The Fifth Consultative Forum of the Policy Institutes Committee (PIC) will be held on October 21-23, 2015 in Kigali (Rwanda) on the theme:“Knowledge and Experience Sharing for Effective Capacity Building in Africa. The Policy Institutes Committee (PIC) is a Knowledge Network that brings together the ACBF-supported think tanks and policy institutes across Africa in order to share ideas, knowledge and experience, and affect policy direction in the continent. Building on the success of the previous Forums, the Fifth Consultative Forum of the Policy Institutes Committee will mainly focus on the knowledge and experience sharing through, among other means, the presentation of the Country Reviews and discussions on country specific lessons. The Forum will be held in collaboration with the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research, Rwanda (IPAR-Rwanda). Follow on Tweeter: Hashtag #PICForum
1. Background
On 13-14 June 2013, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) launched the Policy Institutes Committee (PIC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Thereafter, representatives of over 20 ACBF-supported think tanks and policy institutes met in April 2014 in Nouakchott (Mauritania), October 2014 in Mbabane (Swaziland), and April 2015 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to roll out the activities of the Committee which is meant to be a dynamic and functional community of practitioners close to African policy and decision makers.
The Policy Institutes Committee was established by ACBF to offer a platform for its various supported think tanks and policy institutes to meet regularly in order to exchange information, ideas and experiences on African policy developments. The Network offers also an opportunity to present and examine country reviews, discuss strategic policy issues, and share knowledge and experiences on the management of think tanks and policy institutes in Africa. Throughout the consultative forums held in Ethiopia, Mauritania and Swaziland, it came out from the discussions and exchanges that participants have keen interest in and commitment to achieving a higher level of performance in terms of experience and knowledge sharing; and development of products and services with an impact on the policy formulation and implementation processes in Africa.
2. Objectives
The main objective of the Fifth Consultative Forum of the Policy Institutes Committee is to raise awareness and document the role and importance of think tanks in knowledge management and discuss policy matters pertinent to Africa’s development agenda for effective policy impact and capacity building on the continent. Among others, the Forum will:
- Familiarize the PIC Network with knowledge of World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and to formulate collaborative Tobacco Control (TC) research activities between Think Tanks and the Economics of Tobacco Control Project within University of Cape Town (UCT).
- Share the key findings of the Africa Capacity Report (ACR) 2015. The PIC Forum will be an opportunity to share the key findings and recommendations of the ACR 2015 on Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM). The think tanks and policy institutes will discuss and learn from various countries’ experience on DRM.
- Share knowledge and experiences on the management of think tanks in general and the experiences in knowledge management. PIC members will share their respective experiences on the management of think tanks in general, and on the production and dissemination of knowledge for effective policy impact, in particular.
- Examine Country Reviews. As a regular and key activity in the PIC work plan, each meeting discusses and examines Country Reviews and shares the key findings and recommendations for effective policy actions.
- Examine Reports on the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA). The CPIA self-assessment studies produced in collaboration with ACBF-supported think tanks will be discussed and countries’ experiences shared for peer-learning and effective policy impact.
- Provide an opportunity to receive inputs from the PIC Members on key capacity development priorities which could shape the Fourth Strategic plan of ACBF during the period 2017-2021.
- Update on the ACBF Strategic Studies Group (SSG). Being a sister-network to the SSG and having informed the general thematic areas of the SSG work, the PIC will be updated on the status and activities of the Group. The objective is to encourage PIC members close to the decision and policy making process to sensitize their constituencies on the strategic studies, and facilitate ownership and buy-in of targeted stakeholders.
3. Agenda
4. Format of the Meeting and mode of delivery
The Fifth Consultative Forum of the Policy Institutes Committee will essentially comprise of presentations and panel and group discussions.
The three-day Meeting will consist of: (1) Expert Presentations on TC issues followed by questions and answers; (2) panel discussions followed by debates where participants share their experiences on emerging strategic issues; and (3) presentations of country case studies followed by discussions and experiences sharing. The meeting will be conducted in English and French with simultaneous interpretation.
5. Contact information
Technical issues
Thomas C. Munthali, PhD
Director, Knowledge, Monitoring and Evaluation Department
The African Capacity Building Foundation
2 Fairbairn Drive, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
T: +263-4 304663, 304622, 332002, 332014
Email: T.MUNTHALI@acbf-pact.org
Logistical issues
Ms. Theodora Mapfumo
Administrative Assistant; Knowledge, Monitoring and Evaluation Department
2 Fairbairn Drive, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
T: +263-4 304663, 304622, 332002, 332014
Email: T.Mapfumo@acbf-pact.org
