and doesn't know how to navigate the space? How do they get to put their work out there?