Dear OTT Community,
As we close out 2025, our final newsletter of the year is anchored by a milestone we are especially proud to share: the launch of the OTT 2025 Annual Review. This edition brings together the most significant insights, trends, and lessons from across our global community—capturing a year marked by growth, collaboration, and renewed commitment to support think tanks and funders on their mission to strengthen evidence-informed policy.
2025 in numbers:
- Insights from 330+ organisations analysed in the State of the Sector 2025 report, downloaded by 800+ readers so far
- 3,880+ organisations now in the Open Think Tank Directory
- 100 organisations recognised in our first-ever Think Tanks to Watch list
- 3 seasons of OTT Talks: Think Tanks in a Changing Europe released
- Dozens of think tanks and funders engaged through our advisory work, learning partnerships, and consulting projects throughout the year
- Preparations underway for the 10th edition of the School for Thinktankers, our longest-running leadership programme with 250+ global alumni
- And, of course, 15 years of OTT—a milestone we’ve marked with reflections, community stories, and renewed focus on supporting the global think tank ecosystem
Alongside the Review, we are delighted to open registrations for another major milestone: the 10th OTT Conference, coming to Morocco in May 2026. After a powerful gathering in Johannesburg, we look forward to reconnecting with many of you as we explore the theme “Think Tanks and Trust” and celebrate OTT’s 15th anniversary with a special community gathering.
Thank you for being part of this diverse and vibrant network. Your work, collaboration, and generosity of ideas continue to shape this community in meaningful ways.
If you’re planning ahead for 2026, we encourage you to register early for the Conference—and to reach out if you would like to partner with us in the year ahead.
→ Register for the OTT Conference 2026
→ Get in touch to explore partnership opportunities for 2026
Until next month, happy holidays!
Enrique Mendizabal
Featured content
New blogs:
Investing in the ecosystem: Why EdLabs alone can’t do the job, by Enrique Mendizabal
From gaps to action: Mobilising perspectives, partnerships, and policy evidence for inclusive development, by Kriti Vashisht
Latin American think tanks under pressure: Building bridges in a polarised world, by Enrique Mendizabal
School for Thinktankers alumni story: From ideas to impact: A philosopher’s journey into the think tank world, Manuel Gustavo in conversation with Andrea Cabrera
Central Asia Think Tank Forum 2025: Demography, values and the future of evidence in policymaking by Peter Leonard
Why think tanks must rethink fundraising to survive the next decade by Preethi Rao (KREA)
The money is never clean: More reflection, fewer red lines by Enrique Mendizabal
Can the past and the future of think tanks be read in a single street?
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
New Phase for AERFC: Landing & legacy
OTT Consulting is kicking off a three-month “landing period” for the Africa Education Research Funding Consortium (AERFC)—focused on turning three years of work into real, lasting change. During this time, we’ll be consolidating the insights we’ve gathered on funder priorities, practices, and emerging trends, documenting high-impact activities, and identifying pathways to translate insight into action.
One key insight from recent work: the importance of co-funding. Check out this carousel on LinkedIn that unpacks why funders are choosing to work together—and how this shapes future funding ecosystems.
Supporting think tanks
State of the Sector: From insight to action
We started the year with the State of the Sector 2025 Survey, answered by over 330 think tanks from around the world, sharing how they were navigating funding pressures, shifting political contexts, leadership transitions, and new technologies. Those voices shaped the State of the Sector 2025 Report, and many also fed into our peer-led 100 Think Tanks to Watch 2025—highlighting organisations whose work is being recognised, valued, and learned from by the community itself.
If you’re looking to find and connect with these organisations—or thousands of others working across regions and issues—the Open Think Tank Directory keeps that ecosystem visible and accessible. And the cycle continues: the 2026 State of the Sector Survey opens early next year, inviting think tanks back into a process that doesn’t just observe the sector, but helps it see itself, reflect, and evolve.
OTT Conference 2026 — Keynote Speakers
We’re pleased to announce the keynote speakers for the 10th OTT Conference, bringing together leading voices shaping policy, research, and organisational innovation. Joining us in Morocco next July are:
Dr. Denis Foretia, Co-Chair, Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation & Executive Chairman, Nkafu Policy Institute
Erica Schoder, Executive Director, R Street Institute
Héctor Cárdenas, Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales (COMEXI)
Karim El Aynaoui, Executive President, Policy Center for the New South
Registrations are now open — we encourage think tank leaders to secure their place early.
Building for the Future: Meet the 2025 Grantees
We’re delighted to announce the three student-led organisations selected for the next cycle of Building for the Future, our initiative supporting emerging policy voices across Europe:
- The European Student Think Tank
- Student Network for Open Science
- Leeds Policy Institute
Each organisation will receive tailored support and funding to strengthen their leadership, sharpen their policy work, and expand their reach. If you’d like to explore partnership opportunities or fund future cycles, get in touch with our team.
Advisory programme for think tank leaders
We recently completed two tailored advisory engagements through OTT’s Advisory Programme for Think Tank Leaders. With the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation (Cameroon), we supported both the Nkafu Policy Institute and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre to strengthen how they capture and communicate impact—helping them clarify their value proposition for funders and stakeholders. In parallel, we worked with Fundació Bofill (Spain) to explore its strategic positioning for international funding, map relevant funders, clarify its international narrative, and identify risks, trade-offs, and next steps for future engagement.
These projects draw on OTT’s 15+ years of global experience with think tanks, offering leaders practical, context-sensitive support on strategy, funding, impact, and positioning. If you’re a think tank leader navigating growth, change, or uncertainty—or a funder looking to strengthen the organisations you support—get in touch to explore working with our advisory team.
Upcoming events
School for Thinktankers 2026
Last few days left to apply for the 10th edition of the School for Thinktankers at Fundació Bofill in Barcelona! Submit your application before 30 November 2025.
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.
- Atlantic Dialogues, 11-13 December 2025 |
Rabat, Morocco
The Policy Center for the New South is organising the 14th edition of The Atlantic Dialogues, its annual high-level international conference, from December 11th to 13th in Rabat, Morocco. The Atlantic Dialogues is an annual high-level gathering of influential public and private sector leaders from around the Atlantic Basin for open, candid and informal discussions on cross-regional and cross-sectoral issues.
India Think Tank Forum, 2-13 January 2026 |
New Delhi, India
The India Think Tank Forum (ITTF) is a flagship annual initiative of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), envisioned as a platform to bring together India’s diverse and rapidly growing community of think tanks.
- Raisina Dialogue 2026, 5-7 March 2026 | New Delhi, India
The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held annually in New Delhi since 2016. Organised by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, this three-day event convenes global leaders, policymakers, academics, industry experts, and journalists to discuss critical international issues.
News & announcements
Think tank news:
The European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) launched the first open call for Core Programmatic Support Grants under the Common Ground Program (CGP) to support civil society organisations to strengthen trust, dialogue, and social cohesion across the Balkans. Up to €20,000 available. Apply by December 19, 2025 (5 PM CET)
The T20 South Africa came to an end with the publication of its Communiqué and organisation of the T20 Summit.
The Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development recently celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Jacobs Foundation in Zurich.
- Macroconsult, a Peruvian think tank specialising in economic consulting and research for business decision-making, celebrated its 40th anniversary.
New leadership appointments:
Carlos Casas appointed as the new Director of the Centro de Estudios sobre Minería y Sostenibilidad of the Universidad del Pacífico
Antonio Capillo has stepped into the role of Director, Innovation Labs at Mastercard Foundation.
Mara Airoldi is stepping down as the Inaugural Academic Director of the Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab) at the University of Oxford to join the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and World Economic Forum.
Now hiring!
Research Assistant, Economic Innovation Group (EIG) — Washington, DC
Specialist, Corruption Prevention (Green Corruption programme) – Malawi, Basel Institute on Governance
Program Manager, Center for Technology, Science, and Energy, American Enterprise Institute (AEI) — Washington DC
Program Manager, Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility, American Enterprise Institute (AEI) — Washington DC
Regional policy analyst, Evergreen-intelligence — California, USA
Fellow, Asia House — London, United Kingdom
