KIGALI- The Institute of Policy Analysis and Research-Rwanda (IPAR) has been ranked among the Best New Think Tanks by the Global Think Tanks Index. IPAR emerged among the top 20 new think tanks established witin the last 18 months. The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) of Nigeria and Casablanca Institute of Morocco are the other African think tanks appearing in the category. The 2010 Global Think Tank Rankings marks the fourth edition of what has now become an annual report. It is conducted by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the International Relations Program of the University of Pennsylvania which ranks Global think tanks. In an interview with The New Times, Antonia Mutoro, the Executive Director of IPAR, said that she was proud that the institute was recognised on the global level and that it only motivates the IPAR team to do more. “We have been working hard as a team since the institute was established in mid 2008. We have been putting in place structures despite the many challenges we met along the way and we are glad it has paid off,” Mutoro said. “I am proud that we are recognised all over the world. I am proud for myself and my team”. She noted that since its establishment, IPAR has done “quality” work for it stakeholders and that hard work has been the secret of its success. “It does motivate us. We have been working very hard. We have influenced thinking through the work we do for our stakeholders and our recommendations have been taken and considered relevant in many cases,” Mutoro added. She noted that the greater impact of the institute’s work will be felt in the long term since most research and policy related work takes long to formulate. The ranking is the first comprehensive grading of the world’s top think tanks, based on a worldwide survey of close to 1500 scholars, policy makers, journalists and regional and subject area experts. The think tank index has been described as the insider’s guide to the global marketplace of ideas. All 6480 think tanks in the world were contacted and encouraged to participate in this year’s nominations process. Ends
