By Boris Esono Nwenfor
YAOUNDE, Cameroon — As the civic space in Central Africa faces increasing constraints, think tanks across the region are working to adapt and strengthen their resilience to continue their vital role in shaping policy and fostering dialogue. In recent years, a combination of political pressures, restrictive laws, and security concerns has made it increasingly challenging for these institutions to operate freely, prompting a strategic shift in how they engage with governments, civil society, and the public.
Central Africa has long been a region where civil society organizations, including think tanks, play a crucial role in advocating for transparency, good governance, and human rights. However, the past decade has seen a noticeable tightening of civic space, with many governments enacting laws that restrict freedom of expression, assembly, and association. In some cases, think tanks have faced harassment, funding cuts, or even closure, stifling their ability to contribute to public discourse and policy development.
Shrinking space for CSOs, NGOs, think tanks and others
Speaking on August 21 in Yaounde, during the second edition of the Central Africa Think Tank Forum organized by the Nkafu Policy Institute, a think tank of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation, Nkongho Felix Agbor, Founder of the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA said: “There is a need for government to understand that they need to think tanks. Think tanks help them to shape policies, to make recommendations, which must not necessarily be offensive against the state. They might make contributions and things that the government feels are not right, they cannot accept it, but don’t throw the baby under the bat.
“Think tanks help a lot in Cameroon and the central region. They contribute to governance. Also, in the private sector, they are very important. But think tanks also should not want to try to see how they can replace the state or the government. They should not be like an opposition party where everything they say is negative. I think that a responsible think tank like some that we have, just like civil society, is to construct.”
Strengthening Networks
Collaboration with international organizations and other think tanks has become a key strategy for resilience. By forming alliances with global partners, Central African think tanks can access a broader pool of resources, expertise, and platforms to amplify their voices. These networks also offer protection, as international visibility can deter government crackdowns on local institutions.
The digital revolution has provided think tanks with new tools to reach audiences and conduct research, even in restrictive environments. Online platforms, webinars, and social media have become essential for disseminating information, engaging with stakeholders, and mobilizing public opinion. These tools allow think tanks to maintain their presence and influence even when physical gatherings are not possible.
Nkongho Felix Agbor added: “Think tanks would have to be able to network, to build synergy across the board. Also, because they make recommendations and they need organizations, other organizations like advocacy and civil society organizations to do advocacy on some of these things, to be the ones now to be the interface with the state and to try to put the state under pressure and to urge the state to accept or follow some of the recommendations from the think tank. But also, the leaders of the think tank, need to be able to build networks because you live in a repressive sub-region where you might be picked up, you might be arrested, you might be killed, you might be kidnapped, just for proposing something to the state.”
“Especially in some of these countries where they are in transition. Some people want to maintain the status quo at all costs. So, whatever you say that they don’t agree with, it becomes a problem. So, you have to build your network nationally and internationally with the friends of the state, diplomatic missions, and international organizations, because this network is like your shield. You have to be careful because you are involved in something that more often than not, the state considers you, I don’t want to say an enemy, but the state doesn’t like the kind of things you are doing.”
Think tanks and research centres are reputed for their ability to champion intensive advocacy campaigns on cross-cutting thematic issues backed by objective, impartial and evidence-based research. Indeed, they play a central role in promoting open and transparent governance, the rule of law, respect for fundamental human rights, inclusive and sustainable conflict resolution, and much more. Unfortunately, the shrinking civic space in the region is orchestrated by economic disparities, deeply rooted socio-cultural practices, governance defiances and anti-democratic practices such as authoritarianism, electoral malpractices, coups and hiking corruption.
As the civic space in Central Africa continues to contract, the future of think tanks in Central Africa will depend on their ability to innovate and remain flexible in the face of ongoing challenges. As these institutions continue to evolve, their resilience will be key to ensuring that the vital work of policy analysis, advocacy, and public education persists, even in a shrinking civic space.
