15
EKTA PARISHAD
Stable funding for institutional muscle
BUSINESS
In an attempt to strengthen the influence of research institutions in national policymaking, the Think Tank Initiative is funding 16 independent policy research establishments in South Asia. The initiative, a partnership of several major donors, has committed $21 million in multi-year funding till 2014. Relying on short-term project grants and consultancy contracts prevents think-tanks from attracting, retaining and building local talent. Substantial core funding over the next four years would help these institutions to develop independent research programmes and ensure their ability to engage in policy debates. The Think Tank Initiative is a multiagency programme dedicated to strengthening independent research institutions in the developing world. It currently supports 52 think-tanks in 23 countries in South Asia, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. BANGLADESH: The think-tanks benefitting from the largesse in Bangladesh are the Centre for Policy Dialogue, which focuses on macroeconomic analysis, agricultural and rural development, trade, investment promotion and climate change; and the Institute of Governance Studies focusing on political processes, power mapping and urban conditions among others. INDIA: In India the relevant organisations are the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability which targets issues regarding transparency, accountability and participatory governance, and people-centred budgets. The Centre for Policy Research looks at law, regulation and policy, accountability and governance, urbanisation, security and foreign policy, while the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy researches energy and environment, infrastructure, emergency and disaster management. The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies examines democratic representation and governance, development policies, social equity and education. The Indian Institute of Dalit Studies investigates development concerns of the marginalised and socially excluded groups and studies the nature and consequences of exclusion, discrimination, and collective action. Other organisations are the Institute of Economic Growth (rural development, globalisation and trade, health economics, environment and resource economics, population and development and social change); Institute of Rural Management (rural poverty, livelihood systems and social and ecological concerns); the National Council of Applied Economic Research whose forte includes rural development, household behaviour, growth, trade and economic management; and the Public Affairs Centre which looks into public policy and participatory governance. NEPAL: In Nepal, the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition researches climate change, water resources, migration and urbanisation issues. PAKISTAN: The beneficiary organisations in Pakistan are the Social Policy and Development Centre, which
studies issues regarding poverty, inequality, governance, provincial finances, gender and macroeconomic policy; and the Sustainable Development Policy Institute that focuses on the environment, global and rural livelihoods, human development, information and communications. SRI LANKA: In Sri Lanka the Centre for Poverty Analysis studies relevant concerns around urban poverty, child poverty, resettlement, infrastructure services, conflict, aid effectiveness and inequality, while the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka has as its remit issues of poverty and social welfare, environmental economics, agricultural economics and human resources development. The Think Tank Initiative, managed by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is a partnership between IDRC, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK Department for International Development, and the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation. For further information contact: Isabelle Bourgeault-Tasse International Development Research Centre, Canada Email: ibourgeault-tasse@idrc.ca