THE PAN AFRICAN CENTER FOR POLICY STUDIES (“PACPS”)

PACPS is an independent not-for-profit Pan-African think tank that seeks to influence policy ideas and decisions that impact the efficacy of the continental institutions, at continental, regional and national levels. The headquarters of PACPS (“PACPS Africa”) is based in Arusha, Tanzania with the South African Chapter based in Johannesburg.

Created in 2016, PACPS seeks to contribute to the generation of knowledge and the stimulation of practices and the strengthening of capacities for the efficiency of African institutions tasked with fulfilling the goals of the continent through the implementation of the 2063 African Development Agenda and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To operationalize its tasks in fulfilling its mission, PACPS packages and processes reflections; initiates research, debates and pursues analyses; and conducts capacity-building workshops on the quality of public institutions at three (3) conceptual level or thematic areas:

  • At the continental and regional levels, PACPS addresses institutional issues relating to continental and regional integration;
  • At the nation-state level, PACPS is concerned with institutional issues relating to democratic governance, constitutional rule and the spirit of public service; and
  • At the crosscutting level, PACPS reflects on institutional issues relating to social protection, social justice and gender equality.


PACPS SOUTH AFRICA

In furtherance of promoting PACPS’ ideals and sustainable development across the continent, PACPS Africa and Alliance Influence Africa NPC jointly established PACPS South Africa as an autonomous Chapter of PACPS. Under this arrangement, PACPS South Africa took over the Research and Policy Engagement Hub of Influence Africa, as well as the Advisory Services role of the erstwhile Blandford Consulting, while Influence Africa became the media production hub of PACPS.

THEMATIC FOCUS

Our communities of practice include:

  • Human rights, including Business and Human Rights
  • Gender Equality and Women Empowerment
  • Youth Empowerment
  • Political, Economic and Corporate Governance
  • Socio-Economic Development
  • Anti-corruption, Anti-money Laundering and Illicit Financial Flows
  • Sustainable Agri-business
  • Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade vis-à-vis the AfCFTA
  • Corporate Social Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Environmental and Climate Sustainability
  • Education and Skills Development
  • Responsible Business Investment
  • Natural Resources Management
  • African Philanthropy

ACTIVITIES

The activities of PACPS South Africa include action research, advocacy, network development, developing and using innovative media tools and platforms, facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement, as well as training and capacity building.  In furtherance of actualizing the abovementioned thematic areas, the activities of PACPS South Africa are structured as follows:

Research Centre

The Research Centre handles policy engagement and action research activities. Through our network of tertiary institutions, this centre also promotes the development of academic courses and programmes.

Leadership Centre

The Leadership Centre develops and runs training and capacity building and skills development programmes. These include workshops, seminars, conferences, policy briefing sessions, leadership and special events. PACPS South Africa has facilities for in-residence training at The Afropolitan Lodge and Leadership Centre, where PACPS South Africa is based. The facilities include fully equipped residential suites as well as formal and informal meeting and recreational facilities in the tropical setting of an African village.

Advisory Support Services

As part of its sustainability approach, PACPS South Africa provides dedicated advisory services to companies in the private and public sectors and institutional clients in Africa and internationally.  Our advisory team comprises a unique blend of skills and experience and varied professional expertise gained across a broad spectrum of activities and disciplines.

Media & Mass Communication (Influence Africa)

Influence Africa is the media production hub of PACPS.  Influence Africa provides comprehensive media production services and solutions that seek to influence policies and practices, as well as facilitate collective multi-stakeholder action towards ensuring sustainable development on the continent.

One of our main aims is to enlighten, inform, entertain, and captivate the people of Africa, through engaging conversation that makes our audience want to speak up and become a part of discussions about Africa’s long-term growth, development, and competitiveness.

Our TV content, which is filmed across over 40 African countries, provides viewers with the opportunity to keep abreast with key issues that relate to Africa’s long-term growth and development.The team behind the brand comprises of leading experts who are recognized across the world as leading resource people in the area of sustainable development.

With Influence Africa’s world-class team of film producers, researchers, scriptwriters, camera crew, and film editors, we have the ability to transform technical content into captivating, entertaining and educative material that is accessible to a wide range of audiences.