Centers for Policy Leadership (CPLs)

PRCI’s focus on policy influence starts with the competitive process for selecting Centers for Policy Leadership.  In their application, these centers will conduct a self-assessment of their position within their local and regional policy system and outline what capacities they need to operate more effectively in it, bringing their research to bear on policy decision-making.  This focus will continue in the local stakeholder consultations that each selected center will do, when they elicit views of a wide range of stakeholders on local policy priorities, and research that needs to be done to inform them.  The focus on policy influence will then be deepened as PRCI leadership works with these centers to develop concrete capacity strengthening plans for improving their research capacity for policy influence, at which point they will receive grants to implement these plans.  By participating in the annual research conferences of ReNAPRI, centers will be able to share their experience and gather broader input.  Through quarterly check-ins with PRCI- and ReNAPRI leadership, the centers will regularly assess their progress including their impact on local policy processes and decision-making.

The Centers for Policy Leadership:

• L’Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles Bureau of Macroeconomic Analysis (ISRA-BAME) of the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research. ISRA-BAME specializes in social science research in support of agricultural, agri-food and rural development policies. It has strong links to Senegalese policy makers and heavy engagement in empirical, survey-based research.  Working with them to build the capacity of their young staff to analyze its survey data and bring it to bear on policy decision making in the country will be a key focus of PRCI’s assistance.
• The Economic Policy Research Center of Uganda (EPRC).  EPRC is Uganda's leading think tank in economics and development policy oriented research and policy analysis. A member of The Think Tank Initiative, EPRC has done extensive applied research on agricultural and broader development issues in Uganda and beyond. It enjoys strong links to Ugandan policy makers while maintaining a rigorous commitment to independent research. 
• The Innovation Lab for Policy Leadership in Agriculture and Food Security (PiLAF) founded by the Center for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL) together with the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development (DAERD), both of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.  CPEEL and DAERD have formed a strong partnership conducting community-based research on issues of energy and food.  PRCI will help them strengthen and consolidate their presence in the food policy space in Nigeria. 

Research-to-Policy (R2P) Program

PRCI's research to policy program works with partnering institutions in Africa and Asia to map their policy landscape and develop a comprehensive policy outreach strategy.

Research-to-Policy (R2P) Program

Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative (CACCI)

PRCI's program to support local organizations and key stakeholders at country level to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Using a four step process organizations will design and implement policies and programmatic investments that support sustainable and inclusive growth and promote climate adaptation throughout their food systems. 

Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative (CACCI)