Addis ababa: The African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and key partners, has launched an initiative to strengthen the research capacity of African think tanks.
According to Ghana News Agency, the competitive 'Call for Proposals' under the Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP) invites consortia of three to five African think tanks to apply for grants totaling approximately US$10 million for up to two and a half years. The funding aims to support programs aligned with the aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063 and regional integration priorities.
The initiative focuses on thematic areas such as economic transformation and governance, climate change, regional trade, food security, human capital development, and digitalization. The ATTP is part of a broader five-year $50 million initiative implemented by the AUC and supported by the African Capacity Building Foundation and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), with funding from the World Bank.
During the virtual launch at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ms. Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the AUC, emphasized the need for more support for policy think tanks in Africa. She highlighted their essential role in shaping governance and the development agenda by ensuring policies are evidence-based and context-specific.
Ms. Haddadi described the initiative as a strategic investment in Africa's capacity to lead its policy conversations with rigor and indigenous expertise. She urged African think tanks to apply for the grants, aiming to establish a network of authoritative institutions that produce evidence-based knowledge and engage decision-makers.
Think tanks interested in applying for the initiative can review the application package and submission guidelines at. Proposals are due by September 24, 2025, with evaluation and selection expected to continue on October 17, 2025. Award notifications and disbursement of grants are scheduled for November 14 and December 19, 2025, respectively.
Mr. Samer Al-Samarrai, Lead Economist at the World Bank, stated that the initiative aligns with the Bank's Africa strategy, which focuses on advancing regional integration, developing human capital, and enhancing resilience to climate and economic shocks. He noted that the proposals and analysis generated under this initiative have the potential to inform homegrown, evidence-based policies.
Mr. Abdrahmane Dicko, Director of the Programmes and Impact Department at ACBF, encouraged African think tanks to submit their boldest ideas for cross-border impact, emphasizing the importance of evidence-driven policy and collaboration on the continent.
Ms. Faten Aggad, Deputy Chief of Staff, Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson, AUC, remarked that the success of the initiative would be measured by the trust it builds and the capacity it unlocks.