Foreword by Enrique Mendizabal
2024 was a year of adaptation and evolution.
The evidence-informed policy and think tank landscapes continue to shift, presenting both obstacles and opportunities.
We’ve embraced these changes, navigating the complexities of political polarisation, exploring the implications of political philanthropy, and recognising the pivotal role of evidence in shaping education policy.
Amidst these challenges, we’ve also witnessed a growing willingness to tackle ‘thorny issues’—those contentious and intricate questions that often evade easy resolution.
Throughout 2024 we joined forces with over 20 think tanks to launch a groundbreaking State of the Sector Report, facilitated the African Education Research Funding Consortium and produced a knowledge hub to support philanthropic organisations work with governments directly.
In 2024, we also launched a new existing podcast series exploring the changing nature of think tanking in a changing Europe (out soon).
The 2024 School for Thinktankers and OTT Conference welcomed the first group of student think tank leaders from a new initiative that supports student-led think tanks: Building for the Future.
This annual review reflects our commitment to navigating this dynamic landscape, learning from both expected and unexpected outcomes, and continuing to champion the use of evidence in policymaking and think tanks.
As we move forward, we remain dedicated to supporting better-informed policymaking and fostering a vibrant, impactful think tank sector.
2024: Key Themes
2024 was a year of navigating complexity and confronting challenges in the evidence-informed policy landscape. From grappling with the influence of political polarisation on think tank sustainability to examining the rise of political philanthropy as a tool for providing technical advice to governments, key themes have shaped the way we think about policy impact. Our reflections also spotlight the growing role of evidence use in education, drawing lessons from the Jacobs Foundation’s EdLabs initiative across four countries. Most strikingly, a growing appetite to tackle ‘thorny issues’—those politically sensitive or technically difficult questions—has sparked rich debate across the field. In this annual review, we explore these pivotal conversations and their implications for the road ahead.
Our People
In 2024, our team continued to grow and evolve, blending fresh perspectives with the expertise of long-standing members. As a fully remote and globally diverse team, we span continents and time zones—from Latin America to South Asia, Europe to Africa, and North America to East Asia. This global presence allows us to bring a rich variety of experiences and insights to our work while staying connected and united by a shared mission.
Together, our team represents a truly global commitment to advancing evidence-informed policy and supporting the think tank community worldwide.
Our Workstreams
Working with funders
In 2024, we helped funders maximise their impact by providing comprehensive support, including strategy development, portfolio design, grantee engagement, and MEL. Our work fostered sustainable funding models, adaptive strategies, and collaborative learning.
Feature Project: Facilitating the African Education Research Funding Consortium
This project supported a consortium that shifted power to locally led researchers, challenging traditional norms in the aid sector. It redefined funder-local researcher relationships, pioneering new standards for equitable research funding and impact.
Working with think tanks and policy research organisations
We strengthened research ecosystems by building organisational capacity, fostering collaboration, and promoting sustainable research impact. Our partnerships connected think tanks, funders, and evidence users to drive global change.
Feature Project: Strengthening IPAR Senegal’s Organisational Capacities
We worked with IPAR Senegal to prepare the organisation for direct funding from USAID, enhancing its operational readiness to become a prime recipient of contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements.
Evidence-informed policy
Our evidence-use initiatives focused on power dynamics, organisational change, and sector-specific evidence use. We delivered strategy, MEL, and capacity-building projects, fostering learning and trusted partnerships.
Feature Project: A Learning Agenda for EdLabs with the Jacobs Foundation
In collaboration with EdLabs in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Switzerland, and Colombia, we supported efforts to enhance evidence use in education policy. The project assessed policy lab effectiveness and provided insights to inform sustainable, evidence-driven reforms.
Research Support Service
We provided bespoke research and analysis to international development organisations, connecting them with Global South expertise and fresh perspectives.
Feature Project: Research Support Service for the Gates Foundation’s Development Policy and Finance (DPAF) Program
In its fourth year, our partnership with the DPAF team delivered timely research and sector analyses, helping programme officers stay updated on key trends and prioritise strategic initiatives.
On Think Tanks Programme Initiatives
School for Thinktankers 2024
We partnered with Bruegel in Brussels to deliver hands-on training and networking opportunities, equipping think tank leaders with governance, fundraising, policy engagement, and communications skills.
The School for Thinktankers 2025 starts soon in Barcelona at Fundació Bofill. Contact us any time if you would like to join a future School.
Open Think Tank Directory
Grew to over 3,800 organisations from 150+ countries, further solidifying its role as the go-to resource for think tanks worldwide.
Help us grow the directory further by sharing new entries or updating existing ones in 2025.
State of the Sector Report 2024
Provided a global snapshot of the think tank landscape, capturing insights from over 300 organisations across 95 countries.
Stay tuned for regional insights and learn how you can contribute to the 2025 edition!
OTT Conference 2024
Convened think tank leaders, funders, and policy experts in Barcelona for vibrant discussions and collaborative opportunities.
Mark your calendar for the 2025 OTT Conference in Johannesburg — let’s continue building connections!
Building for the Future Initiative
Awarded grants to four student-led think tanks, empowering young leaders and amplifying diverse policy perspectives.
Join us in supporting the next cycle of this initiative and strengthening the think tank ecosystem.
Funders Circle
We facilitated four virtual meetings and one in person during the 2024 annual OTT Conference in Barcelona. The plenary session, A Conversation with Think Tanks Funders, in which some of you participated, addressed key questions such as how funding can support different ideas and create a balanced debate.
OTT in the Community
🇦🇱 Tirana, Albania
OTT’s founder, Enrique Mendizabal, attended the Tirana Think Tank Forum in Albania, where he shared findings from our State of the Sector 2024 Report and explored how think tanks can navigate these unique dynamics.
🇲🇽 Guadalajara, Mexico
On Think Tanks Director Estefanía Terán Valdez joined Mexican and global leaders at FIL Guadalajara to discuss civic space challenges and opportunities, drawing insights from On Think Tanks’ 2024 State of the Sector Report.
🇿🇦 Cape Town, South Africa
Enrique Mendizabal also addressed key challenges in effectively engaging with diverse forms of evidence in practice and explored ways to tackle ‘thorny issues’—corruption, political polarisation, social norms, and more, at the Transforming Evidence Network (TEN) Conference.
🇰🇪 Nairobi, Kenya
In November 2024, OTT’s Racheal Makokha brought together 19 dynamic participants from Kenya’s leading think tanks and organisations to explore the findings of the State of the Sector 2024 report relevant to Subsaharan Africa. Hosted by Busara, the event sparked insightful discussions on the evolving role of think tanks in Africa and beyond.
🇬🇧 Oxford, UK
OTT’s Clara Richards attended the What Works Hub for Global Education Annual Conference at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, UK, in September 2024. From a workshop for the ed-labs community to high-level panels on evidence ecosystems and policy initiatives, she dived into dynamic discussions shaping the future of education policy.
🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Marcela Morales Hidalgo, who leads our evidence-use in education practice, attended the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI) 2024 Conference in October 2024. She shared insights from a comprehensive review of policy labs and evidence use in education developed through our learning partnership with the Jacobs Foundation.
OTT Talks
In 2024, we began working on a new season of our podcast series, OTT Talks, focused on think tanking across Europe’s evolving policy landscape. This season delves into how think tanks are navigating complex challenges, from polarization to policy shifts, while redefining their roles in this changing landscape.
The first episode is out now! Tune in for thought-provoking conversations with experts and practitioners from across the continent, offering fresh insights into the future of think tanks in Europe.
OTT in Numbers
Top Reads of 2024
- Twenty to ‘watch and learn from’ in the world of think tanks and evidence informed policy
- Oldies but Goldies: A look back at the literature on evidence informed policy and think tanks
- Evidence use funding in 2024: what to watch
- AI preparedness for think tanks
- The promise and perils of AI in shaping tomorrow’s think tanks, policymakers and foundations
- AI use in think tanks: six key survey findings
- Are we ready to welcome ‘thorny issues’ in the evidence-informed policy field?