A photo memory from the 2024 Africa Think Tank Summit. PHOTO ; Africa Think Tank Summit
Addis Ababa will host the Africa Think Tank Summit 2025 from 8–10 October, bringing together leading voices in governance, research, and development to tackle one of the continent’s pressing challenges: turning policy into action in public financial management (PFM).
Organized by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, the African Union Commission (AUC), and AUDA-NEPAD, the Summit is supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the World Bank Group through the Africa Think Tank Partnership Project (ATTP).
The Ethiopian Ministry of Finance will play a central role in hosting the three-day gathering.
A Timely Theme
The 2025 edition runs under the theme “From Taxation to Action: Bridging Policy and Implementation in Public Financial Management (PFM) in Africa.”
The theme reflects growing recognition that while African governments have developed ambitious fiscal
policies, implementation often lags.
Weak links between taxation, budget execution, and service delivery can erode trust and undermine sustainable development.
With fiscal pressures intensifying, declining foreign aid, and rising debt burdens, strengthening domestic resource mobilization has become a continental priority.
The Summit will provide a forum to explore how think tanks, policymakers, and civil society can collaborate to close gaps between policy formulation and execution.
What to Expect
The Summit will convene more than 300 participants from across Africa and beyond. The program includes:
- Ministerial sessions featuring finance leaders and policymakers.
- High-level panels examining emerging issues such as digital taxation, debt sustainability, gender-responsive budgeting, and citizen engagement.
- Workshops and hackathons focused on practical solutions to public financial management challenges.
- Training sessions and exhibitions showcasing innovations and capacity-building tools.
- The launch of a landmark book on African think tanks, along with new research outputs from the ATTP Project.
This interactive format is designed to foster not just discussion but tangible strategies and collaborative actions.
Who Should Attend
The Summit is expected to draw a diverse mix of stakeholders, including:
- Think tanks and research institutions looking to influence policy and strengthen their role in governance.
- Government officials and finance ministries seeking best practices in fiscal management.
- Private sector actors interested in taxation, investment climates, and accountability.
- Civil society organizations and advocacy groups working on transparency and citizen engagement.
- Development partners and international agencies aiming to support African-led fiscal reforms.
The inclusive approach ensures perspectives from different sectors are brought to the table, enriching debate and broadening solutions.
Building on the 2024 Conversations
Last year, the 8th Africa Think Tank Summit took place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 8–11 October 2024, under the theme “Evidence-Based Strategies for Sustainable Climate Financing in Africa.”
The gathering drew over 200 delegates ranging from policymakers and researchers to private sector leaders and civil society actors, who explored practical solutions to strengthen climate resilience, adaptation, and financing strategies for sustainable development.
That Summit underscored the power of evidence-based dialogue and collaboration, highlighting the role of think tanks in shaping climate financing strategies.
The 2025 edition builds on this momentum, shifting attention to another urgent challenge: ensuring that fiscal policies move beyond the design stage to effective, real-world implementation.
Why It Matters
The Africa Think Tank Summit has grown into a premier platform for dialogue on governance and development.
By centering public financial management, the 2025 edition addresses a cornerstone of Africa’s economic future.
Effective taxation systems and accountable fiscal policies are not only technical matters; they are vital to achieving inclusive growth, reducing inequality, and financing the continent’s development agenda.
For think tanks, the Summit offers a chance to demonstrate their value as bridges between knowledge and policy.
For governments, it provides an opportunity to learn, adapt, and apply innovative practices.
For civil society and the private sector, it opens space to push for greater transparency and alignment of fiscal policies with citizens’ needs.
The Africa Think Tank Summit 2025 is more than a conference. It is a call to action to translate ideas into impact, ensuring that Africa’s fiscal systems work for its people.
About the Africa Think Tank Summit
The Africa Think Tank Summit is an annual convening led by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in collaboration with African governments, the African Union, and development partners.
Since its launch in 2014, the Summit has grown into a premier platform for dialogue among think tanks, policymakers, civil society, the private sector, and international actors.
Each edition tackles a critical development issue ranging from climate finance to public financial management, highlighting the role of African think tanks in shaping evidence-based policies and driving sustainable growth.
