Dear OTT Community,
It’s been a busy and energising few weeks at OTT, filled with new ideas, collaborations, and opportunities to connect across our global community.
As we head into October, we’re seeing the field of evidence-informed policy buzzing with activity—from regional exchanges and collective statements to new research and debates on the role of think tanks today.
This month’s newsletter is packed with updates and opportunities to get involved. Here’s a quick look at what’s inside:
State of the Sector 2025 — our latest report offers the most comprehensive snapshot yet of the think tank field.
School for Thinktankers 2026 — applications for the 2026 edition are open until 15 November.
Semana de la Evidencia — the 2025 edition is coming up next week, bringing together evidence users and producers across Latin America.
OTT Conference 2026 — the Conference is taking shape; make sure you do not miss it!
Global Think Tanks’ Statement on Gaza — we urge organisations to read and sign in solidarity.
New blogs and reflections — from rethinking communications to lessons in leadership. Scroll down to bookmark some insightful reads for October: When donors leave: Lessons from USAID’s exit and India’s funding shifts, Beyond the echo Chamber: How Shakira made me reimagine think tank communication and more!
Until next month,
Enrique Mendizabal
Featured content
New series: State of the Sector 2025 Partner Insights
Explore insights and reflections from our regional partners across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, and beyond. Their contributions add national and regional perspectives to the State of the Sector 2025 report, enriching the global findings with local context and lived realities.
Related reads:
Launching the State of the Sector 2025: What the data—and funders—tell us about the future of think tanks, by Enrique Mendizabal
When donors leave: Lessons from USAID’s exit and India’s funding shifts, by Joyjayanti Chatterjee
Public trust in civil society and efforts to restrict it: What it means for think tanks and El estado de los think tanks en el Perú: Reporte global y conversación local, by Enrique Mendizabal
New blogs:
Beyond the echo Chamber: How Shakira made me reimagine think tank communication and Rethinking the think tank business model: Lessons from Fundar, by Estefanía Terán
Evidence use in community-led learning ecosystems: An OTT Talks live and A review of “Caviar”, by Eduardo Dargent, by Enrique Mendizabal
The never-ending impact discussion: Do think tanks and funders speak the same language? By Camila Ulloa Torres, Enrique Mendizabal
Series spotlight: OTT Working Paper Series
This month, we are revisiting our Working Paper Series, developed in collaboration with the Universidad del Pacífico and the Institute of Development Studies. The series focused on the study of think tanks and evidence-informed policy, showcasing the work of both new and established researchers, and linking academics and practitioners alike.
OTT Talks:
After a short break, our podcast series Think Tanks in a Changing Europe returns with a powerful new episode. We sat down with Loukas Tsoukalis, President of the Board at ELIAMEP, to explore what it takes to lead a think tank through crisis, polarisation, and transformation.
Do you have insights, case studies, or research to share? Submit your article to reach a global audience of policy experts, change-makers, and thought leaders.
OTT Consulting: Helping you to deliver your missions
Supporting Funders
We’re supporting WINGS on a new Policy Guide and Playbook of Practices to identify what makes an effective policy environment for philanthropy.
Have an example of a policy, coalition, or process that strengthened the philanthropic sector? Take our short survey and share your insights to help build a practical resource for funders, policymakers, and civil society.
New advisors join the OTT Advisory Programme
We’re delighted to welcome Fiorella Bianchi and Goran Buldioski to the OTT Advisory Programme. Fiorella, OTT’s Director of Finance and Planning, brings 20 years of experience in business management and mission-driven organisational transformation across the Global South. Goran adds deep expertise in governance, strategy, and leadership from over two decades of working with think tanks worldwide.
Applications open: Building for the future initiative
The Building for the Future Initiative aims to strengthen student-led think tanks and enrich and broaden the perspectives that inform public policy recommendations in Europe. With support from the Open Society Foundations, OTT offers grants to selected student-led think tanks in Europe to strengthen their leadership capabilities and promote new perspectives on European policy issues and policy research questions.
2025 State of the Sector Report
In case you missed it: The State of the Sector 2025 report was launched last month. Based on responses from 330+ think tanks from over a hundred countries, the Open Think Tank Directory (3,800+ organisations), and insights from 25 partner organisations, this year’s edition offers the most comprehensive overview yet of the think tank sector.
click to watch the videoResearch Support Service
Looking for insights from our research team? OTT's Research Support Service (RSS) curates the latest analysis and trends shaping global development and public policy. You can subscribe to the RSS newsletter for in-depth reads and curated updates straight from the team.
For tailored insights for your organisation, reach out to Joyjayanti Chatterjee.
Upcoming events
Desafíos y singularidades de los think tanks latinoamericanos en el State of the Sector Report 2025, 14 October 2025
In this session, we will analyse the main findings of the State of the Sector Report from the Latin American perspective, exploring the challenges, particularities and deviations of the region in relation to other parts of the world.
School for Thinktankers 2026
Submit your application for the 10th edition of the School for Thinktankers at Fundació Bofill in Barcelona before 30 November 2025.
Africa Think Tank Summit 2025, 7-10 October 2025
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is co-hosting the 2025 Africa Think Tank Summit alongside the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, under the theme: “From Taxation to Action: Bridging Policy and Implementation in Public Financial Management (PFM) in Africa.”Semana de la Evidencia 2025: 13-17 October 2025
Engage in bold, inclusive conversations on how evidence is driving change across Latin America.Africa @ World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, 14 October 2025, Washington, D.C.
Hosted by the Nkafu Policy Institute, in partnership with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and Afrobarometer.Southern Voice Conference, 27-28 October 2025
In October 2025, Southern Voice will gather the network’s leaders and key partners in São Paulo, Brazil, for our biennial conference under the theme “Reimagining the Global Development Architecture“.China Global Think Tank Innovation Forum, 20-21 November 2025
The 10th China Global Think Tank Innovation Forum will be hosted in Beijing by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), with support from the CPAFFC, ACCWS, and China-United States Exchange Foundation.OTT Conference 2026, 19-21 May 2026
Join think tank leaders, funders and policy experts from around the world at the 10th edition of the OTT Conference in Rabat, Morocco, hosted in partnership with the Policy Center for the New South.
News & announcements
Sewit Ahderom has been appointed as the new President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation.
Deepali Khanna is the new Senior Vice President at The Rockefeller Foundation.
Daniel Castro, VP and Director of ITIF's Center for Data Innovation, will succeed Robert Atkinson as ITIF president in May 2026. This is ITIF's first leadership change since its founding in 2006.
Matthew Fielding has joined the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) as the new Head of Communications, Learning and Impact.
Jenna Slotin is starting a new position as Interim CEO at the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data.
Grégoire Roos is the new Director, Europe & Russia at Chatham House.
Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea) researcher Fábio Veras Soares, has been appointed by the UN to the independent group that will prepare the 2027 Global Report on Sustainable Development.
European Think Tanks Group (ETTG) has launched a new institutional page on LinkedIn, equipped with features to better serve your needs.
Now hiring!
- Senior Director, Communications, R Street Institute
- Trade Policy Analyst, Cato Institute
- Policy Analyst, Welfare and Opportunity, Cato Institute
- Board & Council Engagement Officer, European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)
- Associate, Community Engagement, Capita
- Senior Specialist, Operations – Ukraine, Basel Institute on Governance
