T20 Africa
During the German G20 Presidency in 2017, SAIIA and the then German Development Institute (now the German Institute of Development and Sustainability [IDOS]) established the Think20 Africa Standing Group (T20 ASG), now Think 20 Africa. This platform brings together African think tanks and think tanks from G20 countries to share perspectives on global economic governance issues, collaborate on policy briefs for the Think 20 process and amplify African positions in G20 settings.
The T20 ASG’s governance structure had two troikas (three think tanks from the G20 troika in any one year, and three African think tanks). UNECA was a permanent member, with SAIIA and IDOS acting as the secretariat.
The T20 ASG initiative involved a range of activities in support of two overarching objectives:
- To create a sustainable structure and process within the T20 that would facilitate the articulation of African views in the G20’s deliberations and decisions, as well as in the implementation of these decisions.
- To use this structure and process to ensure that the views of African countries are amplified on particular G20 issues that affect Africa and to which African countries attach high priority.
Since the T20 ASG’s inception, members of the group have published a number of policy briefings through the Think20 process. From 2017 to 2019 there was a dedicated Africa task force in the T20. From the Saudi presidency onwards, the task forces were entirely thematic and contributions from African think tanks were thus integrated into the issues rather than being discussed only through a geographic prism. In addition to UNECA, more recently UNCTAD’s Least Developed Countries unit has become involved in the group and has participated in a number of meetings, as has the OECD-Development Centre. The Policy Bridge Tank of AUDA-NEPAD has also joined in the past two years.
Membership of the T20 Africa
Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE, Uganda)
The Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) is an independent public policy research and advocacy think tank based in Uganda, working in the East and Southern Africa sub-regions on a range of public policy issues. Its core business is policy research and analysis, policy outreach and capacity building.
African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET, Ghana)
The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) is a pan-African economic policy institute supporting Africa’s long-term growth through transformation. ACET produces research, offers policy advice, advocates for Africa’s priorities, and connects key stakeholders so that African countries are better positioned for smart, inclusive, and sustainable development.
African Economic Research Consortium (AERC, Kenya)
Established in 1988, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) is a capacity-building institution to inform economic policies in sub-Saharan Africa. AERC is based in Nairobi and has three primary components: research, training and policy outreach.
Brookings Institution (Brookings, US)
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organisation based in Washington DC. Its mission is to conduct in-depth, nonpartisan research to improve policy and governance at local, national and global levels.
Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA, Nigeria)
The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) is an independent non-profit research organisation established in April 2008 by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-lweala, former managing director, World Bank and Nigeria’s past coordinating minister for the economy and honourable minister of finance. Based in Abuja, Nigeria, CSEA serves as a forum for quality research analysis and policy dialogue by stakeholders from the private sector, government, national assembly and civil society.
Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF, Tanzania)
The Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) is an independent policy research Think Tank established in 1994 in Tanzania for the purposes of undertaking policy research and providing evidence to support economic management process in Tanzania.
Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES, Egypt)
The Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES) is an independent, non-profit think tank that conducts specialised economic research, drawing on international experience and constructive discussions among various stakeholders.
German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS, Germany)
The German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) is located in the UN city of Bonn and is one of the world’s leading research institutions and think tanks for global sustainable development. Its work is based on the interplay between research, policy advice and training.
Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale (IPAR, Senegal)
Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale (IPAR) is a leading West African think tank focused on research, capacity building, and policy dialogue to drive sustainable agricultural and rural development in Senegal and the region.
Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA, Brazil)
Created in 1964, the Institute for Applied Economic Research is a government think tank affiliated with the Brazilian Ministry of Budget and Planning. Staffed with more than 200 experts on applied research and public policy planning, IPEA covers various fields of knowledge and diverse methodological approaches, providing the Brazilian Government with the best evidence possible to design, evaluate, and implement public policies.
Kenyan Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA, Kenya)
The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) is a public institution established by an Act of Parliament with a primary mandate of providing quality policy advice to the government of Kenya and other key stakeholders by conducting policy research and analysis and through capacity building in order to contribute to the achievement of national long-term development objectives.
Policy Center for the New South (PCNS, Morocco)
The Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) is a Moroccan think tank aiming at contributing to the improvement of economic and social public policies that challenge Morocco and the rest of Africa as integral parts of the Global South. The PCNS advocates for an open, accountable and enterprising ‘new South’ that defines its own narratives and mental maps around the Mediterranean and South Atlantic basins, as part of a forward-looking relationship with the rest of the world.
Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS, India)
The Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) is a New Delhi-based autonomous policy research institute that specialises in issues related to international economic development, trade, investment and technology. RIS is envisioned as a forum for fostering effective policy dialogue and capacity building among developing countries on global and regional economic issues.
South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA, South Africa)
The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) is an independent public policy think tank advancing a well governed, peaceful, economically sustainable and globally engaged Africa.
