Policy Think-tanks are poised to reposition public financial management in Africa at the 11th Africa Think Tank Summit, aimed at providing solutions to bridge the gap between policy formulation and implementation across the continent.
The summit, to be convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from October 7 to 10, 2025, would be a pivotal platform for transforming Africa’s policy landscape through enhanced leadership development and innovative capacity building initiatives.
Organised by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) under the African Think Tank Platform (ATTP) Project, the summit will focus on strategic ways of addressing issues like fiscal sovereignty, sustainable development, and accountable governance.
Ahead of the event, organisers have emphasised the importance of visionary leadership, skilled public servants, and robust institutions to turn aspirations into tangible results through well-designed policies.
Mr Zadig Abreha, President, African Leadership Excellence Academy (AFLEX), during a virtual press briefing, stated that the challenge of many African countries was the “inability to effectively and sustainably implement the beautifully designed policies.”
“We believe that leadership and institutional capacity are the bridge between policy and action. Without visionary leaders, skilled public servants and strong institutions, even the best policies will remain aspirations on paper,” he said.
He noted that the summit was being held at a critical time when African governments were announcing bold fiscal reforms and urged all stakeholders, particularly, policy Think-tanks to push for actionable results.
Mr Mamadou Biteye, Executive Secretary, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), responding to a question posed by the Ghana News Agency, said the summit would mark the official launch of several groundbreaking initiatives, including the Africa Think Tank Platform Project and educational programmes.
The programmes are aimed at equipping Think-tanks across the continent with enhanced resources and capabilities to address Africa’s most pressing challenges and invigorate the youth to be active contributors to the solutions of Africa’s needs.
“The project encourages collaborative approaches through research consortia, ensuring that think tank outputs deliver maximum impact on policy development and implementation,” said, Mr Biteye.
He noted that Think-tanks were essential for developing homegrown solutions and shaping Africa’s future narrative, encouraging them to amplify their voice and ensure that ideas and commitments translated into tangible actions and results.
He stated that Africa possessed the financial architecture needed for tomorrow’s challenges, calling for collective work towards making Africa’s financial architecture deliver prosperity for its citizens.
The ACBF Executive Secretary, said, “As we gather in Addis Ababa, we are not only discussing reforms – we are nurturing the next generation of African leaders who will drive these reforms forward.”
The 11th Africa Think Tank Summit promises to be a watershed moment for African governance and policy innovation by creating lasting collaborations to enhance Africa’s capacity to design, implement, and sustain transformative policies.
The event is expected to attract leading policy thinkers, government officials, and development practitioners from across the continent and beyond, all united in the mission to empower Africa’s future through enhanced leadership and innovative policy solutions.