SDPI ranked country’s top think tank

–GGTTI report ranks Sustainable Development Policy Institute 15th among SE Asia & Pacific, 99^th among global (non-US) think tanks

ISLAMABAD: The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has been ranked 1st in Pakistan, 15th in South East Asia and the Pacific and 99th among global (non-US) think tanks, according to the thirteenth edition of University of Pennsylvania Global Go To Think Tank Index (GGTTI) released Thursday.

The 2018 GGTTI is based on the ranking done among 8,162 think tanks registered with GGTTI from across the globe and selected through a rigorous criterion.

The GGTTI team says the reasons for the recent decline in number of think tanks worldwide include political and regulatory environment growing hostile to think tanks in many countries, decreasing funding for policy research by public and private donors, public and private donors tendency toward short-term, project-specific funding instead of investing in ideas and institutions, underdeveloped institutional capacity, increased competition and institutions having served their purpose and discontinued their operations.

Launching the 2018 GGTTI report, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said that despite all constraints faced by global civil society and think tanks, SDPI has retained its ranking in the index over a couple of years and emerged as the 44th  best quality assurance and integrity policies and procedures, 51st among TTs to watch in 2019 and the 53rd among top independent think tanks.

Speaking on the occasion, SDPI Board of Governors chairperson and former ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel said it was a matter of pride that SDPI has continuously been ranked among the top 100 think tanks in the world and top 20 in South East Asia and the Pacific.

“Though SDPI has been facing ups and downs in terms of resource constraints but the dedication of its staff, sector experts and leadership duly supported and guided by its vibrant board of governors made it possible for the institute to retain its status,” he said.