1. Academic Outreach & Engagement
The Case of SDPI
Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad
March 2014

2. 2
Outline
Think tanks
in Pakistan
Think tank –
University
Collaboration
• SDPI MoUs with
Universities
Regional
Initiatives
Faculty
Development
Student
Engagement

3. 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
3
How think tanks work?

4. 4
Think Tanks in Pakistan
How they are
different from
universities?
3 core
activities of
think tanks
Elevator pitch

5. Build
government’s
capacity
Pull and
push
strategies
for reforms
Demand
and supply
for research
5
Helping the Government

6. 6

7. 7
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)

8. 8
Regional Initiatives
Track-II diplomacy: Making Pakistan Regionally Relevant

9. 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
9
South Asian Davos

10. • 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
10

11. 11
Faculty Development

12. 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
12
Visiting Fellowship

13. 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

14. 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
14
Joint “Policy” Research

15. Center for Capacity
Building
NGOs
Policy research &
advocacy
Universities
Executive trainings for
university support staff
Chambers of
Commerce
University – industry
nexus
15
“Niche” Capacity Development

16. 16
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

17. 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
17
Why work for a think tank?

18. • 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
18
Value of Academic Advice

19. www.sdpi.org, www.sdpi.tv
Thank You