Addis Ababa, 2 April 2015 (ECA) - The Economic Commission for Africa will host the Second Africa Think Tank Summit, on the theme, The Rise of Africa’s Think Tanks – Practical Solutions to Practical Problems from 6-8 April. The aim of the Summit is to explore the ways in which Africa’s think tanks are currently making a difference in the continent’s transformation, and how they can become increasingly relevant and important contributors as the vision for Africa in 2063 rolls out.
The meeting is organized by the Think Tank and Civil Society Programme of the University of Pennsylvania (TTCSP) in partnership with the Harare-based, African Capacity Building Foundation.
The Think Tank and Civil Society Programme of the University of Pennsylvania (TTCSP) has been organizing a series of regional and global “think tank summits”, bringing together professionals of top-ranked think tanks to connect as a trade association for networking, reflection and discussions on the pressing issues of the day. Over nine summits have been held so far, including regional convocations for Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and North America, the G20 countries, and most recently a Global Think Tank Summit in Geneva.
In attendance will be representatives from major Think Tanks, including Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa, Emmanuel Nnadozie, Executive Secretary, African Capacity Building Foundation, Arkebe Oqubay Minister and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Ms. Monde Muyangwa, Director, Africa Program, Woodrow Wilson Centre Prof. Lemma W. Senbet, Executive Director, Africa Economic Research Consortium, among others.
The First Africa Think Tank Summit was held on 3-5 February 2014 at the Pride of Africa Irene Country Lodge in Pretoria, South Africa. It was organized in a partnership between the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), the African Leadership Center, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Konrad-Andenauer-Stiftung, TTCSP, and the Institute for Security Studies as the host.Over 50 of the leading think tanks from 25 countries in Africa participated in the Summit, including the think tanks and policy institutes supported by ACBF. The Summit focused on the organizational and policy challenges facing think tanks in the region and how they might increase their sustainability, value and impact. The participants made a number of important recommendations that fall into four areas: capacity development, knowledge sharing and networking, resource mobilization and regionally based initiatives and partnerships.
All media are welcome to attend a press conference scheduled on Wednesday 8 April 2015 at the UN Conference Centre.
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