Southern Voice, the network of 50+ think tanks from Asia, Africa and Latin America, is pleased to announce that it has selected a new organisation to host its operations: it is the Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE), located in Lima, Peru.

After a  call for Expressions of Interest in 2018, a total of 16 applications (nine SV members and seven non-members) were received. Four organisations were short-listed and the Sub-Committee in charge of the selection unanimously opted for GRADE as the new organisation to host the network. The Steering Committee then endorsed the choice of GRADE as the new host organisation for Southern Voice for the next three years (2019-2022).

GRADE is a private non-profit research centre founded in 1980. It is dedicated to undertaking research that stimulates and enriches the debate, design, implementation and evaluation of public policy relevant to the development of Peru and other Latin American countries.

“At the Steering Committee, we are excited to work with GRADE. We will provide all the necessary guidance and cooperation for an orderly transition, as we initiate new activities”, said Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Chair of Southern Voice & Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka.

GRADE is considered to be one of the most important social research centres in the region and a valued peer among the think tank community. GRADE has also been an active member of Southern Voice and was part of the founding Steering Committee.

Santiago Cueto, Executive Director of GRADE stated: “We are thrilled to be Southern Voice’s new host. We look forward to working together and strengthening not only the network’s internal links but also its outreach to the international community.”

Southern Voice is currently hosted by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) – Bangladesh. In the last seven years, CPD played a pivotal role in convening and consolidating the work and presence of Southern Voice in global development debates.

Southern Voice Director Andrea Ordóñez added: “We are thankful to CPD for their leadership and for believing in Southern Voice’s potential. We are excited about this new chapter. In the coming months, we will roll out our flagship report ‘State of the Sustainable Development Goals’ and GRADE will be a vital partner for its continuity.”

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