With 85 think tanks from 45 countries attending, the 2016 Africa Think Tank Conference succeeded in bringing together more than 120 participants to discuss issues pertinent to both think tanks and African countries as a whole. Gathered in Marrakesh (Morocco), on 2-4 May, participants have taken up the challenge goal of bridging the gap impairing the relationship of African think tanks, covering a wide range of topics. 

Discussions covered the preservation and development of African think tanks, including key aspects such as governance and capacity building, independence and financial sustainability, strategic communication, partnerships and cross-fertilization with other think tanks, governments and NGOs.

Participants also discussed how think tanks can help African policy-makers, influencers and populations face a number of common challenges such as fighting climate change, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or ensuring countries benefit from free trade agreements, especially the CFTA (Africa’s Continental Free Trade Agreement). Think tanks can do so by helping countries improve their data collection capacity, methodologies and indicators, providing their negotiators with adequate training, taking advantage of tools such as the Economic Commission for Africa community of practice.

The Africa Think Tank Conference 2016 was jointly organized by the OCP Policy Center, the Economic Commission for Africa and the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program of the University of Pennsylvania (TTCSP) under the theme: “Building a Sustainable and Secure Future for the People and Institutions of Africa.” This event was successful in encouraging the exchange of ideas and perspectives as well as the building of strong ties between a diversified group of African think tanks.

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Africa Think Tank Conference 2016

Building a Sustainable and Secure Future for the People and Institutions of Africa

In recent years several issues facing North Africa have become more and more comparable to the issues facing the rest of Africa. Additionally, the rest of Africa is experiencing economic growth, and the Mediterranean-facing countries are increasingly looking south for trade and investment opportunities.

Among the more frequently mentioned issues of common interest are the following:

• Economic issues: Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) issues and related trade opportunities; investment opportunities; infrastructure development; energy resources; industrialization; production value chains; innovation

• Social issues: poverty; gender equity; education and health services; employment; urbanization; social protection; migration and displaced populations; violence against women; cultural heritage

• Environmental issues: climate change; water resources; biodiversity; sustainable agriculture; natural resources management; endangered species

• Creating a sustainable future for think tanks in Africa: effective communication, resource mobilization, human resource management, research utilization and impact.

The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015 marked the initiation of a new global effort to eradicate poverty in all its forms.  The 17 goals and 169 targets are now a global mandate for all nations to make life better for their people, and are designed to encompass the interrelated and interdependent actions relating to their achievement. They are also consistent with the vision spelled out in Africa’s Agenda 2063, endorsed by African Heads of State two years earlier. As such, it would be of great interest for countries facing similar challenges, for think tanks – organizations devoted to doing the deep thinking to help policy-makers make informed decisions – to share their challenges and successes so that all their countries can be smarter in designing their futures.

It will also be an excellent opportunity to explore how think tanks can implement the strategies developed in previous Summits to enhance capacity, increase impact and assure the long term viability of think tanks in the region. Much work has been done lately on the issue of making think tanks “fit for purpose”, in terms of quality, vibrancy, relevance and sustainability. More think tanks from across Africa would benefit from learning about and finding ways to introduce innovations and adaptations identified in other think tank fora.

The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania aims to raise the capacity of think tanks at the national, regional and global level to better serve policy makers and the public. TTCSP conducts research on the relationship between think tanks, politics and public policy and supports a global network of about 7000 think tanks.

Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1958, the Economic Commission for Africa aims to promote the economic and social development of its 54 member States, foster intra-regional integration and promote international cooperation for Africa's development.

OCP Policy Center is a Moroccan  think tank striving to contribute to an enriched reflection on key economic and international relations issues, from a Southern perspective. OCPPC provides a meaningful policy-making contribution in areas such as Agriculture, Environment and Food Security, Economic and Social Development, Commodity Economics and Finance, Geopolitics and International Relations.