Globalisation in general and regional integration in particular raises the demand for regional economic policy analysis. Countries in the region have well-established policy research institutions that contribute substantially to national policy making.

However, when it comes to regional issues potential clients often continue to use foreign consultants rather than local consultants because of various reasons. The capacity of local consultants to conduct larger regional studies is often limited and regional networks to build on and to link up with were missing. Regional co-operation between research institutions was of a sporadic nature rather than formalised.


 Realising this six institutions from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia founded the Southern and Eastern Africa Policy Research Network (SEAPREN) in November 1999, which was officially launched in February 2000.

In addition, the network was joined in November 2001 by a Kenyan institution. The main objective is to enhance capacity building in policy analysis in the region through among others exchange of best practices, learning from each other and optimise the use of existing human resources.

Eventually, this should strengthen the use of regional research and consultancy capacities for region-wide policy analysis.

The active promotion of the network on national, regional and international levels will increase the demand for local research resources. Instead of looking for and contacting various local institutions in the region potential clients will benefit from the existence of a network secretariat that provides information, arranges contacts and co-ordinates regional research activities.

Finally, the network will benefit regional policy analysis since researchers with in-depth knowledge of the local and regional situation are available.

SEAPREN created its own web site (www.seapren.org) that links to the following member institutions:

1. Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA),
(Website: www.bidpa.bw, Botswana 

2. Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU),
(Website: http://www.commerce.uct.ac.za/dpru/), South Africa 

3. Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), Uganda 

4. Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF),
(Website: www.esrftz.org), Tanzania 

5. Institute of Economic and Social Research (INESOR), Zambia

6. Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR),
(Website: www.ipar.or.ke), Kenya 

7. Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit (NEPRU),
(We site: www.nepru.org.na), Namibia