From 23–25 March 2026, Southern Voice co-hosted the Strengthening Think Tanks Project workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, alongside the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). The three-day convening brought together think tanks, research institutions, funders, development partners, and government representatives to explore how to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of research organisations across the Global South.

The workshop is part of a broader initiative to enhance think tanks’ capacity to produce timely, relevant, and locally grounded evidence to better inform policy and decision-making. At its core is the Resilience and Sustainability Self-Assessment Framework and Tool, co-created with a cohort of 14 think tanks from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The tool supports institutions in identifying strengths, diagnosing gaps, and prioritising actions across key organisational pillars.

Over the course of the workshop, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the evolving role of think tanks in an increasingly complex and polarised global context. Conversations highlighted the need for institutions to move beyond traditional research functions, taking on roles as connectors, conveners, and translators of evidence to ensure it is accessible, trusted, and used.

Key insights from the application of the self-assessment tool pointed to common challenges across institutions, including the need to strengthen learning and innovation systems, build more strategic partnerships, enhance communication for impact, and invest in people, leadership, and organisational culture. At the same time, participants emphasised that institutional resilience cannot be addressed in isolation, but must be understood within broader systems shaped by funding models, policy demand, and enabling environments.

The final day of the workshop focused on translating these reflections into action. Participants co-developed practical proposals to strengthen the evidence ecosystem, including demand-driven approaches to research, improved coordination through collaborative platforms, and more sustainable and diversified funding models for think tanks. These ideas will contribute to a shared roadmap and action agenda to guide future efforts.

The workshop concluded with a strong sense of collective ownership and commitment. Southern Voice and its partners will continue to refine and scale the self-assessment tool, support a growing Community of Practice, and foster collaboration across regions. Together, these efforts aim to strengthen Global South leadership in research for development and ensure that evidence plays a more effective role in shaping inclusive and impactful policies.

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