Jun 10
In this third think piece on supporting think tanks, Stephen Yeo critically outlines a not so recent history of initiatives, funds and projects. He identifies a number of compounding challenges: funding, human resources, lack of competition, and leadership. One of the overall results is a limited incentive for transformative change.
How to support think tanks in developing countries? This the question that 5 experts and practitioners have addressed to inform AusAid's evaluation of a couple of pilots intended to inform their new Knowledge Sector Initiative in Indonesia. Join the panel!
In this interview, SMERU's Director, Dr Asep Suryahadi, describes his motivations for joining the think tank, the centre's history, and its current and future challenges. Pak Asep explains that as a think tank in Indonesia SMERU must balance a number of sometimes competing expectations from multiple stakeholders.
Looking for success stories in large, long-term think tank support programmes can be a significant challenge. But careful and patient observation may offer some interesting insights into cases with the potential to shift the initiative from the North to the South: on ideas, collective action, and organisational development.
Strategic plans are useful for think tanks. They offer a direction of travel, a clear sense of how the centre plans to contribute to their society, and therefore an excellent opportunity to assess that contribution. But these plans do not need to be terribly complicated and 100 pages long. Here is a rather simple template.
Women are being appointed heads of think tanks more frequently than in the past. But does this mean that the playing field is now equal?
Authorship is important for researchers, particularly when it comes to ethical authorship - giving credit to everyone who deserves it and excluding those who don't.
The Think Tank Initiative has launched a new call for proposals to study the relationship between universities and think tanks. This seems like once in life time opportunity to develop new knowledge on this field. This blog outlines a value for money project design that could maximise the density of information and knowledge on this relationship.
Ileana Avalos interviews Jorge Vargas Cullell, Adjunct Director of the State of the Nation Program (Programa Estado de la Nacion), which is an information platform on development for the Costa Rican population. He discusses the role that this program plays among political actors in Costa Rica.
Zambia offers a number of think tank models that should be encourage and supported. There are lessons to learn from all: academic, political, NGO and faith-based. These need to be studies and good practices must be promoted.
Theme: Linen by The Theme Foundry
