★Overview
Unlock the future of SADC think tanks: a two-day transformative exchange designed to redefine the role and impact of think tanks across the region.
Join over 30 leading programme officers and organisational leaders from across SADC for an intensive, highly interactive two-day workshop. This participant-driven gathering — featuring keynotes, plenaries and facilitated dialogues — is built on principles of solutions-orientation, collaboration and practical application.
Why it matters: a unique opportunity to collaboratively address the complex challenges facing SADC — moving from "doing for" to "doing with" communities, and leveraging innovative approaches to drive meaningful impact.
1Setting the Stage
Day One — Understanding Think Tanks in SADC. A day that challenges conventional thinking and asks what think tanks truly achieve, and where they fall short in addressing critical public problems.
Through a shared framing exercise, regional scans and deep dives into the political economy of natural resources, land reform and evidence-led advocacy, participants build a common vocabulary, a clearer read of regional efforts and an honest assessment of current policy-influence models.
You will leave with: a shared framing of what think tanks are for in the SADC context, and an honest map of where the region's evidence-to-policy pipeline is working — and where it is not.
2Building the Practice & Community
Day Two — From diagnosis to design. The conversation shifts from understanding the landscape to actively reshaping the institutions that operate within it.
Engage in a dynamic peer showcase, provocative discussions on bridging policy support, and explore future-fit business models, adaptive leadership and the collaborative architectures essential for resilient SADC institutions.
You will leave with: a sharper vision for the next generation of think tanks, actionable collaborations, and a personal roadmap for transformative change within your own organisation.