Enhancing Policy Uptake in Central Africa: Navigating Challenges Faced by Think Tanks and Civil Society Actors

Venue: Zoom  Online (Register now)
Date: February 12th, 2026

Topic: Enhancing Policy Uptake in Central Africa: Navigating Challenges Faced by Think Tanks and Civil Society Actors.

Introduction  

Central Africa, a region endowed with abundant natural resources and rich cultural diversity, stands at a pivotal point where the effective uptake of policies can profoundly shape its future development. Policy uptake refers to the translation of policy from intention to action, where citizens, businesses, and local governments adopt, implement and comply with new measures. It serves as a crucial indicator of a policy’s effectiveness, necessitating deliberate strategies to surmount obstacles such as lack of awareness or motivation and ensure compliance or participation. Key aspects of policy uptake encompass Adoption and Implementation, which entails transitioning a policy from theory to practice and ensuring adherence, as well as Acceptance and Compliance, wherein the target groups’ willingness to embrace new rules or programs can be swayed by incentives, social legitimacy, and capacity.

Think tanks and civil society actors play a crucial role in this context, as they are key to promoting and facilitating informed policy decisions. However, these organizations encounter numerous challenges that hinder their capacity to drive successful policy adoption and implementation. This webinar, organized under the SCATT-BRIDGE Project and funded by IDRC will examine these challenges identified through Nkafu Progress reports and propose strategies to address them. It forms part of the Nkafu Policy Institute broader mission of advancing governance and democracy within the Central Africa sub-region.

Objectives  

1. Identify the primary challenges that obstruct policy uptake in Central Africa.
2. Share best practices and lessons learned from successful policy engagement experiences in the region.
3. Strengthen the capacity of think tanks and civil society actors to effectively engage with policymakers and influence policy uptake.
4. Propose actionable strategies to improve policy uptake in the region and foster collaboration and networking among think tanks, civil society actors, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
5. Ensure systematic documentation of policy recommendations and participant engagement for institutional learning and donor reporting.

Expected Outcomes  

The anticipated outcomes include:

1. Enhanced Understanding: At least 80% of Participants will gain a deeper insight into the challenges faced by think tanks and civil society actors in Central Africa regarding policy uptake.
2. Knowledge Sharing: Participants will exchange knowledge and best practices on effective policy engagement strategies and tactics.
3. Capacity Development: An estimated 80% of Participants will acquire skills and knowledge on how to effectively engage with policymakers and influence policy uptake.
4. Policy Recommendations: The webinar will generate policy recommendations for governments, think tanks, and civil society actors to improve policy uptake in Central Africa.
5. Increased Collaboration: The webinar will open avenues for collaboration and partnership among think tanks, civil society actors, and policymakers in Central Africa, giving rise to at least 3 new engagements.
6. Long term Policy Influence: As a result of the webinar, think tanks and civil society actors will be better equipped to sustain influence on policy decisions and promote good governance in Central Africa.

Methodology/Format

Venue: Zoom  Online (Register now)
Date: February 12th, 2026

Target Audience  

This webinar is designed for think tank members, leaders of civil society organizations, policymakers, researchers, government officials’ regional bodies like African Union, sub-regional bodies like ECCAS countries, ECOWAS countries, diaspora actors, youth leaders and the general public. It will further ensure inclusivity by targeting at least 30% female participation, with deliberate outreach to women leaders and youth.