AUC unveils $50m plan to boost African policy research
Funded by the World Bank, the initiative will support African-led research focused on key development areas such as economic transformation and governance.
The African Union Commission (AUC) has unveiled a groundbreaking US$50 million (Sh7 billion) initiative to boost transformative policy research across the continent.
Launched in partnership with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the five-year African Think Tank Project aims to empower research institutions and policy centers to generate evidence-based solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges.
Funded by the World Bank, the initiative will support African-led research focused on key development areas such as economic transformation, governance, climate change, food security, regional trade, digitalization, and human capital.
During the launch in Addis Ababa, AUC Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Selma Haddadi described the initiative as a long-term investment in Africa’s capacity to shape and drive its own development agenda.
She urged AU member states to support policy research ecosystems through sustained funding and closer collaboration between data producers and policymakers.
The program is now inviting African policy institutions to submit proposals addressing at least four of the six identified regional themes. Selected institutions will receive funding to produce locally relevant, data-driven research with actionable policy recommendations.
ACBF Director of Programs and Impact, Abdrahmane Dicko, urged think tanks to seize the opportunity to lead Africa’s policy transformation, calling them “architects of Africa’s renaissance.”
World Bank Lead Economist Samer Al-Samarrai also underscored the value of investing in think tanks, noting that even small research grants can lead to far-reaching reforms. “Think tanks are essential to achieving inclusive economic growth and deeper regional integration,” he said.
Faten Aggad, Deputy Chief of Staff at the AUC, added that the initiative is a strategic response to the lack of locally grounded evidence in policymaking.
She emphasized the need for African-generated knowledge to play a central role in shaping development strategies. The African Think Tank Project ultimately seeks to strengthen sustainable research platforms, enhance cooperation among African institutions, and solidify the role of homegrown solutions in advancing Africa’s Agenda 2063.
