A NotebookLM + ChatGPT Newsletter: Understanding policy influence and evidence Use

Dear all

I have produced this Newsletter of the content I have been reading and sharing during the last couple of weeks. I used NotebookLM and ChatGPT for help.

I hope you enjoy it. I did.

As always, don't forget to sign up to the OTT School for Thinktankers!

Digest #2: Hidden Debt, China's Aid Shift and Climate Finance in Focus

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Tom Hashemi: Understand the system to influence it

Tom from Cast from Clay posted an interview with Hannah Guerin , Senior Special Adviser to various Secretaries of State, who shares her insights on effective policy influence. Including:

• The Power of Flexibility and Collaboration: Guerin discusses how successful campaigns balance ambition with consensus-building, emphasizing strong relationships.
• Understanding the System: She stresses the importance of understanding government priorities and motivations to craft relevant policy proposals.
• Think Tanks and Policy Solutions: Think tanks must combine strong ideas with practical plans to bridge the gap between theory and practice in government.
• Anticipating Policy Challenges: Guerin advises policymakers to consider opposing viewpoints and regional impacts to preemptively address policy issues.
• Strategic Timing in Campaigns: Timing is critical to gaining interest, securing funding, and leveraging media or political moments.
• Advice for New Advisers: She encourages new advisers to prioritize strategy, create “not-to-do” lists, and practice self-care amidst the demands of the job.

Aira Nur Ariana Azhari: IDEAS Malaysia's new phase

Aira Nur Ariana Azhari, Acting CEO of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs | IDEAS , shared updates on IDEAS' initiatives.

• IDEAS' 14th Anniversary Celebration: The event focused on the theme "Safeguarding Our Institutions," highlighting the importance of independent institutions for democracy.
• Asia Liberty Award Win: IDEAS was recognised for its work on political finance reform and budget transparency, reinforcing their commitment to good governance.
• Women in Public Life Advocacy: Azhari advocates for more female representation in Malaysian leadership, stressing the importance of women's participation in politics.
• Azhari’s Vision for IDEAS: Her journey from Research Executive to Acting CEO reflects her dedication to advancing IDEAS' mission.

Fiona Wanjiku Moejes: Mawazo Fellowship programme

The Mawazo Institute is a groundbreaking initiative in Africa. It supports women to take charge of the scientific space.

It has launched its Fellowship Programme!

Andrea Ordó?ez Llanos: Justice for the Global South

I really enjoyed this interview with Andrea, a researcher with Southern Voice (and On Think Tanks associate consultant and friend!), in which she advocates for a more just and equitable global system for the Global South. But she does so with nuance:

• Challenging Global Financial Systems: Ordó?ez calls for a reassessment of debt structures that perpetuate cycles of dependency in the Global South.
• Moving Beyond a "Postcolonial" Framework: She urges a shift toward recognising the Global South's agency in shaping its future.
• Valuing Ideas from the Global South: Global solutions must include the ideas and innovations of the Global South, not just those from the Global North.
• Equal Dialogue and Collaboration: Genuine collaboration between the Global North and South is essential for finding effective solutions.
• The Global South’s Agency in Geopolitics: Ordó?ez emphasises the decision-making power of the Global South in navigating global relationships.
• Strengthening South-South Cooperation: She concludes with a call for greater solidarity and collaboration among Global South nations.

Semana de la Evidencia - don't forget to join! Everyone can!

The Hub de Evidencias de Latinoamérica y del Caribe - Hub LAC and On Think Tanks are promoting the use of evidence in public policy across Latin America and the Caribbean via the Semana de la Evidencia (Evidence Week):

semanadelaevidencia.org

Goran Buldioski: Is the EU ready to become a political adult?

This isn a bit of context. Goran shared key insights from the 18th ELIAMEP European Seminar, which explored the future of the EU across governance, security, and economic themes:

• Governance: Challenges such as populism, political compromise, and disinformation were discussed at both the EU and national levels.
• Security: The seminar focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine and its implications for European defense and EU-UK cooperation.
• Economic Order: The economic landscape was analyzed in the context of nativism, the US-China rivalry, and multilateralism.
• Conclusion: Despite challenges, Goran remains cautiously optimistic about the EU’s resilience and evolving role.

This kind of insights are necessary to understand the impact that think tanks and evidence more broadly can have.

Jana C. Hertz: KONEKSI – Australia-Indonesia Knowledge Partnership Platform

It was great to see this announcement from KONEKSI – Australia-Indonesia Knowledge Partnership Platform .

KONEKSI follows from the ground-breaking Knowledge Sector Initiative that ran for a decade.

A few On Think Tanks/OTT LinkedIn Posts

• Evidence Use in Education Policy: Key insights from a recent report on policy labs and conference appearances by the OTT team, emphasise strategic evidence use and connecting local and global research from Marcela Morales Hidalgo and Clara Richards :

Read Clara's reflection on the What Works Hub for Global Education Conference here!

• Key Evidence Use Insights: On Think Tanks curates key reads on evidence-informed education policy and navigating complex policy challenges:

• Global Open Think Tank Directory Expansion: On Think Tanks welcomes new members to its Open Think Tank Directory, promoting global collaboration. I was particularly pleased to learn about Los Altos Institution , a high-school students-led think tanks!

• Building for the Future: Student-led think tanks are empowered to contribute to discussions on gender, poverty, and social policy. The Building for the Future initiative at On Think Tanks is supporting student-led think tanks to develop and thrive:

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Thank you!