OTT Podcast

Innovating Public Policy: The Impact of Student-Led Think Tanks Oct 24, 2024

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 successful cross-cultural ideas in action.

The small think tank trap Nov 28, 2023

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.

Candid talk about funding: Dana Schmidt, Echidna Giving Sep 25, 2023

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.

Watchdog think tanks Aug 29, 2023

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.

Thinktanking in the Caribbean Jun 14, 2023

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.

Supporting evidence use in the Parliament of Ghana Apr 18, 2023

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!]

Exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion in think tanks Mar 08, 2023

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.

Supporting evidence use in government Feb 20, 2023

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.

Candid talk about funding: David Sasaki, Hewlett Foundation Jan 16, 2023

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.

Think tank funding: the outlook Nov 21, 2022

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

From think tank to government Sep 27, 2022

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.

Think tanks innovate amid COVID19 Sep 14, 2022

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

Young people, politics and change Aug 12, 2022

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.

Rethinking how we publish our research Jul 14, 2022

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.

10 years strengthening Indonesia's knowledge sector Jun 21, 2022

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.

Scientific advisory systems to address global health challenges Apr 07, 2022

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, here: https://onthinktanks.org/publications...

OTT Talks with Andrea Ordoñez, Fiona Moejes and Shannon Sutton to mark International Women's Day Mar 08, 2022

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.

Bob Wekesa, Director of the African Center for the Study of the United States Dec 28, 2021

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’s future.

Annapoorna Ravichander on supporting policymaking capacity at scale Sep 27, 2021

OTT Talks episode with Dr. Annapoorna Ravichander, executive director of the Public Affairs Foundation in India, and OTT associate. In this episode, Annapoorna talks to Enrique Mendizabal about a new project to support the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) in Mysuru. ATI is a public training centres with the potential to reach civil servants at significant scale. By helping to strengthen ATI, the Public Affairs Foundation and the Public Affairs Centre are, in essence, contributing towards strengthening policymaking as a whole.

Chukwuka Onyekwena on think tanks in Nigeria Aug 04, 2021

OTT Talks episode with Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, executive director of CSEA, in Abuja. Dr. Onyekwena is a member of the steering committee of the West African Think Tank Network (WATTNet), a member of the African Policy Circle (APC), Global Economic Governance Africa (GEGAfrica) and Governance of Africa’s Resources Programme (GARN) both at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).

Rose Abdollahzadeh on the role of imagination at Chatham House Jun 22, 2021

OTT Talks episode with Rose Abdollahzadeh, from Chatham House, on a new initiative to unleash the power of imagination to engage with the wider public. Rose talks about the Futurescape project offering advice to other think tanks who want to explore new and creative ways of communicating and engaging with their audiences.

Gala Díaz Langou on taking over the leadership of CIPPEC May 07, 2021

OTT Talks episode with Gala Díaz Langou, CIPPEC's new executive director, on the challenges and opportunities that think tanks face today. Gala reflects on her career at CIPPEC and her new role.

Oswaldo Molina on the new Peruvian think tank: Redes Mar 20, 2021

OTT Talks with Oswaldo Molina about the new Peruvian think tank: Redes. Redes is a networked think tank that focuses on translating and communicating existing research to relevant policy audiences.

Safa Ghnaim on the Data Detox Kit at Tactical Tech Mar 10, 2021

OTT Talks with Safa about Tactical Tech's work on data privacy, digital security, how the internet and digital technologies affect our lives, and what we can do about it.

Wailea Zülch on engaging volunteers at Swiss think tank foraus Feb 23, 2021

OTT Talks episode with Wailea about foraus' grassroots model, their engagement with volunteers across Switzerland, and their work with interns and volunteers adapting to the COVID-19 crisis.

Johannes Linn on scaling science Jan 19, 2021

A conversation with Johannes Linn on scaling. This took place in the frame of a 11-week long scaling X change supported by IDRC and hosted by OTT. In the first part of the conversation Johannes presents a very clear introduction to scaling. The second part includes a reflection by Enrique Mendizabal on how this connects to other research uptake and policymaking discussions.

Denisse Rodríguez on Voceras Jan 18, 2021

OTT Talks episode with Denisse Rodríguez from Voceras, an initiative to help women in think tanks and academia gain greater visibility in Peruvian media.

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