Afrobarometer Named Among 2026 Think Tanks to Watch

Afrobarometer has been selected for the 2026 roster of Think Tanks to Watch, earning recognition for the second consecutive year.

The pan-African survey research network is among 55 organisations worldwide recognised in the second edition of the On Think Tanks (OTT) Think Tanks to Watch honour roll.

The initiative recognises organisations nominated by their peers for noteworthy practices, initiatives and contributions to research, policy and public debate.

Afrobarometer’s research is based on face-to-face interviews with citizens across Africa and provides policymakers and institutions with evidence on people’s experiences, priorities and expectations.

According to On Think Tanks, Afrobarometer’s data have contributed to policy discussions and decision-making in several countries.

Examples cited include the use of Afrobarometer data in South Africa’s Medium-Term Development Plan 2024–2029, discussions in Ghana on proposed reforms for the direct election of local chief executives, and the launch of an entrepreneurship programme in Senegal.

Chair of the Afrobarometer Board of Directors, Amina Oyagbola, said the recognition demonstrates the importance of incorporating citizens’ views and experiences into public policy.

“For more than two decades, Afrobarometer has made citizens’ views and experiences part of the evidence available to inform public policy,” she said.

She added that the examples highlighted by On Think Tanks demonstrate how credible and independent data can help institutions better understand the people they serve and make decisions that respond to citizens’ needs and priorities.

Afrobarometer CEO Joseph Asunka said the recognition also highlights the organisation’s commitment to making research accessible and useful beyond the research community.

“Our work does not end with collecting data. We want our findings to reach the policy makers, researchers, civil society organisations, and others who can use them to understand public priorities and inform decisions,” he said.

Asunka said the examples of policy impact demonstrate what can be achieved when reliable public-attitude data are effectively applied to policy and decision-making.

Peer Recognition

The Think Tanks to Watch initiative was launched in 2025 and is designed as a peer-recognition platform rather than a ranking or independent assessment of organisational performance.

The initiative highlights practices, innovations and contributions that peers consider valuable and worth sharing, while creating opportunities for learning and collaboration across the global think-tank community.

Afrobarometer’s inclusion in the 2026 roster therefore marks its continued recognition within the global research and policy community, following its appearance on the inaugural 2025 list.

STORY BY: Mark Acheampong