How Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks supports the work of leading South African research agencies and think tanks
Case study: Supporting an independent African think tank on digital policy
A think tank that conducts multidisciplinary research on digital governance, policy and regulation to facilitate evidence-based and informed policy making for improved application of digital technologies for social and economic development in Africa needs to have policy information at its fingertips.
By integrating Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks into its operations, such an entity can explore in-depth the intersection of policy and technology and provide tools to better navigate the uncharted territory of AI and the fast paced world of tech policy. Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks keeps pace and hosted resources are highly relevant to Africa, making them invaluable for identifying key documents on critical topics and fast-paced tech policy development.
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Key programmes |
How Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks can support the project |
| AI and advanced tech policy in Africa |
Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks provides tools to better navigate the uncharted territory of AI and the fast paced world of tech policy.
The service is current, having indexed > 151,277 items published in 2024, of which 1,855 are highly relevant for Africa (i.e. ‘Africa’ assigned as Topic).
Search for (“advanced tech” OR “artificial intelligence”) AND africa AND policy = 19420 of which 745 uploaded in the past month alone, and a total of 2,427 for 2024 thus far.
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| Capacity building to foster sustainable digital governance across Africa. |
Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks helps researchers at policy institutes to tap into a vast repository of grey literature, policy documents, and research papers related to digital governance and advanced technologies. This access will provide them with insights into global best practices, emerging trends, and policy frameworks.
Search for (capacity OR sustain) AND “digital governance” AND Africa = 1329 of which 204 from 2024. |
| Data policy and governance |
Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks is an invaluable resource for identifying key documents on critical topics such as cross-border data flows, cybersecurity, and privacy laws. These insights are essential for formulating policies tailored to the African context, where challenges like digital inequality and fragmented regulatory environments demand region-specific solutions.
A standout feature, the Mentions tool, empowers organisations to track how their work on data governance and policy is referenced globally. This functionality not only highlights the impact of their research but also provides insights into the global discourse it informs. By monitoring how their publications inspire actions and decisions worldwide, policy institutes can strategically position themselves as thought leaders advocating for data governance frameworks that prioritise treating data as a public good.
Search for (data OR cybersecurity OR privacy) AND (policy OR governance) AND Africa = 431,903 documents of which 3% are published in French (highest aside of English) The World Bank Group emerges as the most prolific contributor, accounting for 16% of these reports. |
| Digital economy and indicators |
Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks can support policy researchers’ efforts to advocate for meaningful digital access by providing access to research and case studies on the digital divide, digital skills development, and the impact of internet affordability on social and economic inclusion. These resources enhance their institute’s ability to push for policies that improve access to technology and foster innovation in Africa’s digital economy.
Search for “Digital Economy” AND (“digital divide” OR “skills development” OR affordability) AND indicators = 14,321.
Search for “Digital economy” NEAR indicator = 906 for very specific, filtered publications. |
| Information integrity |
Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks can significantly support an information integrity programme by providing access to critical research and tools that help address the challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and harmful online content.
Search for “Information Integrity” = 1003 results.
Search for (misinformation OR disinformation OR “harmful content”) AND integrity AND policy = 35,728 results with further refine to “Africa” as Topic = 427 results. |
Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks also enhances visibility by indexing think tank publications through its partnership with Google Scholar. This boosts the discoverability of African research among global policy and research audiences.
By leveraging Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks, African research agencies and think tanks can access critical knowledge, enhance their policy influence, and drive evidence-based decision-making across the continent.
Conclusion
Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks is a transformative resource for independent African think tanks focused on digital policy. By providing access to a vast repository of policy documents, grey literature, and research papers, the platform empowers these organizations to navigate the complex landscape of digital governance, AI, and advanced technologies. The ability to access timely, relevant data and track the global impact of their research through tools like Mentions ensures that think tanks can offer evidence-based, well-informed policy advice that addresses Africa’s unique challenges.
Leveraging Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks enables think tanks to advocate for sustainable digital governance, formulate effective data policies, and drive meaningful digital access across the continent. This not only enhances their policy influence but also fosters innovation and social and economic development in Africa’s digital economy. Ultimately, Policy Commons: Global Think Tanks is instrumental in shaping a more inclusive, responsive, and forward-thinking approach to digital policy, positioning African think tanks as leaders in the global policy arena.