Global Go To Think Tank Survey 2015

Photo © Maureen Didde/ Flickr

In his analysis of the most recent Global Go To Think Tank Survey, Professor Jim McGann of the University of Pennsylvania points to two key factors that can promote or inhibit the success of think tanks.

He comments:

‘…in a global market place of ideas, think tanks need to develop national, regional and global partnerships while creating new and innovative platforms to deliver their products and services to an ever-expanding audience of citizens, policymakers, and businesses around the world.’

For SAIIA this confirms the strategic importance that the Institute has placed on working with sister institutions to establish and maintain mutually-beneficial networks across Africa and globally. Three such networks SAIIA has played a key role in establishing – the Governance of Africa’s Resources Research Network, the Global Economic Governance Africa network, and the Africa Portal – have all contributed to developing best practice among think tank colleagues.

We are delighted to share the good news that in the 2015 Survey, of the 25 top ranked think tanks in sub Saharan Africa, 16 are content partners of the Africa Portal. This open access online repository of African policy research has opened up a dynamic new dissemination channel for African think tanks to showcase their research to a global policy-making audience. The Africa Portal acts not only as a ’new and innovative platform‘ for strategic communication but also as an African think tank community.

The Institute wishes to congratulate our colleagues at partner think tanks across the continent and globally on their success in the Global Go To Think Tank Survey. We deeply value our collegial relationships with you.

SAIIA is pleased to acknowledge that we have once again been ranked by our peers as one of the top 100 think tanks in the world – now for seven successive years. In addition we have been rated as the leading think tank in Africa in the fields of: Foreign policy and international affairs; Public engagement and outreach; Media; and Networks. In this regard we wish to pay tribute to the invaluable contributions made by our staff, donors and members that have enabled us to achieve these rankings.

4 Feb 2016