Thirty-two early career researchers and creatives have completed a five-day intensive training designed to enhance their understanding of climate communication and knowledge brokering.

The training which had seven creatives out of the number focused on key principles and concepts, while also strengthening participants' skills and awareness of various tools, approaches, and strategies in knowledge and innovation brokering aimed to empower researchers to apply these insights in their current and future work.

Organized by the Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN) at Ensign Global College in Kpong, near Akosombo, the training also aimed at helping researchers effectively communicate climate change findings.

The training included exploring various artistic and communication media, as well as tools to present climate research in ways that are accessible to non-academic audiences.

It also fostered a collaborative, peer-learning environment where participants could exchange knowledge, build connections, and identify opportunities for collaboration within their work.

The five-day training included a range of topics, such as co-creation approaches and practical exercises, knowledge translation and communication strategies, and an introduction to knowledge brokering.

It also covered key concepts like leverage points and bridging the gap between knowledge and action, as well as fostering collaboration between creatives and researchers.

The sessions were led by expert facilitators, including climate scientists, communication professionals, project leaders, and experienced activists, providing a well-rounded and multidisciplinary learning experience.

One of the participants at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Abdul Ganiyu Alhassan, shared that the CDKN knowledge brokerage training has helped him learn how to simplify his complex findings, making them easier for the general public to understand.

“Putting my findings into journalistic pieces, through the help of Mr. Nurudeen from JoyNews and in podcasts, through the help of Dr. Prince Ansah has enriched my understanding of knowledge brokerage,” he said.

Abdul Ganiyu plans to apply the knowledge he gained from working closely with journalists to present his work in a simplified manner and broadcast it to a wider audience.

 “I also intend to use a podcast to reach out to larger audiences with my findings,” Abdul Ganiyu stated.

Like Abdul Ganiyu, other participants, including Dr. Aidatu Abubakari from the University of Ghana, expressed that the training significantly reshaped their views on scholarly research.

She noted that beyond academic journal publications, the true value of research lies in presenting findings in formats that are accessible and easily understood by various stakeholder groups.

 “I have that beyond journal publications, the relevance of research lies in disseminating findings in formats that are easy for different stakeholder groups to understand.”

Country Lead at the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), Dr Prince Ansah, stated that the CDKN Research Connect Training for Early Career Researchers aimed to strengthen participants' abilities to translate climate research into meaningful and accessible outputs.

 “The program combines interactive workshops, in-depth discussions, practical exercises, and networking opportunities, fostering a participatory and collaborative learning environment.”

He explained that the training took a practical, hands-on approach, integrating peer-to-peer exchanges and innovative methods to enhance participants' knowledge brokering skills and their capacity to communicate climate research effectively.

Dr Ansah added that participants gained valuable insights into knowledge-brokering tools and strategies, creative communication techniques, and approaches to promote collaboration between researchers and practitioners.

“This program was tailored to equip early career researchers with the skills and networks necessary to bridge the gap between research and action effectively.”