| | | Title | Creation, Managementand Sustainability of Think Tanks in Africa | | Author | ACBF | | Subject | Policy design, implementation, and monitoring, Role of think tanks, Development agendas in Africa (Agenda 2063 and SDGs), Capacity building, Stakeholder engagement and dialogue, Monitoring and evaluation, Africa’s current challenges (climate change, digital transformation, COVID-19, population growth, fiscal sovereignty), The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Socioeconomic transformation of African countries | | Date of Publication | 2025 | | Publisher | ACBF | | Number of Pages | 253 | | Keywords | Think tanks, Policy design, Policy implementation, Policy monitoring, Evidence-based policymaking, Capacity building, Development agendas, Agenda 2063, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa, Governance, Research and analysis, Stakeholder engagement, Dialogue, Advocacy, Climate action, Digital transformation, COVID-19 pandemic, Youth population, Fiscal sovereignty, External aid, Innovation hubs, Socioeconomic transformation, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). | | Abstract | This book, Creation, Management and Sustainability of Think Tanks in Africa, explores the pivotal role of think tanks as essential actors in Africa’s policy and development landscape. It examines how these institutions bridge research, governance, and society by producing evidence-based analysis, informing policymaking, and fostering dialogue on key issues such as economic transformation, governance reform, and social inclusion. Situating African think tanks within their historical and political contexts, the book traces their evolution from post-independence, externally supported entities to increasingly diverse and independent institutions. Through comparative analysis of different models—government-affiliated, university-based, independent, and hybrid—the study highlights how institutional origins, autonomy, and funding structures shape credibility and effectiveness. A major finding is the uneven distribution of think tank capacity across the continent, with Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa hosting relatively stronger institutions compared to the weaker presence in Central Africa. These disparities reflect broader political and economic constraints that hinder balanced policy influence and Africa’s participation in global development debates. Nonetheless, the book identifies emerging opportunities in continental initiatives such as Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Continental Free Trade Area, alongside demographic and technological shifts that could empower a new generation of researchers and policy innovators. Sustainability emerges as the core challenge. The book proposes strategies for strengthening institutional foundations, diversifying funding, enhancing governance and human capacity, and leveraging partnerships and innovative financing models. Ultimately, it argues that think tanks must embed themselves within Africa’s broader development ecosystem to remain relevant, trusted, and impactful. The study concludes that sustainable think tanks are not merely academic entities but strategic instruments for Africa’s transformation—vital to ensuring that policymaking is guided by evidence, institutions are reinforced by knowledge, and development is driven from within the continent. | | ISBN/ISSN | 978 -1-77928-632-1 | | Filesize | 2051685 MB | | File Format | PDF | | [ View / download original document ] |
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