Afrobarometer Named to 2026 Think Tanks to Watch
The African survey network was selected for the honour roll for a second consecutive year, alongside 54 other organisations worldwide.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Civic Engagement
Afrobarometer has been selected for the 2026 Think Tanks to Watch roster, the second year in a row it has been recognized. The On Think Tanks honour roll, now in its second edition, recognizes 55 organisations worldwide.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights how survey research on public opinion in Africa is being used in national policy debates. Think Tanks to Watch is a peer-nominated initiative and is not a ranking of organisational performance.
The honour roll's second edition recognizes 55 organisations worldwide, and Afrobarometer is among them for a second consecutive year. The citation does not detail the specific criteria used to select the 55 organisations from the nominations received.
The players
Afrobarometer
A pan-African survey network that conducts face-to-face interviews with ordinary citizens across the continent to measure public attitudes on governance, democracy, and economic conditions.
On Think Tanks
A global platform that tracks and profiles think tanks and policy research organisations, and which runs the Think Tanks to Watch honour roll.
The details
Think Tanks to Watch, launched in 2025, is a peer-recognition initiative in which organisations are nominated by their peers. Recognized groups were cited for noteworthy practices, initiatives, and contributions to research, policy, and public debate, with the citation noting examples of the network's influence in policy processes.
Timeline
2025: Think Tanks to Watch initiative launched.
November 5, 2026: Afrobarometer selected for the 2026 Think Tanks to Watch roster.
Big Picture
Afrobarometer's survey data was cited in South Africa's Medium-Term Development Plan 2024-2029, showing the network's findings feeding into formal national planning. The 2026 recognition builds on that record of policy influence across the continent, as Ghana and Senegal have also drawn on its data for reform discussions and programme launches.
Afrobarometer's findings on citizen attitudes are being used in national plans and reform discussions, which can shape the policies that affect everyday life. Readers who want to follow how these surveys inform decisions can track the organisation's published research directly.
The takeaway
Survey data gathered directly from citizens can become a working input for national policy when it reaches decision-makers. Following the research output of organisations like Afrobarometer offers a clearer view of what the public is saying about governance and the economy.
Further reading
Explore more on Civic Engagement to see how public opinion research shapes the debates it measures.
