1. PREPARED BY MICHAEL KAMAZIMA MEMBER OF LONG FELLOWS GROUP 02 JULY 2014

2.  A think tank (or policy institute, research institute, etc.) is an organisation thatperforms research and advocacy concernin g topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture.  Also,a group or an institution organized for intensive research a nd solving of problems, especially in the areas of technology, so cial or political strategy, or armament.  a research organization employed to analyze problems and pla n future developments.  Also known as advisory board, body, group of experts, commission or panel

3.  Currently, Tanzania and East Africa in General does not Have a think tank  We need researches that can crosscut between technocratic and academic criticism and preview.  Act as motivator to consultation and problem solving bureau  Air the views of thinkers and reseachers who do not have a platform to speak  Facilitate a data bank that will help solve cross cutting issues

4.  Playing a mediating function between the government and the public that helps builds  trust and confidence in public officials;  ¾ Serving as an informed and independent voice in policy debates;  ¾ Identifying, articulating, and evaluating current policy issues, proposals and programs;  ¾ Transforming ideas and emerging problems into policy issues;  ¾ Interpreting issues, events and policies for the electronic and print media thus facilitating  public understanding of domestic and international policy issues;  ¾ Providing a constructive forum for the exchange of ideas and information between key  stakeholders in the policy formulation process;  ¾ Facilitating the construction of “issue networks”;  ¾ Providing a supply of personnel for the legislative and executive branches of government;  ¾ Challenging the conventional wisdom, standard operating procedures and business as  usual of bureaucrats and elected officials.  (Think Tanks and Policy Advice in The US, James G. McGann, Ph.D., Director, Thank Tanks and Civil Societies Program

5.  It is suggested that There be assessors, panelists and resource persons  Resource persons should be researchers who will be given enough time to prepare paper and present them.  Panelists should involve technocrats who have day to day data and challenges on their finger prints.  Before presentation, assessors should go through it and confirm the authenticity of the paper together with being involved in the identification of panelists  By merging the two, it comes up with researched lacuna and technical challenges and modus to mitigate such lacunas

6.  This is open for discussion, there are two aspects to this coin  Either the Think tank becomes a multi disciplinary and address any issue as far as there are enough resource persons and panelists. The challenge of this is the institution might lose identity of specific issues it address  It can commit itself to one or few particular cross cutting issue and address them thoroughly. Advantage of this is gaining experience and expertise together with being identified for such field of concern

7.  It is of paramount importance to select a neutral ground that wont associate the institution with other incognito motives.  It should be a place that brings sense of belonging and seriousness.  It should also be a place where attention will be attracted to the right end users and easy to indulge them, for example, it is easy to involve statistical experts if the platform is held in their premises  It should be of utmost importance to differentiate between economic and academic based think tank. It is allowed to be sponsored but not transformed into a cash cow

8.  Together with identifying the correct timings to run the sessions, it is important to determine exactly the right time for the Institution to take off.  This will involve identifying the right people to follow up on registration and licensing process if any.  Long fellow should work by using timelines and deadlines

9.  A registered group  Fellows with vast academic backgrounds  Access to different tires of the government which might help to expedite licensing and recognition  Access to Technocrats and resource persons

10.  Lack of settled administrative organ that would dedicate time  Lack of funds to invest on creating such an institution  The fact that there is no any other think tank then there is no comparison factor  Ability to resist political interference

11.  First Think Tank in Tanzania  Popularity and exposure  Addressing issues and rectifying problems facing our country and later down the road the region  Influence decision making positively

12.  Funds to sustain the program  Management team  Resource persons and resources  Registration process (bureaucracy)  Awareness and acceptability  Selection whether to be multi disciplinary or mono disciplinary  Political and status quo interference

13.  1) changes in funding;  2) the proliferation of NGO’s generally, and think tanks specifically  3) the emergence of a 24/7 media;  4) technological advances, and more specifically the dominance of the Internet;  5) increases in partisan politics;  6) the continuing impact of globalization

14.  By now we know if we want this to take off, the best way to commit ourselves is to make sure we create a joint action plan and way forward.