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Published on: 25/01/2023

Banner: We're on the Open Think Tank Directory! Supporting and fostering sector transparency 
 

As a think tank, IRC provides evidence, tools and approaches needed to drive change and enable countries and their partners to strengthen the national systems that deliver water, sanitation and hygiene services at scale. These services are aimed at global, regional and national audiences.

Recognition of IRC's think tank role is a key outcome of IRC's strategy. That's why we are proud to announce that On Think Tanks (OTT) has reviewed and approved IRC’s listing in their Open Think Tanks Directory. The directory includes over 3,600 independent, formally registered organisations that carry out research with the aim of informing public policies. As an open database, the directory supports sector transparency and information accessibility. It can be downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons license.

OTT provides information about and for policy research centres, including a jobsboard, an annual think tank review, an annual conference, and a School for Thinktankers. Since 2015 OTT receives most of its funding from the Hewlett Foundation. The OTT directory itself was initially funded in 2016 by Open Society Foundations. Other directory donors include the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V., UNICEF, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and USAID.

Next to OTT directory, the University of Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TCCSP) publishes the prestigious annual Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, drawing from a database of 11,175 entries. The index ranks the world’s leading think tanks in a variety of categories, one of which is water security. Publication of the index has been temporarily stalled following the untimely death of TCCSP Director James G. McGann in November 2021. Once the TCCSP resumes its activities IRC will submit its profile to their database.

Below you will find a list of ranked WASH-related think tanks appearing in the water security category of the last issued 2020 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. The list indicates whether or not the ranked think tanks appear in the OTT directory and are a member of the Sanitation and Water For All (SWA) Research and Learning Constituency.

Ranked WASH-related think tanks

NameTCCSP rankOTT DirectorySWA R&L
Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) (Sweden)4NY
John Hopkins Water Institute (United States)5NN
Deltares (Netherlands)12YN
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) (India)15YN
Cranfield Water Science Institute (United Kingdom)18NN
Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (CGSW), Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health (United States)23NY
Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) (South Africa) [HQ in India]27YY
Water Research Commission (South Africa)30NY
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (Netherlands)35NN
Global Water Institute (United States)36NN
World Resources Institute (United States)41YN
Institute of Water (Water Aid) (United Kingdom) [assuming this refers to WaterAid not the UK Institute of Water]43NY
World Water Council (Brazil)45NN
International WaterCentre, Brisbane (Australia)48NY
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Institute (WASH Institute) (India)50NN
International Water Management Institute (Sri Lanka)52NN
Pacific Institute (United States)64YN
Overseas Development Institute (ODI) (United Kingdom)69YN
Stockholm Environment Institute (Sweden)75YY

 Sources

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