South Asian think tanks share successes, challenges at regional meet
CPD Senior Researchers convened at the Think Tank Initiative (TTI) 5th Annual South Asian Regional Meeting during 18-20 November 2015 in Sohna, India.
Around 100 representatives from 14 think tanks in the South Asian region, based out of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka gathered in this event, organised by Centre for Policy Research, India to exchange ideas, discuss challenges and opportunities, and share successes on key national, regional, and global public policy issues they work on.
The CPD team included Executive Director Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Additional Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem and Research Fellow Mr Towfiqul Islam Khan.
Participants in the meeting included high-level policymakers, donor representatives, and other policy stakeholders.
Five thematic sessions were designed to focus on how think tanks are contributing to global challenges relating to urbanisation, climate change, agriculture/water, social development/poverty, and governance/accountability.
The purpose of these sessions was to highlight key debates, showcase data and evidence, and share examples of how think tanks are instrumental in transforming evidence into policy action.
The Think Tank Initiative, a multi-million, multi-funder effort with commitments from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and managed by IDRC, is dedicated to strengthening independent policy research institutions, or think tanks, in developing countries.
The programme aims to enhance their ability to provide sound research that informs and influences policy.