• About Us

Southern and Eastern Africa Policy Research Network (SEAPREN) is a network of six research institutions who are engaged in strengthening policy analysis in their home countries. The network was established in Gaborone, Botswana November 1999.

The aim of the Network is to collaborate on national and regional research projects and capacity building; exchange best practices and mutual learning in research as well as institutional management; and monitor international developments and new approaches within the field of policy analysis to ensure that network members use best practices and techniques.

The network is driven by a Secretariat, which is currently housed at the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF). The responsibility of the Secretariat is to ensure that the network is managed effectively and efficiently, and is properly resourced at all times. The network took off in 2002 with the seed funding provided by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

The IDRC has generously funded several meetings of the network and thus has been instrumental in its creation. On 24 Janaury 2003, IDRC contributed a Grant to the value of US$ 250,000 for a period of 18 months. These core funds allowed the network to start its activities in the fields of collaborative research, training and dissemination.