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African Think Tanks: Driving Policy Innovation and Development

07
August 2026
By Helmut Sorge & Thembisa Fakude

In this episode, Thembisa Fakude discusses what distinguishes influential think tanks from academic research institutions, arguing many African think tanks are shaped—overtly or covertly—by foreign funders (US, China, Russia) pursuing their own agendas. He's skeptical that think tanks can shift global perceptions of Africa, citing elitism and a shift toward desk research over field work, and argues independent journalism does more to safeguard African democracy than think tanks do.

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