San Francisco, February 18, 2015 — The Asia Foundation’s Afghanistan office has been named among the top ten think tanks in Central Asia in The University of Pennsylvania’s 2014 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. The report is released by the University’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP), acknowledges the important contributions and emerging global trends of think tanks worldwide. The Afghanistan office was ranked tenth among 45 think tanks based in Central Asia.
In Afghanistan, the Foundation works to build effective central and provincial government and supports Afghan citizens to create a stable, prosperous society. The Foundation assists in the development of subnational governance; strengthens key executive branch agencies; and supports programs in civic education, women’s empowerment, education, Islam and development, and free and fair elections.
The office also produces the annual Survey of the Afghan People, the longest-running and broadest nationwide survey of Afghan attitudes and opinions, providing insight into the views of Afghans on issues central to the country’s development. Since 2004, the survey has polled more than 65,000 Afghans.
The Global Go To Think Tank Index is the result of an international survey of over 1,950 scholars, public and private donors, policy makers, and journalists who helped rank more than 6,500 think tanks. The purpose of the index is to help improve the profile and performance of think tanks while highlighting the important work they do for governments and civil societies around the world. Other think tanks on the list include: Center for Economic and Social Development, the Aga Khan Foundation, and Institute for Policy Studies.
