An African Union Initiative
The Africa Think Tank Platform
A continental hub connecting governments, think tanks, and researchers to generate evidence-based knowledge for cross-boundary policy priorities across all 55 AU member states.
55
Members
$50M
IDA Grant
13
Think Tanks
2028
Open till
What is ATTP
Capacity to bridge policy research and African governance
The Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP) is a $50 million, five-year initiative funded by the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) and implemented through the African Union Commission (AUC), with ACBF as a key specialized implementing agency.
ATTP aims to establish a sustainable continental platform that connects governments, think tanks, academic institutions, regional economic communities (RECs), and development partners to generate and apply evidence for cross-boundary policy challenges.
"To establish a sustainable platform to strengthen the capacity for effective policy research and policy making on cross-boundary priorities in Africa."
Less than 10% of continental policies and agreements are adopted at national level due to weaknesses in the policy formulation cycle. ATTP directly addresses this by connecting researchers to where decisions are made.
Three Project Components
How the project is structured
The project operates through three interlocking components totalling US$50 million, running from 2023 to 2028.
Component 1
Establish capacity to operate a sustainable policy making platform
Sets up the institutional infrastructure: secretariat, Think Tank Platform Steering Committee (TTPSC), M&E systems, and the continental network of think tanks and policy makers.
US$3.5 million
Component 2
Strengthen quality, relevance and uptake of policy research
Core research funding to competitively selected think tank consortia across 6 priority themes, knowledge exchange events, fellowships, Africa Knowledge Repository, and capacity building.
US$35.5 million
Component 3
Support platform sustainability
Establishes a Special Fund and a US$10 million seed Endowment Fund to crowd in resources from African governments, private sector, foundations and institutional donors beyond the WB grant period.
US$11 million
The ATTP Grantees
Thirteen funded projects
Through a competitive, merit-based selection process launched in July 2025, the African Union Commission signed grant agreements with 13 African think tanks, organised into three pan-African research consortia, in April 2026. A total of US$24.2 million is being disbursed in phases.
Economic Transformation and Governance
Regional Trade
Climate Change
Food Security
Human Capital Development
Digitalization
RAISED-Africa
Research Alliance for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development
Led by the Economic Research Forum (ERF), based in Egypt, focusing on inclusive and sustainable economic development pathways for Africa.
Region: North, East & West Africa
BRIDGE-Africa
Building Resilience and Impact through Dialogue and Galvanising Action for Evidence-Informed Policymaking
Coordinated by the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), based in Ghana, specialising in economic transformation policy analysis.
Region: West, Central, Southern, East & North Africa
CACEPS
Pan-African research consortium
A consortium of leading African think tanks working on cross-border policy priorities aligned with Agenda 2063.
Region: East, North, West & Southern Africa
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