It is great to go thru his progam.

It was a wonderful trip. We were briefed by the Free Democratic Party [FDP] in the Saxony House. The FDP is a minority group in the Saxony House but it appears that it is doing well as it employs multi media techniques to attract new members.

The party holds occasional outreach programmes where members of the public are educated about Liberal philosophy.

We also took time off to visit places of interest like museums and historical sites. 

Kind regards

Sam

**********

Sam Poku
Chief Executive Officer
West Africa Business Association (Gh)
P.O.Box C.T.2873
Cantonments
Accra

Tel:  233 (0)21 769393
Cell: 233 (0)24 432 9622
Fax: 233 (0) 21 670518
Website: www.waba.co.uk

—– Original Message —–

From: jo.kwong@atlasusa.org

To: atlas@atlasusa.org ; ARBM2Phuket@yahoogroups.com ; africaclub@forum.policynetwork.net

Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:46 PM

Subject: [Africaclub] FW: global trends in think tanks and policy advice

HI all — In case you did not receive this, attached is an interesting summary of the think tank industry. 

I know all of you have been focused on measuring success.  Here’s one mention of Output vs. impact that is worth noting:

EMERGING ISSUES AND TRENDS

 Outputs vs. Impact. Historically think tanks have placed a focus on outputs

over impact. How do think tanks measure their impact? For many

institutions, it is limited to the numbers of books and policy briefs produced

rather than providing the impetus for new legislation or changes in policy.

This is issue is further complicated by donors who are increasingly

interested supporting “high impact” policy research.

For those of you who are not able to open the attachment, here is the conclusion:

CONCLUSIONS

The on-going challenge for think tanks is to produce timely and accessible policy

oriented research that effectively engages policymakers, the press and the public

on the critical issues facing a country. Gone are the days when a think tank could

operated with the motto “research it, write it and they will find it” Today, think

tanks must be lean, mean, policy machines. The Economist described “good

think tanks” as those organizations that are able to combine “intellectual depth,

political influence, and flair for publicity, comfortable surroundings, and a streak

of eccentricity.” Those who fail to organize and integrate these qualities into their

think tank will become known for their “pedantry, irrelevance, obscurity, poverty

and conventionality.” Many think tanks have already successfully met this

challenge and are now playing a critical role bridging the divide between the

academic and policies communities and policy makers and the public.

For all the reasons outlined in this report, the role and importance of independent

think tanks will continue to grow. Clearly there is no shortage of policy challenges

at the national, regional and global level. The world we live in can be

characterized by what someone described as “The Four Mores.” More issues,

more actors, more competition and more conflict. Over the last 10-15

governments and civil society groups have come to rely on thinks tanks for ideas

and advice and I am confident that this tend will continue well into the future.

Jo Kwong

Vice President of Institute Relations

Atlas Economic Research Foundation

2000 N. 14th Street, Suite 550

Arlington, VA, 22201

703 934-6969

From: Mcgann1429@aol.com [mailto:Mcgann1429@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 5:12 PM
Subject: global trends in think tanks and policy advice

 

Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program

November 28, 2007

Dear Niki:

I thought that you might find the analysis I conducted on some of the major trends and challenges facing think tanks and policy research organizations around the world of interest to you and your colleagues. The findings have been summarized in the attached Global Trends in Think Tanks and Policy Advice report. The report is based on the 2007 global survey of think tanks, my on-going research on these institutions and a series of meetings I held with scholars and administrators from think tanks in the developed and developing world. The report provides a global and regional overview of the state of think tanks and the challenges they face. Key features of the report include a:

Ø     Digest of key global and regional statistics on think tanks

Ø     Chart listing the number of think tanks in 169 countries

Ø      Summary of key global trends such as: the rise in the number of global think tanks and phantom think tanks; the decline in the establishment of new think tanks and environmentally oriented think tanks and the movement to limit the number, type and influence of think tanks (NGO Push Back)

Ø     Definition of think tanks that reflects the diversity of the organizational forms and political environments in which these institutions operate

Ø       Digest of the state of think tanks in Africa, Middle East, Western Europe, Eastern and Central Europe, Russia, Asia  Latin America and United States.

Ø       Digest of issues and emerging trends that require further research

It is my hope that this study will make a major contribution to the understanding of public policy research organizations, and is likely to become an important reference point for donors, policymakers, and civil society groups that are interested in working with these important institutions.

You are free to post  the reports on your web site and distribute them to your colleagues with the proper attribution. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.

With my best wishes,Jim McGann

James G. McGann, Ph.D.
President, McGann Associates
Senior Felllow and Director
Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Assistant Professor, Political Science,Villanova University
www.homepage.villanova.edu/james.mcgann
610 519-8040 Villanova Office
215 619-2840 Ambler Office
New Books: Comparative Think Tanks, Politics and Public Policy http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/Bookentry_Main.lasso?id=2756
Think Tanks and Policy Making in the US: Academics, Advisors and Advocates http://www.routledge.com/shopping_cart/products/product_detail.asp?sku=&isbn=9780415772280&parent_id=&pc=/shopping_cart/search/search.asp

Think Tank and Civil Societies Program

The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) examines the role policy institutes play in governments and in civil societies around the world.  Often referred to as the ‘think tank’s think tank,’ TTCSP examines the evolving role and character of public policy research organizations.  Over the last 20 years the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program has laid the foundation for a global initiative that will help bridge the gap between knowledge and policy in critical policy areas such as international peace and security, globalization and governance, international economics, environment, information and society, poverty alleviation and health. This international collaborative effort is designed to establish regional and international networks of policy institutes and communities that will improve policy making and strengthen democratic institutions and civil societies around the world.  The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program works with some of the leading scholars and practitioners from think tanks and universities in a variety of collaborative efforts and programs.  If you would like additional information about our publications and programs contact JM@fpri.org.

I can also be reached at McGann AssociatesMCGANN ASSOCIATES
Program, Policy & Management Consultants to Think Tanks, Foundations & International OrganizationsJames G. McGann, Ph.D.,
President
McGann Associates
2 Betsy Lane
Ambler, PA, USA 19002
Phone:001(215) 619-2840
Email: McGann1429@aol.comVoicemail messages can be left at either the Institute or at McGann Associates

McGann Associates is a private consulting firm with over 25 years of combined program and management experience in the public and private sectors in the United States and abroad. Our firm specializes in strategic planning, organizational design and development, and research and analysis for non-profit organizations, private foundations, and foreign governments. McGann Associates has assisted private foundations, international organizations, educational institutions and public policy research organizations to improve their programs, develop and evaluate projects and redesign and redirect their operations. Over the last five years, our teams of professionals have provided technical assistance and support to non-governmental organizations and foreign governments throughout the world on a wide range of issues and programs. A sample of our clients include: the World Bank, United Nations Development Program, United States Agency for International Development, Center for Health Systems Change, Brennan Center for Justice, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and OSI/Soros Foundation and Citizen’s Network for Foreign Affairs.

Note on the Use and Distribution of this Document

You may forward this email as you like provided that you send it in its entirety and attribute it to James G. McGann, Ph.D., and the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program.  If you post it on a mailing list, please contact James G. McGann with the name, location, purpose and number of recipients of the mailing list.If you receive this as a forward and would like to be placed directly on our mailing lists, send email to JM@fpri.org. Include your name, address, and affiliation.  For further information, contact  James G. McGann  at  (215) 732-3774 x 209 or at (610) 519-8040. Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, 1528 Walnut Street, Suite 610, Philadelphia, PA 19102-3684.

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