Academic Outreach & Engagement The Case of SDPI

Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad March 2014

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Outline

Think tanks in Pakistan

Think tank – University Collaboration• SDPI MoUs with

Universities

Regional Initiatives

Faculty Development

Student Engagement

Work close to both government and community

Gaps between government and

community

Specific issue depending upon

political economy

Produce evidence-based

research

Official data

Researcher’s own data

Evaluation of program

implementation

Communicating evidence

Policy advocacy

Branding of policy issues

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How think tanks work?

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Think Tanks in Pakistan

How they are different from universities?

3 core activities of think tanks

Elevator pitch

Build government’s

capacity

Pull and push

strategies for reforms

Demand and supply

for research

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Helping the Government

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Think – Tank University Collaboration

• HEC Framework

• Working on geographical niche– UAF – SDPI on agriculture trade with India– IMSciences – SDPI on business in conflict areas

• Collaboration venues– Implementing sustainable development (AAWAZ Programme)

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Regional InitiativesTrack-II diplomacy: Making Pakistan Regionally Relevant

South Asia Economic Summit

Sri Lanka: Institute of

Policy Studies

Bangladesh: Center for

Policy Dialogue

India: Research

and Information

Systems

Nepal: South Asia Watch on Trade,

Economics & Environment

Afghanistan: Afghanistan

Research Evaluation

Unit

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South Asian Davos

• South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA)

• Regional trade agreements

• Transit trade agreements

• Energy corridor negotiations

• SAARC Food Bank

• Indo-Pak Water Dialogue

Regional policy research and

advocacy initiatives

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Faculty Development

Sabbatical arrangements at SDPI with linkages at:

Planning Commission

Ministry of Commerce

Ministry of

Finance

Ministry of Water and

Power

Ministry of Food

Security and Research

Ministry of Climate Change

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Visiting Fellowship

University-led

sessions

University of Zurich

South Asia University

United Nations

University

Boston University

London School of

Economics

University of Laval

Theme: Pathways to Sustainable Development

• Key partners: HEC, UN, World Bank, ADB, IDRC, UK DFID, USAID, Chambers of Commerce, Media

• Dates: 9-11th December 2014• Venue: SDPI, Islamabad• Hosted 3200 guests at 16th SDC.

Attended by President of Pakistan and 7 Federal Ministers 13

17th Sustainable Development Conference

University – Think tanks

Joint Proposals

IDRC Canada

ESRC UK

Academy of Sciences

China

US State Department

SAARC Human

Resource Development

Centre

Sustainable Development

Solutions Network

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Joint “Policy” Research

Center for Capacity Building

NGOs

Policy research & advocacy

Universities

Executive trainings for university support staff

Chambers of Commerce

University – industry nexus

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“Niche” Capacity Development

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For the Students…

• Summer Camp Initiative– Research – Communications

• SDPI-IDRC Fellowships

• Placements and Job Fairs

• Taught courses via Web-ex

• Engagement via social media– Students respond more to twitter and facebook

You have strong urge to remain policy-relevant

You wish to work closely with both government and

communities

At the end of the day you wish to preserve your

identity as an academic

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Why work for a think tank?

• Why policy makers do not act? – Rent seeking– Fear of losing votes– Lack of demand for reforms

• How to convince policy makers?– Social accountability– Working with civil servants (Finding Champions)

• Branding the problem– Allows politicians to take credit

• Partners in reform– Media (social media?)– Local community– Business Community

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Value of Academic Advice

www.sdpi.org, www.sdpi.tv

Thank You