ATPS RANKED BEST THINK TANK NETWORK FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW ACCORDING TO A GLOBAL REPORT

The ATPS for the fourth time consecutively emerged as the Best Think Tank Network in Africa. The 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report was released by the University of Pennsylvania under the Think Tank and Civil Societies Program. ATPS was also ranked as the best transdisciplinary Research Think Tank, Top Science and Technology Think Tank, Best Use of Internet and Best Think Tank with an annual operating budget of less than $5 million USD in a year. Overall, ATPS was ranked 101 worldwide and 7^th in the Africa.

Brookings Institution (USA) emerged as the top think tank in the World. Globally, ATPS emerged 5^th, 10^th, 10^th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th as the Best Think Tank with an annual budget of less than $5 million, Top Science and Technology Think Tank, Best Transdisciplinary Research Think Tank, Best think Tank Network, Best Regional Studies Centre (Free Standing) and Best Institutional Collaboration involving two or more Think Tanks respectively.

Water and food security are the two new categories introduced in the 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index; the new categories are as a result of the slowly diminishing ecosystem which has led to drought and famine in some parts of the world. Think Tanks under this new category are expected to work with governments to come up with effective policies that will help mitigate the effects of climate change. 

The number of Think Tanks in Africa is still low at 664 when compared to Europe which has 2,045 Think Tanks; Asia has 1,676, North America 1,972 and Central and South America at 979. In Africa, South Africa has 92 think tanks which is the highest followed by Kenya (57), Nigeria (52), Ghana (40) and Uganda (32). The number of thinks tanks in Africa is still low Out of these, approximately 25%-30% are fragile due to the failing hostile political and regulatory environment to NGOs, inadequate funding and underdeveloped institutional capacity of some countries. According to James McGann, Director Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program there is need to raise awareness of think tanks sustainability in Africa and more effort put in place to address inadequate funding and shortage of staff.

With these successes, the ATPS Board extends its gratitude to the entire 1,500 network members and stakeholders spread across 51 countries in 5 continents for their great support and strategic guidance. We continue to build Africa’s capabilities in science, technology and innovation policy research, policymaking and policy implementation for sustainable development.

For inquiries on collaboration and funding support, please contact:

Dr. Nicholas Ozor

Executive Director, 

African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), 

8th Floor, The Chancery Building, Valley Road, 

P.O. Box 10081- 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya,

Email: executivedirector@atpsnet.org   

Telephone: +254 (0) 20-2714092; Mobile: +254 (0) 713 161 928