ERF-African Union Program: Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP)

ERF on the Africa Think Tank Platform – Evidence for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development

Overview

The Economic Research Forum (ERF) is working with the African Union to turn continental commitments into results. Under the Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP), ERF leads a multi-country programme of research, policy engagement and capacity strengthening that produces practical, North African-generated evidence for inclusive economic transformation, sustainable development and resilience across the region.

The Africa Think Tank Platform is an African Union initiative that brings together leading African think tanks, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Member States to generate policy-relevant evidence, practical policy solutions and implementation tools that accelerate the delivery of Agenda 2063.

For more than three decades, ERF has produced independent, high-quality economic research and taken it to the people who make policy. Through ATTP, ERF brings that experience to Africa’s shared, cross-border priorities, guided by one simple principle: evidence in, outcomes out.

What ERF aims to achieve

Through its work under ATTP, ERF aims to:

• Produce high-quality, policy-relevant research aligned with Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and national development strategies.
• Provide policymakers in AU Member States and RECs practical, country-relevant evidence based policy options for the domestication of AU declarations and protocols.
• Promote inclusive and sustainable development pathways, with particular emphasis on youth, women and vulnerable populations.
• Strengthen the capacity of African think tanks to generate evidence, influence public policy and engage effectively with policymakers.
• Foster cross-country learning, regional knowledge exchange and policy coordination across Africa.
   

Where ERF works

ERF’s ATTP research spans through the North African region, allowing comparison across countries and regional policy learning.

What ERF researches

ERF’s work is built around four connected themes. Gender equality and youth inclusion run through all of them.

1. Human Capital Development: Examining early childhood development, education and skills formation to prepare Africa’s growing youth population for the future of work, including opportunities emerging from digitalization and the green economy.
2. Climate Change and Energy Transition: Assessing how renewable energy access and low-carbon transitions can foster inclusive socio-economic development, strengthen climate resilience and expand opportunities for women and young people.
3. Food Security and Sustainable Agri-food Systems: Advancing climate-smart agriculture, digital innovation and resilient food systems to improve productivity, strengthen livelihoods and enhance food security across the continent.
4. Economic Transformation and Governance: Analyzing structural transformation, industrial development, digitalization, governance and green transitions to identify practical pathways towards resilient, competitive and inclusive African economies.

How ERF works

ERF uses a comparative, multi-country approach that combines analytical rigor with policy relevance. Its research brings together:

• Advanced quantitative analysis, including econometric techniques and macroeconomic modelling.
• Qualitative research, case studies and consultations with stakeholders.
• Comparative regional analysis and policy synthesis across participating countries.
   

From research to policy

Good research matters most when it is seen, understood and used. ERF therefore builds policy engagement into every stage of the research, not only at the end. This is the Grant-Plus (G+) model, which includes:

• Continuous dialogue with policymakers at national, regional and continental levels.
• Policy briefs, regional synthesis reports and accessible knowledge products.
• High-level policy dialogues, dissemination events and stakeholder workshops.
• Strategic communication that carries findings from research into policy conversations.
   

Strengthening African research capacity

Building resilient North African research ecosystems is central to ERF’s mission. Under ATTP, the ERF supports institutions and individuals through:

• Training in advanced analytical methods and policy research.
• Mentorship for early-career researchers, with particular emphasis on women researchers.
• Stronger institutional capabilities in data systems, communications, knowledge translation and policy outreach.
• Collaboration and peer learning across African think tanks.
   

What ERF will deliver

• Comparative cross-country research papers and regional reports.
• Policy briefs and synthesis reports.
• Capacity-building workshops and training programmes.
• Policy dialogues, high-level multi-stakeholder engagement and dissemination events.
• Digital knowledge products that broaden access to research findings.
   

The difference ERF to contribute

• More effective, evidence-informed public policies on employment, human capital, climate resilience, energy transition and food systems.
• Stronger regional cooperation and policy harmonisation across Africa.
• Greater use of African-generated evidence in national and continental policymaking.
• Stronger institutional capacity and influence for African think tanks.
• More inclusive and sustainable development outcomes, particularly for women and young people.
   

About the Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP)

The Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP) is a pan-African, African Union Commission-led initiative that strengthens the collaboration of African think tanks in generating evidence, policy solutions and implementation tools for Agenda 2063. The Platform works across six priority themes: economic transformation and governance, regional trade, climate change, food security, human capital development and digitalisation.

ATTP is coordinated through the Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilisation Directorate of the African Union Commission, with implementation support from ACBF and AUDA-NEPAD, and with financing from the World Bank. Its work is delivered through three consortia: RAISED Africa, BRIDGE Africa and CACEPS. The Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP) is a five-year, US$50 million initiative by the African Union Commission (AUC), funded by the World Bank Group, aimed at enhancing the capacity and influence of African think tanks. Supported by the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), ATTP aims to establish and operationalise a sustainable platform for effective cooperation and harmonisation on regional and cross-border policy issues among country-level policymakers, regional associations, and think tanks.

For more information, visit the Africa Think Tank Platform website: https://au.int/en/newsevents/20260427/africa-think-tank-platform-attp

ERF and the RAISED Africa consortium

ERF delivers its ATTP work as lead of the Research Alliance for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development (RAISED Africa) consortium, in partnership with the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) and the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre (REPRC–EfD Nigeria). Together, the partners combine their expertise to strengthen the quality, relevance and reach of African policy research.