EfD held a four-day Professional Support Services (PSS) network workshop during the Annual Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. It aimed to strengthen the capacities of the EfD centers’ administrators.

The PSS network aims to enhance efficiency and streamline operations by equipping administrative staff with the tools to handle key functions like quality control, deadline management, and financial planning. Efficient administration is an important building block for successful research environments that attract multiple sources of financing.

“It was a highly interactive and productive workshop, where the participants shared their experiences and challenges related to budgeting and financial reporting, said Grace Zhe Gu, Project Administrator at the Global Hub and one of the workshop’s facilitators. 

“We also covered issues such as institutional regulations, organizational structures, workload, and cross-functional collaboration,” she said. 

The workshop featured hands-on sessions on deadline schedules, financial templates, and EfD’s shared platforms. It also included informal gatherings to exchange ideas and build connections across the network.

Before the event, the participants reviewed EfD’s strategy and external evaluations and prepared preliminary financial reports for 2025. 

By enhancing the capabilities of its administrative professionals, EfD seeks to create a solid foundation for sustainable growth and improved operations. 

“The Nairobi workshop was very insightful, especially with the training on budgeting and financial report templates, which has significantly boosted my confidence,” commented Gyaviira Ssewankambo, Junior Research Fellow and Administrator at EfD Uganda.

“The annual wheel is a game-changer for meeting deadlines, and the camaraderie and resourcefulness of the colleagues showcased the strength of EfD as one global family that I’m honored to be a part of.”