The agreed direction
Vision: the seeing
"A world where every resource and operating model creates measurable, transparent and uncompromised value for society."
Originally "every corporate dollar", revised to "every resource".
Mission: the doing
As a result of our research and innovation, we hope to change the way research and innovation is done within our businesses and communities, in a value-based manner.
The vision is the seeing of the goal. The mission is the doing. The vision is inspired by the mission.
The agreed keywords
Strengthening · research and innovation · evidence-based insights · communities, businesses and institutions together · uphold the values.
We would like to be stewards: the living evidence.
Core values we carry
From the ten SALT values. Priorities that surfaced: stewardship (the most emphasized), transformation, compassion, integrity, leadership, accountability, trust, community wellbeing, justice.
The research base
Three theories that ground our research
- Moral legitimacy (intrinsic): is an organisation judged by whether its conduct genuinely reflects the values it professes? Are the values embedded, or only displayed?
- Pragmatic (extrinsic): is the theory implemented in how the organisation actually carries out its work? Do practice and promise align?
- Stakeholder (people-centred): stewardship, justice and all the values, for everyone affected.
We research how to bring these to organisations in a way CEOs and founders understand. Sector transformation from a values perspective is the core lens.
How we work
- Position TWG 2 as a self-sustaining research and innovation entity.
- Focus: AI ethics, the African context, community wellbeing, leadership.
- AI ethics in African settings is a high-interest space with potential to build a strong name for the group.
- Reach people without Wi-Fi through channels such as USSD.
- Community wellbeing where money is not landing, not only where it already flows.
- Ethical, verifiable AI: use AI as a first step, request citations, verify at the sources with books and human review, and weigh its positive and negative effects on environment, social and governance.
- Research is for change, not academic output: we are not running another school, we are running change.
- Research for advocacy and policy change is a legitimate funding avenue.
How we fund it
- Apply for research grants only when we have solid, specific, evidenced research.
- Grant streams: training grants, innovation project grants, community wellbeing grants.
- Grants can also support workshops that showcase the values and how to embed them.
- Mobilize money, then commission TWG 1 for training delivery.
- Money is sensitive, so frame the ask around research value and outcomes.
- Not chasing grants by topic (climate, health): evaluate each grant by fit with the mission.
- Leverage facilities and shared space already available.
- Partner with NGOs that help with research, and collaborate over direct cash.
- Example discussed: a local innovation linked with an NGO, in the style such as innovation from ST partnered with MK Africa Limited.
- Open question: will the school back the initiative if external solutions are found but resources are limited?
What we deliver
- Research and innovation projects for companies that need solutions.
- Workshops that show how to embed the ten values into corporations.
- Innovation events and art workshops or galas on campus, with the work drawn up and sold.
- Intentional workshops that showcase founder and artist work, and a values display in shared spaces so visitors see them.
- Impact events that give people knowledge, and deliverables people can use, such as apps and websites.
- Follow-on: a major conference on ethics in the African context of AI.
What our group now needs to do
- Finalize the vision and mission wording in simple, plain language for a broad audience.
- Select 2-3 core values from the ten, starting with stewardship.
- Propose our group leader to the network.
- Write the short practice note on AI and research (citations, verification, human decision).
- Identify one research grant to apply for, with solid research behind it.
- Reach out to one NGO partner that supports research.
- Plan the first intentional workshop at the next convening.
- Carry Training & Capacity Development as the next agenda item.