The CPS research agenda for the next five years will cover the following research programme areas:

 

• Governance;
• Democratisation;
• Civil Society;
• Development and Delivery;
• Africa's International Relations;
• Employment and Enterprise; and
• Policy and Implementation

 

CPS places a high premium on field research - gathering information on political, social, economic governance and democratisation trends at the grass roots of society.

We believe effective policy-making is impossible unless it relies on a thorough understanding of the behaviour and attitudes of citizens, particularly those who do not enjoy access to policy processes. Field work on voter expectations, household energy use, housing policy implementation, local development politics and Africa politics has unearthed valuable information which has often contradicted widely held beliefs among policy-makers, and has laid a foundation for better policy-making.

Current Research Programmes focus on the following:

• Good governance
• Civil society engagement with the state post Polokwane
• New Africa agenda and continent governance issues
• Socio economic policy development

CPS is also increasingly seeking partnerships and joint projects with similar institutions in other societies, particularly in Africa and other middle-income developing societies.

In 2008-2009 CPS undertook short term work for the following organisations:

• Freedom House
• Good Governance Learning Network(GGLN)
• Idasa/Afro Barometer
• National Secretariat
• Community Safety
• Univ. of Free State

• Foundation for Contemporary Research(FCR)
• Southern African Regional Universities Association(SARUA)

 

CPS will embark on a drive to reach out to Africa's top scholars and researchers and provide a forum to share ideas. This will give us access to fresh ideas and an international perspective, enriching the search for solutions in Africa.