Africa | Contributing to public policies and societal debates

This article was written by IPAR as part of the publication of the 2024 On Think Tanks State of the Sector Report. Explore the report and resources here.

Think tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa play a crucial role in shaping public policies and contributing to societal debates in their respective countries. This article explores their impact, challenges, and future opportunities based on data from 28 think tanks in 13 countries, including West, East, and Southern African nations. 

Think tanks as a bridge between researchers, policymakers, and civil society 

Sub-Saharan African think tanks serve as vital intermediaries, connecting researchers, policymakers, and civil society organisations. The data reveals: 

• 96% of surveyed think tanks engage in producing policy briefs and research-related documents. 

• 89% organise public events, conferences, and educational activities. 

• 75% create social media content to disseminate their findings. 

• 71% provide advisory and consulting services. 

These activities demonstrate how think tanks facilitate knowledge transfer between different stakeholders in the policy-making process. Notably, the public sector (government, parliament, local governments) and the general population/community-oriented organisations are the two main target audiences for most think tanks, indicating their focus on bridging research with policy-making and public engagement. 

Despite these liaison efforts, it is important to note that collaboration between think tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa remains a major challenge. A logic of competition, rather than partnership, often prevails, limiting the potential for collective impact. The lack of common data platforms hinders knowledge sharing and synergy between these organisations. 

Advocacy for data-driven public policies 

The survey shows a strong commitment to evidence-based policymaking across Sub-Saharan Africa: 

• 89% of think tanks reported being involved in policy-making through formal channels. 

• 82% contributed to policy-making through informal channels. 

• 85% directly contributed to a specific public policy in the last 5 years. 

This high level of engagement indicates that Sub-Saharan African think tanks are actively pushing for data-driven public policies. Many think tanks report dedicating significant resources to following and intervening in the policy process, with 64% allocating a significant or extensive amount of resources to this activity. 

Media presence and public engagement 

Think tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa recognise the importance of media presence and public engagement: 

• 79% of think tanks consider media presence and citations as important or very important indicators of their impact. 

• 82% view social media engagement metrics as important or very important. 

• 71% dedicate a significant or extensive amount of resources to media visibility and social media engagement. 

These figures highlight the emphasis think tanks place on disseminating their research and ideas to a broader audience. Interestingly, while traditional media engagement is common (43% produce written and broadcast media appearances), there’s a stronger focus on social media content (75%), suggesting an adaptation to changing media consumption patterns across the continent. 

Challenges facing Sub-Saharan African think tanks 

Despite their contributions, think tanks in the region face several challenges: 

• Institutional constraints:  

• • Lack of clear legal frameworks for think tanks in many countries. 

• • Difficulties in establishing effective and transparent internal governance. 

• • Challenges in attracting and retaining qualified researchers in a competitive environment. 

• Political constraints:  

• • 39% report that the political situation over the past 12 months has had an unfavourable impact on think tanks in their country. 

• • 36% find it difficult or very difficult to engage individuals with different political affiliations. 

• • Risks of political pressure or co-optation by special interests. 

• • Difficulties in maintaining independence while remaining relevant to policymakers. 

• Strategic constraints:  

• • Lack of synergies between think tanks, limiting potential collective impact. 

• • Absence of common data platforms, hindering knowledge sharing. 

• • Difficulty in balancing long-term research with short-term demands from policymakers and funders. 

• Financial constraints:  

• • 64% report that their funding is primarily project-based rather than core funding. 

• • 61% find it difficult or very difficult to cover indirect costs. 

• • 57% receive funding primarily from international sources, which may affect long-term sustainability. 

• • 46% report that their total level of funding has decreased or significantly decreased over the past year. 

• • Excessive dependence on short-term funding, limiting long-term strategic planning. 

• Collaboration challenges:  

• • Predominant logic of competition at the expense of collaboration between think tanks. 

• • Lack of common platforms for data and knowledge sharing. 

• • Difficulty in coordinating research and advocacy efforts at the regional level. 

Future opportunities for think tanks in the region 

Despite these challenges, there are several opportunities for growth and impact: 

• Embracing technology:  

• • 82% of think tanks are using or planning to use AI for research, administrative tasks, or communications. 

• • 75% believe AI will have a positive or very positive impact on think tanks. 

• Focusing on key policy areas:  

• • The top policy issues identified as priorities are governance (29%), economics (25%), and environment/climate (11%). This focus aligns well with many of the pressing challenges facing Sub-Saharan African countries. 

• Enhancing organisational skills:  

• • Think tanks identified fundraising (64%), research capacity (43%), and advocacy (32%) as the top areas where strengthening skills would benefit their organisations the most. 

• Increasing diversity and inclusion:  

• • Many think tanks are adopting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, with 50% or more addressing gender, age, social class, race/ethnicity, and disability in their policies. 

• • 54% of the surveyed think tanks report that over 50% of their staff is under 35 years old, indicating a trend towards youth inclusion.
    
• Regional and global engagement:  
• • While 89% of think tanks work at the national level, 64% also engage at the continental/regional level, and 46% at the global level, indicating potential for increased cross-border collaboration. 

• • The emergence of regional networks such as the WAEMU TTN (West African Economic and Monetary Union Think Tank Network) offers opportunities for collaboration and political influence at the supranational level. 

• • The emergence of regional networks such as the WAEMU TTN (West African Economic and Monetary Union Think Tank Network) presents opportunities for collaboration and political influence at a supranational level. In this context, IPAR, through the establishment of a West African center of excellence in partnership with the Benin-based think tank ACED, is working to mobilize data to effectively inform public policy. 

• • Pan-African think tank networks are also developing, enabling knowledge sharing and coordination of efforts at the continental scale. 

Conclusion 

Think tanks in sub-Saharan Africa make significant contributions to public policy and societal debates through their research, advocacy, and public engagement efforts. They actively work to bridge the gap between research, policymaking, and public understanding across various countries and contexts. 

However, they face considerable challenges, including institutional, political, strategic, and financial constraints. The dominance of a competitive rather than a collaborative mindset and the absence of common data platforms limit their potential for collective impact. 

Nonetheless, there are significant opportunities. The emergence of regional and pan-African networks, such as the RTT UEMOA, offers new avenues for collaboration and political influence on a larger scale. By embracing technology, focusing on key policy areas, strengthening organisational capacities, increasing diversity and inclusion, and engaging in regional and global dialogues, these organisations have the potential to play an even more crucial role in evidence-based policymaking and in promoting informed public discourse across sub-Saharan Africa. 

As the region continues to face complex challenges and opportunities in governance, economics, and environmental sustainability, the role of think tanks and their collaborative networks in providing rigorous analysis and promoting evidence-based decision-making will remain critical. Supporting and strengthening these institutions and their regional cooperation efforts could significantly contribute to sustainable development and democratic governance in sub-Saharan African nations.