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Dear OTT Community,
This month, I will be focused on the OTT Conference 2025 in Johannesburg, where more than 170 think tank leaders and funders will come together to share, network and collaborate. If you’re not joining us this time, you can already register your interest for 2026 in Morocco—we’d love to have you. And don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn for daily updates from the conference!
I am also excited to share new lessons and news from across our work supporting the think tank and evidence informed policy ecosystem—both present and future.
We’ve just published a new review on evidence use in community-led learning ecosystems and a companion learning brief, produced for the Jacobs Foundation. Based on research across Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Colombia, and Switzerland, the report explores how evidence is generated, shared, and used within community-led approaches to education reform.
We’re kicking off new strategic advisory projects with partners like Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation’s Nkafu Policy Institute—supporting them in communicating impact, tracking progress, and deepening engagement. We have also started a new collaboration with the Alliance for Health Systems Research to help make sense of its collective understanding of impact and inform an implementable monitoring framework.
Looking ahead, the countdown is on for Semana de la Evidencia 2025, taking place 13–17 October! With the theme Evidence-informed policy in motion, this year’s regional festival invites diverse voices to help shape more inclusive and resilient evidence systems. Interested in co-chairing or proposing a session? Get involved here.
And if you haven’t already, explore the student-led think tank hub—developed with support from the Open Society Foundations—our new resource for universities and young leaders building impactful policy spaces on campus.
Until next month,
Enrique Mendizabal
Featured content
OTT Consulting: Helping you to deliver your missions
Supporting Funders
New publication for the Jacobs Foundation: Review of Evidence Use in Community-led Learning Ecosystems (CLLEs)
How is evidence being used to drive community-led change in education? Our latest review explores this question through the lens of the Jacobs Foundation’s work in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Colombia, and Switzerland. It unpacks how CLLEs—rooted in collaboration between schools, families, and communities—shape evidence-informed teaching and learning.
Dive into the key insights, emerging practices, and ongoing challenges in putting evidence to work at the community level. For a quick overview, check out the accompanying Learning Brief, which highlights the main takeaways for time-pressed readers.
New project: Supporting the development of an Impact Framework for the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research
We’re working with the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research to co-develop a flexible and robust framework for tracking and communicating the impact of their 2024–2028 strategy. Drawing on our MEL expertise, we’re helping define progress markers aligned with strategic goals, thereby enhancing the Alliance’s ability to scale its influence, strengthen partnerships, and respond to country priorities in global health.
Think tank funders, contact us if you wish to find out how we can help you deliver your mission.
Spotlight on the African Education Research Funding Consortium (AERFC)
We've wrapped up a series of in-depth conversations with AERFC members to understand their strategic priorities better and explore shared interests around EERA’s core interventions. These insights are already helping shape the next phase of collaborative projects, rooted in members’ goals and a collective commitment to advancing education research that is in, for, and by Africa.
In other news, we shared our AEFRC learnings through a blog on the urgent need for Africa to reduce its reliance on foreign aid in education research and shift toward building resilient, locally funded systems. The blog advocates for strengthening domestic funding ecosystems, not only ensuring continuity and contextual relevance but also empowering African researchers to lead, set agendas, and produce knowledge that directly serves local needs and priorities.
Supporting Think Tanks
Through our Advisory Programme for Think Tank Leaders, we’re supporting the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation to strengthen how it captures and communicates its impact. This tailored engagement focuses on both the Nkafu Policy Institute and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre, helping enhance visibility, accountability, and engagement with funders and stakeholders.
Interested in tailored support for your think tank? Get in touch.
Thank you for taking the Think Tank State of the Sector Survey!
We’ve closed the State of the Sector Survey with more than 330 responses from across 101 countries. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to share their insights and to our incredible regional partners who made it possible.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what we’re seeing so far: Over half of think tanks rely mainly on project grants, with many struggling to cover overheads. The biggest skills gaps are in fundraising, communications, and innovation. Despite these challenges, 70% report influencing policy, 60% expect to grow, and 51% plan to hire, though political polarisation and funding concerns remain high.
Stay tuned for the full report in September this year.
Explore the Student-led think tank hub
This hub, part of OTT’s Building for the Future initiative, offers practical tools and insights for student-led think tanks. At its centre is the Student-Led Think Tanks: A Guide—a step-by-step resource covering governance, funding, communications, and more. Whether you're launching, growing, or mentoring, you'll find what you need to make an impact in policy.
Think tank leaders, contact us if you wish to find out how we can help you deliver your mission.
News & Events
Semana de la Evidencia 2025: 13-17 October 2025
OTT is proud to promote the Latin American Semana de la Evidencia. This year’s edition invites bold, inclusive conversations on how evidence is shaping change across Latin America.
Want to get involved? Propose an event any time before the week kicks off, or express interest in co-chairing by July 11, 2025, by writing to info@semanadelaevidencia.org.
Submit your early-bird application for the School for Thinktankers 2026
The 10th edition of the School for Think Tankers returns to Fundació Bofill in Barcelona in 2026.
Global Development Network’s Global Development Awards Competition (GDAC) 2025
This year’s theme is Digital Transformation for Universal Health Coverage, with awards for early-career researchers and NGOs/CSOs. Winners receive funding ($10K–$50K) and tailored mentoring. Learn more and apply by 18 June 2025.New leadership appointment
ACET’s President and CEO, Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, has been appointed by the UN Secretary-General to the newly formed High-Level Advisory Body on Beyond GDP.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) lead the T20 in 2025. South Africa’s T20 theme is: "Consolidate and Sustain".Africa @ World Bank Annual Meetings | 14 October 2025
The Nkafu Policy Institute is hosting the Africa @ World Bank Annual Meetings, a premier gathering of Africa-focused policymakers, economists, business leaders, and development partners.
OTT Jobs board
- AI Policy Manager / Senior AI Policy Manager, The Center for Long-Term Resilience (CLTR) — 9 June
- Programme Officer, Moldova, Basel Institute on Governance — 10 June
- Senior Development Officer, Spirit of America — 15 June
- Director and Legal representative, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) — 30 June
- Intern, EPIS ThinkTank — 30 June
- Specialist, Collective Action, Basel Institute on Governance — 30 June
- Senior Fellow, Centre for Economy & Trade and Strategic Affairs, Chintan Research Foundation — 31 July
- Senior Research Fellow, Chintan Research Foundation — 31 July
