Letter from Director: Nancy Onyango
As we close the year, the promise of Agenda 2030 and 2063 continues to remind us that progress is shaped not only by policies and partnerships but also by the stories that give them meaning. This final quarter has reaffirmed that purposeful communication is essential to advancing the goals that matter most for our continent’s future.
Across Africa, we have witnessed powerful expressions of resilience, innovation, and leadership. Our engagements this quarter explored themes at the heart of sustainable development, digital inclusion, communication strategy, and climate resilience. Each experience has reminded us that storytelling is more than a tool; it is a bridge, connecting people to possibility and possibility to action.
As you explore this final newsletter of the year, I invite you to engage with the stories that shaped our last quarter. They reflect the vision that continues to guide us as a firm: supporting Africa’s development aspirations by telling stories that illuminate challenges, celebrate progress, and inspire collective action.
Thank you to our clients, partners, service providers, and team for walking this journey with us. And a special appreciation to our incredible SUC team. Your unwavering commitment is the engine behind everything we deliver. Your work continues to set the standard for excellence at Show Up Communications. As 2025 comes to a close, I wish you a joyful festive season and an inspiring start to 2026. The work ahead is meaningful, and I look forward to what we will achieve together.
Warm regards,
Nancy Onyango,
Founder and CEO
Show Up Communications.
Highlights :
Supporting the Fashion for Polio Campaign – 24th October
In October, we joined the global community in marking World Polio Day, reflecting on one of humanity’s greatest public health achievements, the near eradication of polio. The day reaffirmed Rotary’s global commitment to ending polio, a mission that has united governments, health workers, and communities worldwide for nearly 35 years.
In Kenya, the Fashion for Polio Campaign, led by the Rotary Club of Kitengela, used creativity and culture to raise awareness and inspire collective action. Through kanga, kitenge, and beadwork, the campaign reimagined fashion as a language of unity and belonging, showing how cultural expression can transform awareness into participation and participation into lasting change.
This reflection also honoured the millions of health workers, volunteers, and parents whose dedication continued to move the world closer to a polio-free future.
World Polio Day: Fashion, Solidarity, and the Final Mile to Eradication – Show Up Communications
2025B Botswana Follow-Up phase – October
From 6 to 10 October 2025, iPRIS conducted the Africa Follow-Up Phase for the fifth cohort in Gaborone, Botswana, bringing together ICT policymakers, regulators, and regional telecom bodies.
This session was hosted by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). It included participation from the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), the National Communications Authority (NatCA) of Sierra Leone, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA).
The follow-up phase was coordinated by SPIDER and the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), in partnership with CRASA, EACO, and WATRA. The discussions focused on progress made on Change Initiatives and advancing inclusive digital transformation across the continent.
This programme reflects iPRIS’s continued commitment to strengthening regulatory cooperation and building institutional capacity for Africa’s digital future.
2025D Sweden Round – 16 November to 3 December 2025
From 16 November to 3 December 2025, iPRIS hosted the Sweden Round of the 2025D cohort in Stockholm, bringing together regulatory teams from across Africa for an intensive peer-to-peer learning programme. Participants included: the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) – Malawi, the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) – Lesotho, the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) – Botswana, the National Communications Authority (NCA) – Ghana, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) – Kenya, and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) – The Gambia.
Over two and a half weeks, the programme provided in-depth sessions on European regulatory frameworks, project management, digital inclusion, secure communications, numbering and addressing, broadband deployment and mapping, and future regulatory trends. Participants worked closely with experts from SPIDER and the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), as well as regional organisations such as WATRA, CRASA, and EACO.
A key component of the Sweden Round was the refinement of Change Initiatives (CIs), with each regulator presenting their progress and receiving targeted feedback from peers and experts. Sessions focused on strengthening regulatory design, integrating DEI principles, improving monitoring and evaluation, and preparing for effective stakeholder engagement.
The Sweden Round reaffirmed iPRIS’s commitment to building strong and future-ready regulatory institutions across Africa. As the cohort now prepares for the African Follow-Up Phase in March 2026, the relationships formed and the foundations built in Stockholm continue to guide a more inclusive and resilient digital future for the continent.
International Day of the Girl Child – 11 October
On 11 October, we commemorated the International Day of the Girl Child by creating a short social media reel that celebrated our love, support, and belief in every girl’s potential. The reel shared heartfelt messages from our team, honouring the strength, creativity, and courage of girls everywhere.
It was a reminder that when girls are seen, heard, and supported, communities grow stronger. Through this small act of storytelling, we joined the global celebration of girls and reaffirmed our commitment to a world where they can learn, lead, and thrive.
Global Mayors Unite for Heat-Resilient Cities
C40 Mayors event on extreme heat brought together leaders from major cities to spotlight how urban centres are responding to rising temperatures with practical, people-centred solutions. The gathering underscored the urgency of protecting communities through stronger early-warning systems, expanded access to cooling, and climate-smart urban design, all themes that resonated widely in recent media coverage. Outlets such as CNBC Africa, The Standard, Africa Briefing, Adom Online, and EnviroNews featured compelling stories on the climate economics of heat, Nairobi’s selection among 33 cities advancing heat-resilience work, and the collective efforts of African cities uniting to redesign public spaces and safeguard residents.
A global mayors’ event on extreme heat brought together leaders from major cities to spotlight how urban centres are responding to rising temperatures with practical, people-centred solutions. The gathering underscored the urgency of protecting communities through stronger early-warning systems, expanded access to cooling, and climate-smart urban design—all themes that resonated widely in recent media coverage. Outlets such as CNBC Africa, The Standard, Africa Briefing, Adom Online, and EnviroNews featured compelling stories on the climate economics of heat, Nairobi’s selection among 33 cities advancing heat-resilience work, and the collective efforts of African cities uniting to redesign public spaces and safeguard residents. Here are some media features that captured the Rockefeller Initiative:
- Addressing the climate economics & why Africa matters – CNBC Africa
- Nairobi among 33 cities picked to fight extreme heat – The Standard
- African cities act on extreme heat – Africa Briefing
- Climate Crisis: Cities unite to tackle deadly extreme heat and transform urban spaces – Adomonline.com
- Climate crisis: Cities unite to tackle deadly extreme heat, transform urban spaces – EnviroNews – latest environment news, climate change, renewable energy
Wellness at Show Up Communications
Time and again, we are reminded that the strength of our work rises from the well-being of the people who create it. At Show Up Communications, caring for our team is a culture anchored in intention, consistency, and empathy.
This quarter, we continued to invest in that culture by creating space for our team to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their health. Our October wellness session offered practical insights on healthy living and encouraged open dialogue on everyday wellbeing. From the health talk to the individual check-ups, the day served as a reminder that looking after ourselves is not separate from the work. It sustains the creativity and energy that define how we show up.
Prioritising wellness remains one of the ways we honour our people. When we nurture the mind and body, we nurture the stories we tell, the partnerships we build, and the impact we strive for every day.
The Aga Khan University (AKU) at 10
During the AKU 10-year celebration, our director was among the speakers; here are some moments captured:
Quarter 4 Team Celebrations
This quarter gave us many moments to celebrate the people who make Show Up Communications what it is. From birthdays to graduation milestones, we were reminded of the joy of coming together as a team. These gatherings were simple but meaningful, moments to share laughter, gratitude, and encouragement as we marked personal achievements and collective progress. Throughout the year, these celebrations strengthened our sense of community and reminded us that our work is carried not only by skill and dedication, but also by the relationships we build along the way.
Our articles:
Here are some thought-provoking stories shaping Africa’s conversations in tech, health, climate, and storytelling:
- Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2025: Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces. Read more >
- Beyond Words: Celebrating the Power of Translation. Read more >
- World Polio Day: Fashion, Solidarity, and the Final Mile to Eradication. Read more >
- World Aids Day. Read more >
- Why Africa’s Voice Matters at COP 30. Read more >
- C40: Cities Unite to Tackle Deadly Extreme Heat. Read more >
- Shaping Africa’s Voice: Women Transforming Public Relations. Read more >
- The Voices That Lead Campaign. Read more >
Interesting Reads During the Holiday season :
Here are some thought-provoking stories shaping Africa’s conversations:
- Digital inclusion in Africa’s emerging economy – How accessible technology, fair connectivity, and inclusive design are shaping the continent’s digital future and expanding opportunities for women and youth. Read more >
- Reimagining Africa’s future amid disruption – A reflective piece on how demographic, climate, and technological changes are reshaping Africa’s strategic pathways in research, policy, and innovation. Read more >
- 14 uplifting stories from Africa in 2025 – A roundup of positive developments across disability inclusion, education, and community resilience from a pan-African development organisation. Read more >
- Whimsy in the City: What Ngara’s Revival Reveals About Nairobi – A vibrant look at how youth creativity, fashion, and public spaces are transforming Ngara into one of Nairobi’s most expressive cultural hubs. Read more >
2025 Movies that we will be (re)watching
Nawi (Kenya): A deeply moving film addressing child marriage and girls’ education, aligning strongly with ESG, gender equity, and human-rights conversations.
The Masked King (Nigeria): A political-historical drama examining power, loyalty, and leadership, timeless themes for governance and decision-making discussions.
Hanami (Cape Verde): A poetic, visually striking film exploring identity and belonging, ideal for creative, cultural, and innovation-focused audiences.
Mission Xylara (Uganda): A rare African sci-fi narrative that challenges perceptions of African futurism, technology, and imagination.
Upcoming Events – Next year
Opportunities:
Discover our career opportunities in communications and media, featuring training sessions and current job openings.
Thanks for Engaging
Thanks for reading this edition of Show Up, Stories of Change. Subscribe to our newsletter for communications and PR insights as we foster change through positive narratives.
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