MODEL - NON PROFIT

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEWCPR is one of India’s leading public policy think tanks housing renowned academics and policy experts who produce some of the most insightful analysis and tools guiding policy in India today. As one of the country’s first independent non-profits focused on creating robust public discourse, CPR has been creating multiple platforms for dialogue between academia and policymakers since 1973.

THE PROBLEMAcademics in India often lack the independence and resources necessary to produce substantive research about the various subjects that affect governance. Even research that does get produced by experts is often ignored in public and policy discourse and is therefore unable to have significant impact.

Research and Policy: Scholars at CPR produce research within one of its five focus areas: a) Economic policy analysis b) Environmental law and governance c) International relations and security d) Law, regulation and the State e) Urbanisation. Initiatives: The flexible and supportive structure of CPR has allowed for intellectual entrepreneurs to create several unique initiatives enabling dissemination of research and platforms for engagement:

The SARCIST: Focused on building a virtual knowledge platform for policy advocacy on issues of regional cooperation.Namati Environmental Justice Program: Engaged in a range of research activities particularly looking at coastal governance, and compliance by industries on regulatory conditions. Climate Initiative: Focused on research and analysis on the links between the global climate regime and domestic laws, policies and institutions. It seeks to create a platform where scholars and activists can engage in policy debate on climate change. Governance and Public Policy Initiative: Focused on tailor-made academic programs for Indian public officials with top universities around the world, using existing partnerships with Yale, Princeton and Oxford University, as well as organizing domestic roundtables and seminars in India with legislators (MPs and MLAs).Accountability Initiative: Aims to improve the quality of public services by strengthen accountability gaps within their delivery.

CPR’s RESPONSECPR provides leading academics the support and freedom necessary to produce high-quality research. It also provides platforms for these experts to engage with the media and policymakers, which improves public knowledge and enables better decision making by public officials.

Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Founded: 1973 | Head Office: New Delhi | Coverage: Pan-India | Full-Time Staff: 100 Budget (2013-14): Organization – INR 17 crore; Governance – INR 17 crore

HOW DID IT EVOLVE?

Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

WHAT DOES IT DO?

www.cprindia.org

CPR was founded to conduct rigorous

research on issues plaguing contemporary

India

Established itself as a platform for non-partisan

engagement between policymakers and

academics

Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta became president of CPR, bringing a renewed focus on independent research and creating space for the

incubation of new initiatives

Accountability Initiative was founded to promote

informed governance

The Governance and Public Policy Initiative was founded in collaboration with CPR to strengthen

parliamentary diplomacy and education

1973 1980-1990 2004 2009 2012

KEY INTERVENTIONS

1. Building awareness and mobilizing citizens2. Training citizens for public engagement 3. Creating knowledge and evidence4. Advocacy for policy design and implementation5. Technology platforms and solutions6. Facilitating independent and inclusive journalism7. Capacity building of government officials8. Capacity building of local partners9. Facilitating platforms for multi-stakeholder engagement

WHAT’S NEXT?To strengthen its impact further in the domain of policy research, and to expand further academic discourse around governance, CPR aims to:

Increase the number of fellows affiliated with it, by instituting endowment chairs to attract strong talent.Strengthen its communications strategy, to effectively leverage its considerable research and build debates and discourse around this research in the public sphere.Develop an independent repository of data to ensure unbiased and accurate information across a range of areas.

“CPR is a collection of vibrant academics and policymakers working to bring some intellectual order to a contentious and fast changing world. In a democracy, citizens are engaged in public conversation on subjects ranging from the economy and the environment to the structures of our laws and the policies of our government. This deliberation can be enriched and clarified by the kind of well-thought-out arguments and soberly assessed evidence produced by CPR’s community of scholars.” - Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, President

citizenvoice policy law servicedelivery thinktank transparency RTI elections budgets urbangovernance panchayatiraj accesstojustice

technology humanrights independentmedia

Today, few would argue with the 39-year-old CPR’s claim to being a “premier” think tank on public policy — it has vastly expanded its ambit and established a reputation for intellectual rigor, flair and, most critically, independence that makes it the go-to institution for serious social sciences academics.

– Business Standard

CPR has consistently provided platforms to Parliamentarians across the political spectrum to discuss different views and concerns, and engage with think tank analysts, civil society groups and experts.CPR’s academics are regularly invited by the government to standing committees to contribute to new policies.CPR’s policy work at the national level includes contributions to the chapter on environment and climate for the 12th Five Year Plan and development of a policy framework for climate change.CPR has produced widely-cited studies on flagship social sector schemes including MNREGA, JSY, and NRHM.

WHAT HAS IT ACHIEVED?

VOICES FROM THE GROUND

Professor, Harvard University, New York University and Jawaharlal Nehru University.Malcom S. Adishehshiah Award, 2010; Infosys Prize for Social Sciences (Political Science), 2011; Amartya Sen Award, 2013.Member-Convenor, Prime Minister’s National Knowledge Commission.

Funders: Ford Foundation, Asia Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Indian Council of Social Science Research, Gita Piramal.Faculty partner on an environmental justice project with Namati, an international non-profit dedicated to legal empowerment.

CPR is one the winners of the IDRC Think Tank Initiative, a multi-donor program dedicated to strengthening independent policy research institutions.

QUALITY INDICATORS

Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

FCRA12 A 80 G FCRA

Leadership Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta is the president of CPR

Partnerships

Endorsements