Over the past couple of days participants from over 43 think tanks, alongside policymakers, donors and other research-to-policy actors, have travelled to Bangkok from across the globe to attend the third and final Think Tank Initiative Exchange.

This Exchange, like the two which came before, is a space for sharing experiences, for identifying common challenges and discovering new solutions. However, this year’s Exchange looks specifically to a future which is sustainable, where evidence informed policy processes support and promote sustainable development and where policy research organizations themselves are sustainable. The coming days will enable reflection on ten years’ worth of learning from TTI, and consideration of how our collective experience can inform strategies for future policy research organizations, maximizing the effectiveness of their contribution to the policy process.

A sustainable future

The theme is timely. With ambitious agendas captured in international conventions, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 agenda and the Paris Agreement of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the need to bring evidence to bear on policy and to facilitate efforts to drive policy-informed action has never been greater. Policy research organizations are already making valuable contributions to the achievement  of these frameworks at national, regional and global levels, and have the potential to catalyze further collective action around these agendas in the years to come. This Exchange will explore how policy research organizations can improve their contributions to a sustainable future and identify the new kinds of collaborations required to promote effective evidence informed policy making.

The diversity of experience within this community provides a unique opportunity to formulate actionable strategies for sustainability which respond to the nuanced research-to-policy landscapes worldwide. Through consideration of different regional and national policy environments, we can strengthen understanding of the catalytic role that think tanks can play in contributing to international frameworks like the SDGs.

Join the conversation

Each participant brings a unique understanding, borne from personal experience, of how policy research is conducted and transmitted effectively in different contexts. To enable a vibrant and inclusive dialogue, TTIX 2018 is facilitating digital spaces for communication alongside the Exchange via the hashtag #2018TTIX, the TTIX App and the TTIX Social Wall. 

The hashtag in particular will enable those beyond the event to engage with key themes and debates in real-time via social media. These digital conversations will strengthen and inform the discussions within the room, situating them within a broader context and ensuring that strategies for the future are grounded in experience.

Some of these conversations started early during the TTIX online forum. This digital space has enabled voices from across the community to express their views on the themes of the Exchange and discuss what sustainability looks like in diverse environments. You can read the summary of the e-discussions online.

Today’s schedule

Today begins by looking at the role of think tanks and funders in a changing world. The first plenary of the Exchange explores challenges that lie ahead for think tanks in TTI regions and how the lessons of the TTI program might help address them. A collaborative plenary this afternoon will look more closely at opportunities for enhancing the use of evidence in policy and practice and the role of think tanks. 

The collective expertise and experience present today is both inspiring and energising. We very much look forward to collaborating during what promises to be a productive few days.

Bringing a gender lens to the TTI Exchange

How can organizations ensure that the events they host are as inclusive and gender-equitable as possible?​ TTI has made it a priority to bring a gender lens to event planning.

Think Tanks at the Crossroads of Evidence. What Next?

The Think Tank Initiative is nearly ten years old. As the programme enters its final year, it is a good opportunity to reflect on the journey so far