In 2022, the Jameel Observatory partnered with the Dgroups Foundation to set up an online community space.
The Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action is an international partnership led by the University of Edinburgh collaborating with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Save the Children, the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Community Jameel.
The core idea is to convene evidence and expertise to tackle environmental shocks in drylands, such as drought. By combining the knowledge of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities and other local organisations with innovations in data science and humanitarian action, the Observatory partners expect that the communities they work with in East Africa will become more resilient and better able to prepare for and overcome the effects of environmental shocks.
The platform is designed to support information exchange among community of practice members, to discuss different areas of interest as well as to share announcements, events, research ideas, or collaboration opportunities.
A series of subgroups are also used to support the internal work of the Observatory and its teams – such as the advisory, communications, and steering groups.