Dear OTT Community,
This 3 May, on World Press Freedom Day, we reaffirm that free and safe access to information is essential for generating robust and reliable evidence. Think tanks depend on environments where free media and open data flows enable the analysis, questioning, and improvement of public policies. These freedoms are increasingly under pressure, as we've seen in discussions around state capture and public interest journalism—including at our recent event with Investigate Europe. Now more than ever, we are committed to strengthening the bridges between rigorous research, effective communication, and informed decision-making.
The On Think Tanks team has spent over 15 years working alongside think tank leaders to understand what sustains their value and influence. Think tanks aren’t interchangeable service providers—they are deeply embedded political actors whose impact depends on trust, access, and local relevance.
Business-as-usual funding models won’t build the resilient, diverse ecosystems needed to meet today’s challenges—needed to deliver your objectives!
That’s why we’re investing in solutions: from our Advisory Programme for Think Tank Leaders and the 10th OTT School for Thinktankers to new services to help funders identify high-impact opportunities in the think tank sector and the OTT Conference 2025 in Johannesburg to support new partnerships and collaboration.
We’re supporting bold leadership and strategic change across the sector.
Join us! Read my open letter to think tank funders, and make your voice count in the State of the Sector Survey before 11 May.
Until next month,
Enrique Mendizabal
Featured content
OTT Consulting: Helping you to deliver your missions
Supporting Funders
Spotlight on the African Education Research Funding Consortium
Managed by OTT, this Consortium brings together more than 12 funders mobilising over $370M to support education research driven by African priorities. Grounded in five key recommendations from African researchers themselves, it’s a space for funders to align, learn, and collaborate to deliver better education research funding in Africa, for Africa and by Africans. We’re looking to grow. Interested in partnering? Let’s connect.
Lean times call for bold ideas. In our latest post, Estefanía Terán Valdez shares practical strategies for navigating funding challenges—responsibly and creatively. From diversifying income to tapping into local opportunities, now’s the time to rethink resilience. Learn more about our work with funders.
For the fourth consecutive year, OTT’s research support service is partnering with the AIIB to provide timely analysis on international development finance. We’re also helping the AIIB prepare for and reflect on major global policy forums—from the G20 and COP28 to World Bank and IMF meetings.
Supporting Think Tanks
Advisory programme for think tank leaders — new projects underway
Leading a think tank means juggling competing demands—from research quality and funding to influence and internal culture. Our Advisory Programme is designed to support leaders through this complexity with tailored, one-on-one guidance. We’re excited to be working on new strategic projects with Fundació Bofill to engage global education funders and with the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation. If you're navigating a major transition or looking to strengthen your organisation, explore how we can help.
This project supported Investigate Europe’s work on the Journalism Value Project, an initiative to strengthen the position of independent media in Europe. OTT conducted a consultation with think tanks to better understand how they relate to independent media and help build a shared understanding of the value of public-interest journalism to mobilise greater support for its sustainability.
Take the Think Tank State of the Sector Survey by 11 May
Preliminary findings reveal that most think tanks report typical funding cycles of only 6 months to 2 years, making long-term planning difficult. Meanwhile, 54% of respondents do not expect the think tank sector to grow in their country over the next 12 months. Your insights help map challenges, share innovations, and build a stronger, more connected sector. Don't miss the chance to add your voice!
News & Events
The OTT Conference 2025 agenda is live.
All spots for this year's conference are now full—thank you for the overwhelming interest!
Missed out? Be the first to hear about next year’s conference.
The 10th edition of the School for Thinktankers returns to Fundació Bofill in Barcelona in 2026.
Want to be part of this journey?
- COMING SOON: Semana de la Evidencia 2025 | 13-17 October 2025
Evidence Week 2025 is a call to hear from everyone on how evidence is being generated, shared, used, and funded. But it also looks to the future, seeking innovative ideas to strengthen these processes in today’s challenging context. It’s an invitation to reflect, connect, and co-create new pathways for evidence to continue shaping our societies.
- T20 Midterm Conference | 19-20 June 2025
The Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), and the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC) are leading the T20 in 2025. South Africa’s T20 theme is: "Consolidate and Sustain".
- T7 Canada Communiqué launched today
Recommendations for G7 leaders from Think7, an official engagement group of think tanks, experts and researchers worldwide.
- Roosevelt Institute Welcomes New Class of Winter 2025 Fellows
The new class of fellows will be instrumental in driving forward a democratic vision for the American economy.
- MacArthur Foundation and Luminate have signed on to the United in Advance philanthropy coalition’s solidarity campaign, standing in support of philanthropy’s freedom to give.
- Luminate has committed a $250,000 grant to Aláfia Lab, a research think tank in Brazil, to help shed light on digital technology’s impact on society and human rights through research, advocacy, and policy engagement. Luminate has also committed a $300,000 grant to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) to support their work at the intersection of technology, public interest investigative journalism, and social justice in Nigeria.
- Gates announces new Singapore office, will push for USAID reversal
Speaking at the Philanthropy Asia Summit in Singapore—a major convening of philanthropists from across Southeast Asia organised by Philanthropy Asia Alliance—Bill Gates announced the opening of a new Singapore office for the Gates Foundation, and that he will push the US to reverse foreign aid cuts.
- Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), Malaysia, and Bersih has launched the Multiparty Democracy Caucus (Kaukus Demokrasi Pelbagai Parti, KDPP), a cross-partisan platform for ADUNs from different states to discuss 3 policy issues, namely: reforming the distribution of Constituency Development Funds (CDF), regulating political financing and strengthening the oversight role of state assemblies.
- New think tank leadership appointments:
- Jorge Morel Salman elected Director General en Instituto de Estudios Peruanos (IEP)
- Sandra Carrillo is elected president of the General Assembly of Associates of the Peruvian Educational Research Society (SIEP)
- Tina Cassidy joins the Jacobs Foundation as its first-ever Country Director for Switzerland.
- Bambang Brodjonegoro joines the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) as Dean and CEO
OTT Jobs board: New jobs for May 2025
- Senior Programs Lead: Digital Policy and Innovations, African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET)
- IAPS AI Policy Fellowship 2025, Institute for Al Policy and Strategy (IAPS)
- Global Growth and Development Manager, Global Shield
