ECONOMIC POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Committed to inclusive social development & equitable economic growth

30 years of excellence in designing, implementing and evaluating social protection programmes, providing capacity building, and policy advisory services to government and civil
society for pro-poor, equitable and inclusive economic growth

About EPRI

EPRI is a top-ranked global research institute located in Cape Town, South Africa. 

As a not-for-profit institution incorporated under section 21 of the Companies Act, we equip governments, development partners, and civil society institutions with the knowledge to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate strategies, policies, and programs that support inclusive social development and equitable economic growth.

We have more than 25 years of experience in best practice solutions that strengthen social protection systems through integration with effective and equitable policies on sustainable development, decent work, and equitable economic growth.

Mission

Our mission is to promote South-South cooperation and develop local knowledge by building and sharing an evidence base on social protection through economic analysis and global lessons of experience. We achieve this by conducting research, providing capacity-building services, and offering technical assistance to support country-led policy formation.

Vision

Our vision is to offer research, capacity building, and advisory services that shape policies to safeguard the most vulnerable sectors of every society.

Service Areas

We conduct global research in social protection. Current and recent projects include:

  • Analysis and costing of a child benefit for Vietnam,
  • Quasi-experimental evaluation of the Child Support Grant in South Africa,
  • Constructing a financing model for cash transfers in different countries,
  • Feasibility study for a social pension in Malawi, and
  • Review of social protection programmes in Africa.

Implementation

We primarily focus our current research on social protection policies and programs that aim to reduce poverty and vulnerability. We provide assistance to groups in need of special care and we help people protect themselves against hazards and loss of assets/income.

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Research

Our research is dedicated to promoting poverty reduction through equitable, and inclusive economic growth that prioritizes social protection for vulnerable individuals.

Policy Advisory

We have supported and advised various national governments, non-governmental organizations, and international entities, including DFID, UNICEF, the World Bank, UNFPA, AusAID, GTZ, and Irish Aid, on six different continents.

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Capacity Building

We are dedicated to capacity building and the promotion of South-South learning. To this end, we offer social protection courses to policymakers, government officials, program practitioners, and representatives from multilateral agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Global Presence
We partner with

FEATURED FLAGSHIP COURSE

Designing and Implementing Adaptive Social Protection Systems (DIASPS)

Flagship executive course for social policy advisors, government leaders, development partners, civil society and non-profit organisations.

EPRI offers many courses, online or in-person across the globe

EPRI is dedicated to building capacity and promoting South-South learning. To achieve this goal, EPRI offers a range of social protection courses to policymakers, government officials, and program practitioners from multilateral agencies and non-governmental organizations. 

Courses cover various topics such as social program design, microsimulation, monitoring and evaluation, and policy brief writing. These courses range in duration from day-long seminars to two-week accredited courses and are designed to incorporate the latest developments in social protection systems.

Directors

Dr Michael Samson

Director of Research

Ms. Ingrid van Niekerk

Executive Director

Team Leaders

Preksha Golchha

Lead Social Policy Advisor

Nard Huijbregts

Lead Social Policy Advisor

Rev Claudia and Rev Dirk Haarmann

Project Leads

Awards

EPRI RANKED 3RD BEST SMALL* GO TO THINK TANK IN THE WORLD

EPRI has maintained its position as the third top small think tank in the Global Go To Think Tank Index (GGTTI) 2019 in the category of “Top Think Tanks with Annual Operating Budgets of Less Than USD $5 million.” 

Within this category, EPRI has been ranked as the best small think tank with significant operations in Southern Africa and Asia.

BEST OF UNICEF RESEARCH 2019

EPRI’s research, titled “Financing the Child Centered Sustainable Development Goals in Ethiopia” for UNICEF Ethiopia, was selected as a finalist for the Best of UNICEF Research 2019. The study used innovative methodology to estimate the cost of achieving child-sensitive SDGs in Ethiopia, and was recognized for its groundbreaking approach.

FUTURE POLICY AWARD 2019 BRONZE AWARD

EPRI played a pivotal role in the creation of South Africa’s award-winning policy on Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), which was recognized with a bronze award at the 2019 Future Policy Awards. These awards are organized by the World Future Council, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, with the goal of showcasing the most effective policies that empower young people.

EPRI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MS INGRID VAN NIEKERK SPEAKS AT THE HISTORIC 63RD SESSION OF UNITED NATIONS WOMEN: COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

Ms Ingrid van Nierkerk’s presentation addressed universal basic income in the conference “Investing in gender equality: Parliaments ensuring social protection, public protection, public services and infrastructure delivery for women and girls.”

EPRI Director, Ms Ingrid Van Niekerk featured with fellow panelist at the UN Women Commission on the status of women, 63rd Session.

Publications

New York Times

About EPRI is a top-ranked global research institute located in Cape Town, South Africa. As a not-for-profit institution incorporated under section 21 of the Companies Act, we equip governments, development partners, and civil society institutions with the knowledge to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate strategies, policies, and programs that support inclusive social development and equitable economic growth.

EPRI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MS INGRID VAN NIEKERK SPEAKS AT THE HISTORIC 63RD SESSION OF UNITED NATIONS WOMEN: COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

Ms Ingrid van Nierkerk’s presentation addressed universal basic income in the conference “Investing in gender equality: Parliaments ensuring social protection, public protection, public services and infrastructure delivery for women and girls.”

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Economic Policy Research Institute Sunclare Building, 21 Dreyer Street, Claremont, 7708 Cape Town, South Africa

Contact Info:
Phone: +27216713301
Email: info@epri.org.za

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