Key Messages

  • The perspectives of youths in Global South think tanks must be actively included in international development discourse amidst the rising calls for youth involvement in global policy processes.
  • A Southern Voice network survey of young think tankers (YTTs) revealed that most of them had never worked with young researchers from other regions in the Global South.
  • The YTTs see partnerships with peers in the Global South as drivers to finding solutions to common problems; enhancing research quality; increasing impact and visibility; as well as supporting their professional development.
  • YTTs acknowledged significant limitations to effective collaboration with their peers. These included their institutions’ mandates, capacity, resources, and practices.
  • International development agencies and Southern think tanks must proactively create opportunities for collaboration among young Southern researchers. These may include events, digital platforms, and calls for proposals.