About

This blog is about think tanks (or policy research institutes.

I think that these organisations can serve an important public good purpose even if they are sometimes dismissed as ideological or interest driven. They play key roles in any modern society that values the contribution that knowledge can make to the world of politics.

This blog is particularly about think tanks and for think tanks in developing countries. But much of the commentary and resources will come from and should also be useful for think tanks in the developed world.

I hope that the posts and the resources published here will support think tanks to be more strategic in the way they make short and long-term decisions. The blog focuses on key internal and external issues of relevance and interest to think tanks and their staff and supporters.

I run the blog as a non-for profit initiative with the assistance of Andrea Moncada (see below). We write most of the posts and edit the site. From time to time, other ‘bloggers’ will post on onthinktanks and they will be identified as contributors.

The time I dedicate to the blog is not paid for by any particular organisation or project. I do it in my own time; and I pay for Andrea’s time on the blog. Contributors are not remunerated.

However, if you’d like to find out how to help, help is needed, please contact me.

Please have a look at out content ‘policy’:

• Using our content 
• Using the content of others

Enrique Mendizabal

The team

Enrique Mendizabal, Founder, Director

For the record, I am currently an independent researcher, working through my own limited company, Mendizabal Ltd. Until December 2010 I worked for the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) -an international development think tank based in the UK- where I headed the Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) programme. Since 2011 I have focused on the study of think tanks as part of a project carried out with the support of IDRC and others; including my own funds. Besides this blog I provide consultancy services and advice to think tanks and their funders and collaborate with several think tanks whenever possible -always trying to encourage them to join in the discussion on the nature of think tanks.

For more news about me can be found here or email me on: enrique@mendizabal.co.uk

Andrea Moncada, research assistant and blogger

Andrea is a BA student of political science in Lima, Peru, currently in her final semester at the  Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, in Peru. Her main academic interests are international relations theory, international security, counterterrorism and conflict resolution.  She is also currently a member of the Peruvian delegation for the Harvard National Model United Nations, a member of the research committee for Internacia, a student group focused on international relations, and the Security Council Committee director for this year’s Model United Nations at PUCP.

More information about Andrea can be found here or email her on amoncada@mendizabal.co.uk

Contributors

A full list of regular contributors can be found here:

• Nick Scott
• Jeff Knezovich
• Leandro Echt
• Hans Gutbrod
• Caroline Cassidy
• Andrea Ordóñez
• Hans Gutbrod
• Clara Richards