Introduction

The Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP) is a five-year, US$50 million initiative by the African Union Commission (AUC), funded by the World Bank Group, aimed at enhancing the capacity and influence of African think tanks. Supported by the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), ATTP aims to establish and operationalise a sustainable platform for effective cooperation and harmonisation on regional and cross-border policy issues among country-level policymakers, regional associations, and think tanks.

About the African Think Tank Platform

The African Think Tank Platform (ATTP) promotes collaboration in policymaking for regional integration priorities that deliver significant positive externalities and reduce negative ones. As a Pilot program, it is designed to cover all African Union Member States. ATTP’s initial priority themes, including economic transformation and governance, climate change, regional trade, food security, human capital, and digitalisation, align with the AU’s Agenda 2063, The Africa We Want.

Objective and Priorities of The ATTP

To establish a sustainable platform that strengthens capacity for effective policy research and policymaking on cross-boundary priorities in Africa – “evidence in, outcomes out.” The platform’s priorities are based on regional collaboration areas identified in the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the World Bank’s Africa Strategy, aligned with the SDGs. All thematic areas include a strong focus on gender:

• Economic Transformation and Governance
• Climate Change and Food Security
• Regional Trade, Human Capital and Digitalization

Outcomes of the ATTP

Intermediate:

• Establishment and operationalization of platform to engage policymakers and think tanks on continental priority policy issues
• Policy relevant research on cross-border priority issues generated by think tanks
• Increase in policy engagement activities undertaken by think tanks
• Increase in share of think research projects led female researchers

Medium Term: To establish a sustainable platform to strengthen the capacity for effective policy, research and policymaking on cross-boundary priorities in Africa

Long term: Better development outcomes through better policymaking and implementation across Africa

Project Components

Component 1 – Establish Capacity to Operate a Sustainable Policy-Making Platform: This component focuses on establishing the capacity to operate a sustainable policy-making platform. The goal is to support knowledge generation and provide advice on continental priority issues, thereby strengthening the platform's role in regional economic policymaking. Selected think tanks will collaborate with relevant African Union Specialised Technical Committees (STCs), fostering a network of researchers and policymakers.

Component 2: Strengthen Policy Research's Quality, Relevance, and Uptake on Priority Issues: This component focuses on strengthening the capacity of think tanks and policy research institutions. This includes providing technical assistance and training to think tanks; supporting the quality and dissemination of research; facilitating resource mobilisation; establishing a peer network for female economic researchers; and conducting a study to analyse prior initiatives aimed at increasing female participation in policy research.

Component 3: Support Platform Sustainability: This Component will support the establishment of a special fund and an endowment fund to pool resources from African governments, the private sector, foundations, individuals, and institutional donors. The endowment fund aims to support future research and capacity-building efforts beyond the ATTP project.

Document

ATTP PROJECT APPRAISAL DOCUMENT.pdf

For further information

Themba Gilbert Chirwa, PhD - Project Coordinator, Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP) Project Partnerships Management & Resource Mobilisation Directorate| Email: chirwat@africanunion.org

Jabulani Sithole| ATTP Communications Specialist| Email: sitholej@africanunion.org or attpinfo@africanunion.org

Website: https://africathinktankplatform.africa