African Union Commission Launches Strategic Workshop to Drive Policy Impact of African Think Tanks

6 May 2026
African Union (Addis Ababa)

The African Union Commission (AUC) proudly hosted the first Think Tank Coordination and Capacity-Strengthening Workshop from 27-30 April, for the African Think Tank Platform (ATTP) Project. This initiative, backed by a USD 50 million grant from the World Bank, aims to enhance the impact of African think tanks in supporting evidence-based policies throughout the continent.

In partnership with AUDA-NEPAD and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), the ATTP is designed to mobilize African think tanks to produce actionable research that informs the domestication of continental frameworks, particularly Agenda 2063, - the AU's 50-year continental development blueprint into national development policies.

The workshop represented a pivotal moment for the ATTP as it transitions from planning to active implementation, following the successful selection of 13 think tanks that will contribute valuable research and policy analysis across six key cross-border thematic areas aligned with the African Union's strategic objectives. The six key thematic areas are Economic Transformation; Regional Trade; Climate; Food Security; Human Capital; and Digitalisation.

This gathering brought together representatives from the selected think tanks, various AU thematic Directorates, and members of the Technical Working Group (TWG). Their roles were crucial in guiding research alignment, validating outputs, and ensuring that findings will reach AU policy organs and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) during the 2026-2027 implementation phase.

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The World Bank remarked that the ATTP project is set to strengthen the connections between research and policymaking. By enabling think tanks to effectively engage with national governments, regional bodies, and African Union institutions, the platform ensures that research outputs are not only relevant but also impactful.

Opening the workshop, H.E. Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the AUC and Chairperson of the ATTP Steering Committee, highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between research institutions and policymakers. She stated that the ATTP is a vital initiative that brings together think tanks, policymakers, and regional institutions to ensure that continental commitments are grounded in evidence and translated into actionable steps.

During the workshop, Mr. Steve Patrick Lalande, Director of Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilization and Vice-Chairperson of the ATTP Steering Committee, emphasized the platform's mission: "The African Think Tank Platform aims to address persistent gaps in Africa's policy landscape, where less than 10 percent of African Union decisions are fully domesticated at the national level."

H.E. Haddadi further noted that the platform bridges the analytical capabilities of African think tanks with the policy processes of the African Union, including its Specialized Technical Committees, Regional Economic Communities, and Member States.

The workshop also helped align the research agendas of think tanks with the AU's priorities. Participants discussed ways to strengthen institutional capacities while preserving the independence of research processes, ensuring that think tanks deliver credible, evidence-based policy solutions to support the domestication of AU decisions and declarations.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Tapiwa Moloise, Officer-in-Charge for Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilization, remarked: "Beyond this workshop, the African Think Tank Platform will evolve into a durable instrument for strengthening the relationship between African knowledge production and policymaking. It will ensure that African institutions generate evidence, frame policy options, and support implementation pathways necessary to advance the continent's development ambitions."

About the African Think Tank Platform (ATTP)

The African Think Tank Platform (ATTP) is an initiative of the African Union, financially supported by the World Bank. It aims to enhance the contributions of African think tanks to policy development and the implementation of continental priorities. Through strategic partnerships, capacity strengthening, and structured engagement with AU institutions, the ATTP promotes the production and uptake of high-quality, policy-relevant research to further Africa's development agenda.

For more information, please contact:

Jabulani Sithole, African Think Thank Project African Union Commission | Email: SitholeJ@africanunion.org

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