Think Tanks from the Global South: Opportunities to make a difference to the Global Agenda

The multilateral development agenda is extremely complex, consisting of a wide array of issues that are increasingly interconnected and technically challenging. International finance and trade, climate change, and the emergence of new technologies all require updated multilateral responses. The recent Summit of the Future resolved very few of the issues on the table, while also adding new concerns to the agenda, and highlighting the need to revitalise multilateralism. Think tanks from the Global South play a critical role in supporting these negotiations, by undertaking targeted and coordinated research initiatives around key issues. There is also a need to improve links between think tanks and the negotiators involved in such political processes.

Existing networks could be utilised, and formal mechanisms could be established to ensure timely and relevant inputs, including through specific negotiating language. Funding mechanisms also need to be established or existing ones repurposed.

Additionally, think tanks can propose and promote initiatives that go beyond existing negotiating frameworks and make ‘ outside the box’ contributions to advance the global agenda for the benefit of the people of the Global South.