[Editor’s note: This article originally appeared at the Think Tank Initiative’s blog, as the first in a series on lessons learned from TTI’s concerted efforts to build capacity amongst think tanks in the program.] In 2016, ILAIPP was selected by TTI to coordinate Phase 2 of Capacity Building support targeted to Latin American think tanks in order to better ensure that this support was based on the needs of ILAIPP member organizations. For TTI and ILAIPP, this also presented a

Introduction According to a web definition feedback is a “Process in which the effect or output of an action is ‘returned’ (fed-back) to modify the next action”. Typically, feedback is to provide an opinion, evaluate a task and help improve a task. It can either be positive or scope for improvement. In the work of researchers in think tanks and research organisations it is important to establish a feedback mechanism during the course of a research and in the process of creati

[Editor’s note: This post was written by Dr. Annapoorna Ravichander, Head of the Communication and Policy Engagement Team, and Deeksha M Rao, Intern at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP).] Introduction The term Think Tank was first used during World War IIto describe a safe space to plan and discuss military strategies (see Britannica). Over the years, the meaning of Think Tanks including their role has changed. Today, Think Tanks are considered Pu

[Editor’s note: This post was written by Maria Balarin, Senior Researcher at the Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE). She reflects on openness and what it means in the context of INASP’s work. This post was originally published at Research to Action blog.] According to existing categorisations, Bolivia, Paraguay and Perú, are among the smallest players in the South American region when it comes to social research production. In 2015 a comparative study of the social

[Editor’s note: This post was written by Dr. Prasoon Agarwal, Senior Advisor at Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and Dr. Annapoorna Ravichander, Head of Communication & Policy Engagement at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP).] In the run up to COP 21 in Paris, India announced an ambitious Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) that aims at reducing emission intensity of India’s GDP by 33-35% by 2030, as against a baseline of 2005.

[Editor’s note: This post was written by Kavitha Nair, Human Resources Manager at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP).] Introduction Why are Human Resources (HR) an important aspect of industries? HR are the “image” of an organisation for all the external clients and the “pulse” of an organisation for its internal clients. A typical HR unit helps in building the capacity of the staff, helps an organisation and its staff grow. In short, the unit make

Are we ready to innovate? There is a lot of interest from most organisations in introducing innovations to their funding models. These can range from income-generating activities (as we mentioned in the last post) to changes in fundraising tasks and responsibilities, to hiring a new fundraising officer or director. However, it is precisely the way they do things currently that makes these changes difficult to achieve. Innovations often take time as well as some kind of expert

Starting from September I had the opportunity of participating in the “Online Course: Re Thinking Funding Models” delivered by the Politics & Ideas (P&I) team.  Throughout the duration of several weeks the course instructors and the provided materials made me reflect over the existing funding model of the Institute of Public Policies (IPP), its implications on the quality of research and organization’s long term sustainability. Most important we were able to challenge some as

Leading a think tank is not an easy task. Usually, these leaders need to make key decisions that involve a huge diversity of issues: from budgetary choices, to communicational ones; from organizational engineering to staff issues. Moreover, they have to deal with a broad range of stakeholders, both at the internal and external “fronts”: donors, policy makers, media, private sector, other colleagues; and the Board and staff. All these tasks require different characteristics, a