Anga Center Administrative Core

Columbia Univ New York Morningside, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section The Administrative Core will expertly manage the overall functioning and resources of the Anga Center to ensure sustainability of the Center and the contributions we make to extreme weather and health research in East Africa. The administrative core will use a collaborative approach to foster in-person and virtual spaces for engagement of multidisciplinary researchers and stakeholders; plan and implement meetings, activities and, events; co-produce strategic plans for the future of the Center; and oversee finances, resources, and monitoring and evaluation. The Core will provide a centralized system of support, accountability, organization, evaluation, and communication that will ensure the efficiency and longevity of the Anga Center. The Administrative Core is committed to establishing respectful partnerships with communities and stakeholders, prioritizing dignity and collaborative dialogue and maintaining communal decision-making with our local and international partners. By embracing principles of community-engagement and Ubuntu, the Administrative Core will strive for a community-centric approach that values stakeholders’ voices, experiences, and knowledge and cultivates an organizational structure that prioritizes collaboration. We will use a flexible hybrid work model that aligns with the goals of all Cores. This approach, built on a foundation of belonging and trust, promotes integration, coordination, mutual respect, and support, ensuring that both in-person and remote team members are well-integrated. Recognizing both the benefits and limitations of hybrid work and virtual spaces, we will work to cultivate models for the Administrative Core and the Administrative Core’s support of the Anga Center that prioritize collaboration and engagement. The Administrative Core will be guided by a set of four specific aims: (Aim 1) to provide oversight of all funding and resource allocation and ensure ethical conduct of research for the overall center and across all cores and projects; (Aim 2) to ensure integration and multidirectional collaboration between Center members and external stakeholders through biannual conferences focused on extreme weather and community health in East Africa and regular internal meetings and knowledge-sharing sessions; (Aim 3) to plan, coordinate, and organize activities and resources, including external and internal communications, scheduling, logistics, and human resources, (Aim 4) to Provide rigorous and impactful evaluation for the overall Center and its cores.