A new ranking by the Global To Go Think Tank Index of the University of Pennsylvania has ranked the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) as the top-rank civil society think tank organisation in Nigeria.
The 2020 report released Thursday, January 28, 2021, also rated CDD as number 11 in Sub-Sahara, moving up from its 16th position in the institution’s last report.
CDD takes the lead after Ethiopia Policy Studies Institute (PSI) FNA Ethiopia Development Research Center and African Economic Research Consortium (AERC, Kenya) which ranked nine and 10 respectively.
Following CDD on the table of top 15 Sub-Saharan think tanks are the Centre Ivoirien de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (CIRES) (Côte d’Ivoire), Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) (South Africa), Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) (South Africa) and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) (South Africa) on 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th positions.
Next on the list from Nigeria is the Africa Heritage Institution (Afri-Heritage) and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) on 20th and 24th positions.
The 2020 Global Go To Think Tank Index (GGTTI) marks the fifteenth year of continued efforts by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the University of Pennsylvania to acknowledge the important contributions and emerging global trends of think tanks worldwide.
The institution through its Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania said the research was conducted based on the role policy institutes play in governments and civil societies around the world.
The 2020 GGTTI Nomination and Ranking Criteria include, but are not limited to; the quality and commitment of the think tank’s leadership (chief executive and governing body); the quality and reputation of the think tank’s staff. Ability to assemble a critical mass of highly skilled, experienced, and productive scholars and analysts who are recognized as either emerging or established experts in their respective area of research; the quality and reputation of the research and analysis produced. The ability to produce high quality, rigorous, policy-oriented research that is accessible to policymakers, media, and the public.
These in addition to the impact of a think tank’s research and programs on policymakers and other policy actors; the reputation with policymakers (name recognition associated with specific issues or programs, number of briefings and official appointments, number of policy briefs and white papers produced, and legislative testimony delivered) and a demonstrated commitment to producing independent research and analysis and access to key institutions.
Other criteria included the ability to reach and connect with key audiences and personnel such as government officials (elected and appointed), civil society, traditional and new media, and academia and; ability to convene key policy actors and to develop effective networks and partnerships with other think tanks and policy actors.