African think tanks play a vital role in providing localized analysis and policy recommendations that have practical impacts on the ground. To support and enhance their influence, the World Bank has committed $50 million to strengthen these institutions, aiming to promote evidence-based policymaking across the continent.
The funding is channeled through a new initiative under the Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP), a collaboration involving the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), and AUDA-NEPAD. This initiative invites consortia of African think tanks to submit proposals for long-term collaborative research over a five-year period. The supported research will focus on six strategic areas: economic transformation and governance, climate change, regional trade, food security, human capital development, and digitalization.
The overarching goal is to reinforce the role of African-led research in influencing national and regional policies that are both inclusive and contextually relevant. By funding joint research initiatives, the World Bank seeks to boost institutional capacity, improve research quality and relevance, and bridge the gap between research outputs and policy implementation.
This investment is aligned with the World Bank’s broader strategy to foster regional integration, enhance human capital, and build resilience against economic and climate-related shocks. Evidence from similar initiatives in other regions—such as India, where strengthened research institutions contributed significantly to major economic reforms—demonstrates the potential high return on investment from empowering think tanks.
