Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program International Relations Program

University of Pennsylvania

635 WILLIAMS HALL

255 S. 36TH STREET

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104-6305

DIRECT LINE: (215) 746-2928

MAIN OFFICE: (215) 898-0452

EMAIL: jmcgann@sas.upenn.edu

Landmark Summit of African Think Tanks Leads to a Call for the Creation of Trans-African Think Tank Network

Pretoria South Africa, February 3-5, 2014

“The first African Think Tank Summit and the actions taken by its participants clearly demonstrate the transformative dimension of ideas and the importance of a group of institutions coming together for a common purpose and greater good. This was a landmark conference not only because it was the first continental meeting of African think tanks but more importantly because of the groundbreaking recommendations and plan of action that the participants committed themselves to at the Summit. I am convinced that the recommendations will have a far reaching impact on the think tanks in Africa and the citizens and governments they serve". (James G. McGann,Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania February 2014)

The First Africa Think Tank Summit was organized in partnership with the African Capacity Building Foundation, African Leadership Center, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Konrad-Andenauer-Stiftung and the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania. The Summit was held on 3-5 February 2014 at the Pride of Africa Irene Country Lodge in Pretoria, South Africa. The Summit was hosted by the Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria, South Africa who provided all the in country logistics and support.

Over 50 of the leading think tanks from 25 countries in Africa participated in the Summit which focused on the organizational and policy challenges facing think tanks in the region and how they might increase their sustainability, value and impact.

A report and joint communique of the proceedings will be issued in about 4-6 weeks; a

preliminary summary of the major issues and findings from the Summit are provided below.

The participants made a number of important recommendations that fall into four areas: capacity development, knowledge sharing and networking, resource mobilization and regionally based initiatives and partnerships. These recommendations include a call for the following:

development of strategies and programs to engage private indigenous donors to support think tanks;

establishment of a Pan African Think Tank Network and annual meeting of think tanks; strengthening and funding the core operations of think tanks to help ensure the

sustainability and independence of think tanks in Africa; development of a media and public engagement training program; creation of a national and regional media (print and electronic) directory/resource

guide; creation of knowledge sharing platform that focuses on research, capacity building and

best practices; development of a think tank co-operative to promote and manage shared resources and

services such as think tank staff recruitment, joint purchasing of computer hardware, web hosting, and the negotiation of in-kind contributions (software, mobile devices, etc.);

increased funding for think tank collaboration to develop capacity, share and implement best practices

The participants were asked to identify what they considered to be the major public policy issues facing the region and they identified the following issues which are listed in the order of frequency cited by participants:

Regional Integration Natural resource management Poverty and economic development Governance, citizen empowerment and democracy Peace and Security Managing foreign aid, trade and investment Infrastructure development including cross-boundary/border investment in Infrastructure

development Youth Unemployment

There were repeated calls to move from ideas and recommendations to action. This resulted in the establishment of steering group that oversee the planning of the next Summit and the dissemination and implementation of the recommendations developed at the Summit. The African Capacity Building Foundation, the African Leadership Center, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program and the Institute for Security Studies agreed to serve as the nucleus of a Planning Committee. TTCSP offered to continue provide assistance and offered to draft the Joint Communique and the Summit Report. TTCSP also offered to connect the participants of the Summit to the regional and international programs and activities of the TTCSP and to its Global Think Tank Network. It was suggested that the African Development Bank, World Bank (Africa division) and the South African Institute of International Affairs and one or two additional institutions be included in the Planning Group.

Provided below are selected photos from the Summit provided by the ISS staff. Use this link to access the photos:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.828961397130602.1073741829.204054676287947&type=1&l=c25e0d3f06 Think tanks have played an effective role in Africa's development and will remain an integral component in the quest for poverty reduction and sustainable development for some time to come. These institutions have grown to offer the dialogue space required to tackle critical policy development challenges. They are also a dynamic place to nurture knowledge and learning and share lessons that enable growth, action and above all transformation. – Dr. Frannie A. Leautier, Former Executive Secretary, African Capacity Building Foundation, 2013

An ideal bridge between sites of knowledge production and the worlds of policy and practice, Africa's Think Tanks are potential incubators for leading ideas for Africa's transformation, thus providing invaluable space for a rare form of intellectual leadership and intergenerational exchanges. The challenge that African Think Tanks confront however is how to translate all of this into meaningful change for the continent. – Dr.'Funmi Olonisakin, African Leadership Centre.

The potential of think tanks to support and sustain democratic governments and civil society is far from exhausted. Today

policymakers and civil society throughout the developed and the developing world face the common problem of bringing expert

knowledge to bear on government decision-making. The challenge is to harness the vast reservoir of knowledge, information

and associational energy that exist in public policy research organizations in every region of the world for public good. – Dr.

James G. McGann, Think Tanks and Civil Society Program, University of Pennsylvania, 2012.

Soft power is determined not only by economic strength, but also by the ability of states to produce knowledge and influence

thinking. The number of Think Tanks in a country is indicative of this. –Dr. Jakkie Cilliers, Institute for Security Studies, African

Futures monograph, 2008

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please email your comments, additions and suggestions to:

tt.africasummit@gmail.com

Prepared byJames McGann, Pennsylvania, PA, February 25th, 2014

Country Host

Regional Partners

Global Partners and Sponsors

University of Pennsylvania Partners