Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
TRENDS Research and Advisory successfully concluded its research tour in South Africa, which spanned five days, in media partnership with Aletihad News Center.
The tour featured significant events that enhanced research cooperation between think tanks in the Arab region and Africa, supporting TRENDS' efforts to disseminate knowledge and promote a culture of dialogue.
Official Reception
The tour began with the official opening of the new TRENDS office in Cape Town, attended by several officials and representatives from think tanks from 11 countries in the Middle East and Africa.
CEO of TRENDS, Dr. Mohammed Al-Ali, welcomed the attendees, stating that the Cape Town office serves as TRENDS' gateway to the resource-rich and opportunity-laden region of Sub-Saharan Africa. He noted that this is the first TRENDS office inaugurated outside the UAE.
Al-Ali added, "At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation between think tanks and prioritise this endeavor. We believe this office will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in Africa and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various fields."
Global Research Roundtables
The tour included the inaugural event of the TRENDS Global Round Table Series, titled "Unlocking the Potential of Think Tanks: New Ideas and Innovative Strategies for Impactful Engagement."
The roundtable featured distinguished researchers and academics from 11 Middle Eastern and African countries, discussing ways to develop the work of think tanks, enhance their roles in addressing current challenges, and find innovative solutions that contribute to sustainable development.
The keynote address was delivered by H.R.H Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Founder and Trustee of the King Faisal Foundation and Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.
"I am pleased to congratulate TRENDS on opening a branch in South Africa to spread knowledge and enhance understanding between African and Arab countries, which share many common interests and have both been victims of global colonial powers and the world order itself," said H.R.H Prince Turki Al-Faisal.
Chairman of the Mandela Legacy Foundation, Zondwa Mandela, praised the research efforts of TRENDS and the opening of its office in Cape Town.
He called for greater support and collaboration with think tanks to address the challenges facing South Africa, including youth unemployment.
Ambassador of the UAE to to South Africa, H.E Mahash Saeed Alhameli, expressed his appreciation for TRENDS' research efforts and global presence.
"I am glad that TRENDS Research and Advisory has opened its office here in Cape Town," he said, noting that this step will contribute to promoting research cooperation with Sub-Saharan African countries.
The opening session included addresses by Al-Ali and CEO of Aletihad News Center, Dr. Hamad Al-Kaabi.
The roundtable sessions focused on three themes: the role and influence of think tanks in shaping policymaking, the organisatioal and policy challenges facing think tanks, and cooperation between think tanks of the Middle East and Africa to improve the quality and impact of outputs in the field of development policy.
Important recommendations were made, emphasising the need to focus research on current priority issues such as climate change, youth unemployment, food security, conflict resolution, and measuring and clarifying the impact of research on policies and society.
Recommendations also included building partnerships with policymakers, civil society organisations, and media, enhancing communication between think tanks regionally and internationally, developing innovative research and communication methods, addressing sensitive topics such as tolerance and human rights, investing in capacity building through training and professional development, providing flexible and sustainable funding for policy research, and supporting access to statistics for effective analysis by think tanks, as well as organizing more events to share research findings with stakeholders.
Fruitful Dialogues and Partnerships
The tour included visits to several leading think tanks in South Africa, such as the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) at the University of Cape Town, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), and the Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa (SIGLA) at Stellenbosch University.
These visits aimed to explore building research partnerships, exchanging expertise, and enhancing prospects for research cooperation.
TRENDS also visited the Mandela Legacy Foundation to honor Mandela's great legacy in human rights and social justice, and accompanied Aletihad News Center on a visit to Independent Media, focusing on ways of collaboration.
Celebrating Mandela Day
The tour featured a special celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, where TRENDS researchers, in collaboration with Aletihad News Center, visited the Mandela Legacy Foundation and met with its Chairman, Zondwa Mandela. The discussions centered on Mandela's legacy and his role in promoting a culture of peace and reconciliation. Several events held on the occasion were also attended.
Cape Town Office Work Plan
On the last day of the tour, TRENDS held a meeting for the Cape Town office team, attended by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, along with officials, advisors, and researchers from the Abu Dhabi headquarters.
During the meeting, the annual plan for the TRENDS office in South Africa was developed, focusing on enhancing research cooperation with African think tanks, expanding the scope of joint research, discussing the office's strategic objectives in the coming period, identifying priority research areas to strengthen cooperation with African research institutions, establishing effective partnerships with think tanks in various African countries, and promoting the exchange of expertise and knowledge between African researchers and their counterparts at TRENDS.
The office is set to be a focal point for TRENDS' efforts in Africa.
Valuable Opportunity
At the conclusion of the tour, Al-Ali expressed his pleasure with the tour's success, reaffirming TRENDS' commitment to enhancing research cooperation between think tanks in the Arab region and Africa and supporting sustainable development efforts.
He added that the tour in South Africa provided a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas with leading researchers and experts, gaining new insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the Arab region and Africa.
He emphasised TRENDS' commitment to continuing its work in promoting dialogue and research cooperation, contributing to shaping the future.
Al-Ali concluded by saying, "TRENDS' tour in South Africa has reaffirmed its position as a leading think tank at the regional and international levels. The tour also helped strengthen relationships and open new horizons for cooperation in the fields of research and studies."
