OTT Podcast

Every think tank has a unique journey—shaped by its context, mission, and the people driving its vision. But how do think tanks emerge and establish themselves in regions undergoing political and economic transitions? What role do they play in fostering evidence-based policymaking? In this episode, we speak with Simonida Kacarska, Director of the European Policy Institute (EPI) in North Macedonia...

In times of fundamental change, recognising the moment and acting accordingly is crucial. But how can think tanks remain resilient in an increasingly challenging environment? How can they collaborate to navigate uncertainty and strengthen their collective impact? In this episode, we speak with Fabian Zuleeg , Chief Executive and Chief Economist at the European Policy Centre (EPC) . With over 15 ye...

In a rapidly shifting political landscape, how can think tanks continue to provide independent, evidence-based policy advice? What happens when international funding declines, domestic support remains uncertain, and democratic pressures intensify? In this episode, we speak with  Karolina Wigura , co-founder and board member of  Kultura Liberalna , one of Poland’s leading think tanks. Drawing from...

How have think tanks in Southern and Eastern Europe adapted to shifting political landscapes, evolving funding models, and growing challenges to policy influence? In this episode, Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) , talks about the transformation of think tanks in the region over the past decade. From navigating political uncertainty to sustaini...

In a region where democracy faces growing challenges and international funding is diminishing, how can think tanks remain independent, impactful, and relevant? In this episode, Péter Krekó, Director of the Political Capital Institute in Hungary, shares insights into the evolving role of think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe. We discuss how think tank leaders navigate shrinking donor support, i...

In an era marked by political shifts, economic transitions, and changing donor landscapes, how do think tanks in the Western Balkans remain relevant and impactful?  This is a bonus episode with Sonja Stojanovic-Gajic, former director of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy. Listen to the full episode here. ------------------------------------ OTT Talks is a platform to share learning among thin...

In an era marked by political shifts, economic transitions, and changing donor landscapes, how do think tanks in the Western Balkans remain relevant and impactful?  This episode with Sonja Stojanovic-Gajic, former director of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, dives into the unique challenges and opportunities facing policy institutions in the Balkans region. From navigating democratic backs...

In this episode of OTT Talks, we explore the unique model of student-led think tanks and how the Building for the Future Initiative supports them through grants, capacity-building, and the facilitation of the exchange of ideas through multi-regional events. Join us to hear about the importance of multi-regional events in bringing fresh perspectives to European policy-making, including examples of...

Can small and mid-sized think tanks survive the mounting challenges they're facing and the increasing costs of overcoming them? OTT Talks to Simon Maxwell about alternative think tank models and markets.

OTT Talks to Dana Schmidt, Programme Director at Echidna Giving about her role - the skills and values needed to be a funder, the power dynamics between grantees and funders, and the personal impact of the role.

OTT Talks to Liliana Alvarado, Executive Director of Mexican think tank Ethos, on what happens when think tanks have to take on a government watchdog role.

OTT Talks to Dr. Damien King, Executive Director of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI), to explore the think tank sector in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region.

OTT Talks to Dr. Abraham Ibn Zackaria, Deputy Director of Research in the Parliament of Ghana, shedding light on how evidence is used in Ghanaian policymaking. [Please note that the sound quality in this episode is not optimal. Nonetheless, we believe the insights shared by Dr. Zackaria make it well worth listening to!]

OTT Talks to Grant Dalton, researcher at the Institute for Government (IFG), a leading British think tank, about the findings of a diversity and inclusion sector report he co-authored and published last year.

Guests : Kuranda Morgan, Evidence Lead in the evidence and experimentation team at Nesta; Mohammed Awal, Team Leader - social accountability and SDGs workstream at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development; and Abeba Taddese, Senior Program Director - evidence for decision making at Results for Development.

On Think Tanks Director, Enrique Mendizabal talks to David Sasaki, Program Officer at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation about the need for more accountability in the philanthropic sector; what the job involves; and what it takes to do it well. 

Luis Orlandi, OTT Growth Manager, talks to Enrique Mendizabal, Founder and Director of OTT, about the challenges and opportunities for think tank fundraising.

Julia Pomares, Chief Advisor to the Government of the City of Buenos Aires and former CIPPEC Executive Director, talks to Emily Hayter, OTT Associate, about the shift from generating to using evidence and share recommendations to inform decision-making.

Estefanía Chavert, Head of Programmes at Southern Voice, talks to Enrique Mendizabal, Founder and Director of OTT, about her recent article “The Covid-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity for Leveraging Global South Research and Knowledge”. Read the full article: https://bulletin.ids.ac.uk/index.php/idsbo/article/view/3173/3210

To celebrate International Youth Day, OTT Talks to Ibrahim Faruk from Yiaga Africa and the ‘Not too young to run’ movement in Nigeria, and Neringa Tumėnaitė, from  Humanity Consulting about how youth can shape and participate in politics and change. The conversation is hosted by Cristina Bacalso.

In this new OTT Talks, Joe Miller, Director of Soapbox Washington Studio, talks to Louise Ball, OTT Communications Director, about his new book Screens, research and hypertext.

Enrique Mendizabal, OTT Founder and Director, talks to Irene Pingkan Umboh from RTI International and Widjajanti Isdijoso from SMERU Research Institute. They look back over the last 10 years of the Knowledge Sector Initiative’s support to 16 think tanks in Indonesia.

For World Health Day, OTT Talks about scientific advisory systems and the global pandemic, with OTT's Marcela Morales and Enrique Mendizabal.  Read the full report: ‘Scientific advisory systems: experiences from across the world’, which includes an overview of key features and bodies of scientific advisory systems and response to COVID-19 in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Spain and the UK, h...

For International Women's Day 2022, we have an OTT Talks about women in think tank leadership roles with Andrea Ordoñez, Director at Southern Voice, Fiona Moejes, Interim CEO at Mawazo Institute and Shannon Sutton, OTT Consultant.

In this episode of the OTT Podcast, Bob Wekesa tells us about the work he has been doing at the African Center for the Study of the United States, an institution dedicated to studying the impact of US political, economic and trade relations with African countries. He talks about the organisation’s research agenda, building partnerships with institutions across Africa and his vision for the Centre’...