Venue: Hilton Hotel, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Dates: 10-11 September 2026
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Background

Central Africa continues to face persistent development and governance challenges, including weak institutional capacity, limited policy implementation, fragile state structures, rising inequality, and gaps between policy design and real-world outcomes. While the region has made progress in generating research and policy-relevant evidence, a critical challenge remains: the translation of evidence into concrete policy action.

As Central African countries pursue the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the effectiveness of public policies increasingly depends not only on the availability of high-quality evidence, but also on the mechanisms through which evidence is absorbed, adopted, and implemented by decision-makers. Think tanks and civil society organizations (CSOs) play a pivotal role in this process by producing policy-relevant research, facilitating dialogue between stakeholders, and advocating for evidence-informed decision-making.

In line with its mission to promote evidence-based policymaking and accelerate structural transformation in Central Africa, the Nkafu Policy Institute of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation is organizing the 2026 Central Africa Think Tank Forum. The Forum will provide a high-level platform to critically examine how research evidence can more effectively inform public policy and how institutional, political, and communication barriers to policy uptake can be addressed.

Held under the theme « From Evidence to Action: Strengthening Policy Uptake in Central Africa », the two-day Forum will convene policymakers, think tanks, civil society actors, development partners, researchers, and private sector representatives to explore practical strategies for bridging the gap between research and policy implementation across the region.

Objectives of the Forum

The 2026 Central Africa Think Tank Forum aims to:

1. Strengthen Evidence-to-Policy Linkages: Examine how think tanks and CSOs can improve the translation of research findings into actionable public policies and reforms.
2. Enhance Policy Uptake Mechanisms: Identify institutional, political, and technical factors that influence the adoption and implementation of evidence-based policies in Central Africa.
3. Promote Strategic Engagement with Policymakers: Foster constructive dialogue and sustained engagement between researchers, civil society, and decision-makers at national and regional levels.
4. Advance Policy Communication and Advocacy: Explore innovative communication tools, narratives, and advocacy strategies that increase the accessibility and relevance of policy evidence.
5. Deliver Action-Oriented Policy Recommendations: Produce concrete, context-specific recommendations to strengthen policy uptake, implementation, and monitoring across key sectors.

Key Themes and Areas of Discussion

Participants will engage around the following thematic areas:

• From Research to Reform: Understanding policy uptake in Central Africa by analysing why evidence often fails to inform policy decisions and identifying pathways to enhance research utilization in policymaking.
• The Role of Think Tanks and CSOs in Policy Influence: Examining how think tanks and civil society can position themselves as trusted policy advisors and implementation partners.
• Institutional Capacity and Political Economy of Policy Implementation: Exploring how governance structures, incentives, and political dynamics shape the adoption of evidence-based policies.
• Data, Monitoring, and Learning for Policy Impact: Highlighting the role of data systems, evaluation, and learning mechanisms in tracking policy effectiveness and informing adjustments.
• Regional Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing: Discussing how regional platforms, including ECCAS and AfCFTA-related processes, can facilitate cross-country learning and policy diffusion.

Format of the Forum

The Forum will be held over two days and will include:

• Keynote Addresses: High-level keynote speeches by senior policymakers, regional leaders, and development partners to frame the evidence-to-action agenda.
• Panel Discussions: Interactive panels featuring experts, policymakers, and practitioners discussing real-world experiences with policy uptake.
• Breakout Sessions: Thematic group sessions allowing participants to engage deeply on sector-specific and cross-cutting challenges.
• Policy Roundtables: Closed and semi-closed roundtables bringing together decision-makers and think tanks to co-develop actionable solutions.

Expected Outcomes

The 2026 Central Africa Think Tank Forum is expected to achieve the following outcomes:

• Improved Policy Uptake Capacity: Enhanced ability of think tanks and CSOs to design research outputs that respond directly to policymaker needs.
• Stronger Research–Policy Networks: Deepened collaboration between researchers, civil society, governments, and regional institutions.
• Actionable Policy Frameworks: Practical recommendations and tools to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking and implementation.
• Greater Visibility of Evidence-Based PolicyApproaches: Increased recognition of the value of research and data in improving governance and development outcomes.

Target Audience

The Forum targets:

• Policymakers and senior government officials from Central African countries
• Leaders of regional and international organizations
• Think tanks and civil society organizations from Central Africa
• Researchers, academics, and policy experts
• International development partners and donors
• Private sector stakeholders engaged in policy and development initiatives

Sponsorship and Partnerships

The Nkafu Policy Institute seeks strategic partnerships and sponsorships from governments, international development partners, regional organizations, and private sector actors. These partnerships will be essential to ensuring the quality, inclusiveness, and impact of the 2026 Central Africa Think Tank Forum.

Conclusion

The 2026 Central Africa Think Tank Forum offers a critical opportunity to move beyond policy design toward effective policy action. By focusing on the mechanisms that enable evidence to inform decisions and drive implementation, the Forum will contribute to more responsive, accountable and impactful public policies in Central Africa. The Nkafu Policy Institute invites all stakeholders committed to evidence-based development to join this important initiative.

Contacts

For inquiries related to the organization of the Forum, please contact:

Dr. Ahmed Salim Vessah: Policy Analyst-Economic Affairs Division, Nkafu Policy Institute,

Email: [email protected].

Mr. Sperry Atam Sab: Finance and Operations Manager – Nkafu Policy Institute,

Email: [email protected].

Event Details

• Venue: Hilton Hotel, Yaoundé, Cameroon
• Dates: 10-11 September 2026
• Languages: English and French (simultaneous interpretation provided)