Dr. Hassan Mshinda, Director General of COSTECH, opened the event, discussing the importance of bridging the gap between researchers and policy makers, translating rigorous research results into effective national policies. Two US-based professors, Professor Isaac Mbiti from Southern Methodist University and Professor Karthik Muralidharan from the University of California, San Diego, both principal investigators on Twaweza's KiuFunza evaluation, presented from their past education research in Kenya (pdf)and India.
Mpango huu wa utafiti ulizinduliwa katika semina ya Wadau iliyofanyika katika Ukumbi wa Makumbusho ya Taifa tarehe 23 Januari, 2013. Mgeni rasmi katika semina hiyo alikuwa Mh. Hawa Ghasia (MB), Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu, Tawala za Mikoa na Serikali za Mitaa. Watoa mada walitoka Tume ya Sayansi na Teknolojia (COSTECH), Chama cha Walimu Tanzania (CWT), waheshimiwa wabunge, na Twaweza. Mikoa na halmashauri zitakazoshiriki katika utekelezaji wa mpango huu pia ziliwakilishwa na Makatibu Tawala, Wakurugenzi wa Halmashauri, Wenyeviti wa Halmashauri na Maafisa Elimu. Wabunge pia walishiriki.