The Botswana Institute of Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) has once more beaten 89 other think tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa to claim the prize of best think tank in this part of the world.
“These think tanks excel in research, analysis, and public engagement on a wide range of policy issues with the aim of advancing debate, facilitating cooperation between relevant actors, maintaining public support and funding, and improving the overall quality of life in one of the relevant countries,” says the 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report with regard to Sub-Saharan Africa.
BIDPA also performed respectably when compared to other think tanks around the world. Out of 105 competitors, it placed 11th on the Think Tank to Watch in 2018 list. Think tanks in this category are honored for their “excellent research and innovative advances within the past 24 months.” Ranked against other think tanks in the world but not those in the United States, BIDPA claimed position 42, beating reputable peers like the Royal United Services Institute in the United Kingdom (43), the South African Institute of International Affairs (46) and the Bonn International Center for Conversion in Germany (80). It placed 86th in a group of 140 “Top Domestic Economic Policy Think Tanks” and 50th among 70 think tanks vying for Best Quality Assurance and Integrity Policies and Procedures.
The Global Go To Think Tank Index, which touts itself as “the gold standard of excellence for think tanks around the world”, has many more categories that BIDPA doesn’t feature in. Examples are
Think Tanks with the Best External Relations/Public Engagement Program, Think Tanks with the Best Use of the Internet, Best Use of Media (Print or Electronic), Think Tanks with the Most Innovative Policy Ideas/Proposals, Think Tanks with the Most Significant Impact on Public Policy, Think Tanks with Outstanding Policy-Oriented Research Programmes, Best Quality Assurance and Integrity Policies and Procedures, Top Domestic Economic Policy Think Tanks, Top Education Policy Think Tanks, Top Energy and Resource Policy Think Tanks, Top Environment Think Tanks, Top Foreign Policy and International Affairs Think Tanks, Top Domestic Health Policy Think Tanks, Top Water and Food Security Think Tanks, Top Social Policy Think Tanks, Best Government Affiliated Think Tanks, Best Managed Think Tanks and Best New Idea or Paradigm Developed by a Think Tank.
The Global Go To Think Tank Index Report is produced by the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania in the US.
