- Prince Turki Al-Faisal: “Opening a TRENDS branch in Cape Town, a city that carries the memory and spirit of the legend Mandela, deserves full appreciation.”
- Mohammed Al-Ali: “Think tanks play a pivotal role in shaping the future.”
- Hamad Al-Kaabi: “We are proud of our media partnership with TRENDS.”
- Representatives of think tanks: “There is a need to enhance cooperation and build partnerships.”
- Think tanks need to transform their traditional roles into more impactful engagement
Human relations and economic partnership
In a similar welcome address, Dr. Hamad Al-Kaabi, CEO of Aletihad News Center, pointed out that the UAE and South Africa share a strong historical relationship and a growing economic partnership. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He noted that the two nations have strong human relations, exemplified by the historic meeting between the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – may his soul rest in peace – and the late leader Nelson Mandela in 1995.
Dr. Al-Kaabi expressed his pride in having Aletihad News Center as the main media partner for TRENDS’ events in the region, including conferences, events, and workshops. He explained that mutual visits between senior officials, businesspeople, and thought leaders are an ideal opportunity for exchanging ideas and enhancing cooperation.
Promoting research
In his welcome address, H.E Mahash Saeed Alhameli, Ambassador of the UAE to to South Africa, expressed his appreciation for TRENDS’ research efforts and global presence. “I am glad that TRENDS Research and Advisory has opened its office in Cape Town,” he said, noting that this step will contribute to promoting research cooperation with Sub-Saharan African countries.
Alhameli added that South Africa is full of talents that will provide ideas and expertise to enhance knowledge in many fields.
He pointed out that if you look at the passage of trade from the Middle East to Africa and from Africa to the Middle East, Africa is the basket case of everything, including energy and food security.
Alhameli emphasized that the continent of Africa, and South Africa, are important for the UAE. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, South Africans are working in important sectors, such as health and education. There are 85 engineers in the peaceful nuclear energy sector.
He mentioned that the UAE and South Africa have signed three agreements on space. South Africa also plays a key role in supporting Arab and Gulf issues.
A new world order
The first keynote address of the roundtable was delivered by H.R.H Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Founder and Trustee of the King Faisal Foundation and Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. He began by expressing gratitude to TRENDS and its CEO for inviting him to speak at this distinguished global event. “I am pleased to congratulate TRENDS on opening a branch in South Africa to spread knowledge and enhance understanding between African and Arab countries, which share many common interests and have both been victims of global colonial powers and the world order itself,” said Prince Turki Al-Faisal.
He added that the inauguration of a TRENDS branch in this historic city, which bears the memory and spirit of the late Nelson Mandela, deserves full appreciation. Such a memory and spirit extend beyond South Africa to encompass the entire world, making the quest for justice an enduring legacy of this great leader.
Prince Al-Faisal noted that our world is in a state of uncertainty, strategic vacuum, confusion, and polarization of global politics. The relative peace and security enjoyed by the world since the end of World War II, as well as multilateralism, an interdependent global economy, and human achievements during peacetime, are all seriously threatened by this state of uncertainty.
He remarked that multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar worlds have all reflected imbalances of power in various aspects, pointing out that today’s world is not the world of 1945. Therefore, there is an urgent need to think of a new approach to restructuring a new world order to manage our changing multipolar world peacefully and avoid major wars among great powers.
He stated that African and Middle Eastern countries need to unify their voices to ensure they are not once again victims of any changes during this era of transformation and to secure their positions within any new international arrangements, with South Africa and Saudi Arabia leading the way in this regard.
A crucial role
In his keynote address, Zondwa Mandela, Chairman of the Mandela Legacy Foundation, praised the research efforts of TRENDS and the opening of its office in Cape Town. He called for greater support and collaboration with think tanks and research centers to address the challenges facing South Africa, including youth unemployment.
Mandela emphasized the role of thought leaders, researchers, and organized structures in drafting South Africa’s new constitution following the collapse of the apartheid regime. He lauded their contributions to promoting the values of equality, justice, and democracy.
He stressed the importance of continuing to support these institutions, highlighting their crucial role in developing innovative solutions to issues such as youth unemployment.
Mandela noted that research conducted by think tanks like the University of Cape Town’s Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) has helped shape effective government policies to enhance vocational training, improve access to higher education, and create job opportunities.
He emphasized the need for collaboration among all sectors, including the government, private sector, and civil society, to ensure a prosperous future for all South African citizens.
He concluded by saying, “coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
The first session
The first roundtable session began with an introduction by researcher Sharifa Al-Raeesi, Deputy Head of Advisory Sector at TRENDS, focusing on the role and influence of think tanks in shaping policymaking. Session moderator, Mr. Awadh Al-Breiki, Head of TRENDS Global sector at TRENDS, stated that the session aimed to assess the role of think tanks in various Middle Eastern and African countries and how they have affected change, as well as to explore practical experiences of the policy development process and the function and value of think tanks in its various stages.
Established shura tradition
Dr. Omar Al-Ubaydli, Director of Studies and Research at the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies, began by highlighting that shura (consultation) is a part of Arab and Islamic culture. However, he noted that we often insist on making the process closed rather than open. Making consultation public forces us to think more seriously and exposes our ideas to more thorough analysis.
Economic diplomacy
H.E Nickolay Mladenov, Director General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, discussed how the UAE’s experience has led to an appreciation of the benefits of establishing regional value chains that enhance intra-regional trade and encourage increased manufacturing, accompanied by job creation, technology transfer, and increased competitiveness within the region.
He emphasized that economic diplomacy plays a significant role in creating a business environment that stimulates trade growth by increasing investment to support regional trade initiatives and encouraging foreign direct investment.
Investment in training
Professor João Bosco Monte, Founder and President of the Brazil Africa Institute, explained that investing in training and programs aimed at enhancing the research capabilities of think tanks is essential for driving economic and social development in vulnerable communities. He stressed the importance of building collaborative networks among think tanks across the Global South to exchange knowledge and innovative practices in the Middle East, Africa, and Brazil.
Think tanks and policymaking
David Willima, representative of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa, affirmed the pivotal role think tanks play in policymaking in the Middle East and Africa due to the geographic, historical, political, and economic interconnectedness of the two regions.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing regional cooperation between think tanks, government agencies, and international organizations, noting that these partnerships are crucial for knowledge exchange and the development of joint policies, especially in addressing common challenges.
The second session
Following a short break, the second session of the roundtable began, moderated by researcher Sumaya Al-Hadhrami, Deputy Head of TRENDS Global sector. She emphasized that building strong networks can improve access to information and increase the visibility and impact of their work.
She also stated that continuous training and professional development are essential to keeping pace with the evolving policy landscape. Think tanks must invest in their staff to ensure they are equipped with the latest methodologies and analytical tools.
Think tank outputs
Dr. Naji Al-Seiari, Research and Innovation Division Director and Interim Dean of Faculty at the College of Resilience at Rabdan Academy, highlighted the importance of think tank outputs, such as strategic studies and research, in assisting decision-makers by considering various inputs from different sources to make the right steps.
Coordination and support
Dr. Ali Issa, Managing Director of the Horn Economic and Social Policy Institute, emphasized that helping African think tanks secure flexible and sustainable funding would enhance the continent’s inclusive growth and long-term transformation. He pointed out that coordination between independent research institutions and policymakers in the government sector is crucial for building trust and helping African countries create an enabling environment for sound policies and good governance.
Networking
Dr. Emmanuel Owusu-Sekyere, Director of Research, Policy and Programs at the African Center for Economic Transformation, described think tanks as “critical friends” and policymakers with a long-term, inclusive, and sustainable developmental outlook. He expressed that think tanks can be more effective if they work in an environment based on a well-coordinated network of other think tanks, implementing agencies, academia, research institutions, development partners, the private sector, and government. He stressed that networking at various levels and in different directions is of great importance.
The future requires joint action
Dr. Heidi Aly, Deputy Director of the Center for Economics and Financial Research and Studies (CEFRS), Cairo University, stated that CEFRS believes that useful research is based on collaboration. She emphasized the importance of discussing how African think tanks can work together to improve the policy-making process, commending TRENDS Research and Advisory for taking the initiative in this regard.
Leading tangible transformations
Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, urged think tanks to play a critical role in driving political, social, and economic change. He stressed the need for think tanks to move from traditional advisory roles to active participants.
The third session
The roundtable concluded with the third session, moderated by Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, Senior Researcher at TRENDS. He highlighted that the focus of this session was on cooperation between think tanks in the Middle East and Africa, exploring ways to improve the quality and impact of outputs, especially in the field of development policy.
Echo chambers
Richard Morrow, an analyst at the Brenthurst Foundation, emphasized that think tanks are prone to isolation from areas they do not understand, creating echo chambers where they only hear their own voices. He asserted that foreign policy experts must be as knowledgeable about commercial concerns as they are about international relations theory. Successful think tanks today serve a purpose and prioritize performance over appearances.
Capacity building
Professor Fortunata Songora Makene, Executive Director of the Economic and Social Research Foundation, urged think tanks to adopt innovative research methodologies to maintain their relevance and leverage technology and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. She noted that this could be achieved by integrating big data analytics and artificial intelligence to provide more accurate and timely insights to policymakers and engaging a broader audience and stakeholders through social media, webinars, and other digital platforms.
Providing evidence
Dr. John Karanja, Director of Integrated Development at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, emphasized the importance of providing high-quality evidence to reinforce the role of think tanks in policymaking. He pointed out the need for think tanks to assert their influence in decision-making processes related to national development plans.
Independence
Nazir Pandor, Business Development Manager at the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, called on governments to support the independence of think tanks if both parties are to impact the development process in any country. He stated that investing in independent and integrated ideas contributes to development, which is what think tanks provide.
A pillar for sustainable development
Benjamin Davis, Economic Affairs Expert and Director of the TRENDS Cape Town office, concluded the roundtable sessions by highlighting the critical role think tanks play in sharing lessons through hosting such forums, collaborating on areas of common interest, and acting as a balancing voice alongside well-organized business, labor, and political interest groups that dominate policy discourse.
Recommendations
Researcher Fatima Al-Yamahi presented the final recommendations from the speakers on enhancing the quality and impact of think tanks in the Middle East and Africa and boosting cooperation and influence.
The TRENDS Round Table, Unlocking the Potential of Think Tanks: New Ideas and Innovative Strategies for Impactful Engagement, focused on three themes. It gathered input and insights from experts from 11 think tanks and research institutions in the UAE, the Middle East, and Africa
. The recommendations included:
- Strengthening partnerships by encouraging collaboration between think tanks, academic institutions, and political organizations at regional and global levels;
- Ensuring that research is linked to current and future political issues and involving stakeholders like decision-makers, civil society, and the private sector in the research process;
- Leveraging technology by using digital tools for data collection, analysis, and dissemination of results;
- Building capacity through investment in training and development of researchers and staff, securing sustainable funding by seeking diverse sources such as advisory services and training, investing in human resources, and developing professional development plans to attract and develop talent;
- Measuring impact and developing frameworks to assess the impact of think tanks, along with credibility and communication to build trust with decision-makers and stakeholders, and simplifying research findings;
- Promoting regional cooperation by encouraging regional partnerships, knowledge exchange, and expertise sharing, as well as innovation and adaptation to keep pace with developments and transition from advisors to partners in policymaking;
- Addressing practical challenges by aligning research agendas with the needs of decision-makers; and
- Developing effective communication strategies and building institutional capacity through talent management and project and financial management.
At the end of the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the participants, presenting them with a collection of TRENDS books and publications, as well as a commemorative shield.
