CDPR is a non-profit association of independent researchers/policy advisors based in Pakistan. It aims to consolidate resources for informed debate on key policy issues. Its participating organizations include the Center for Economic Research Pakistan (CERP) and the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS).  Pakistan office of the International Growth Centre (IGC) is a sponsor of CDPR. Many leading Pakistani economists at LUMS, Lahore School of Economics and other institutions contribute to and participate in their events.

Pakistan’s inclusive growth and development challenges require policy design and implementation to be grounded in empirical evidence. Evidence based policy research has to meet the highest standards to influence the policy debate domestically and in the international arena. This is demanding both in terms of academic research and policy engagement and the resources needed are beyond the capacity of any one of the several established think tanks and research organizations. It points to the need for creating an association of independent researchers/organizations. The Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR), with a governance structure for pooling resources, responds to this need.

The Consortium’s policy advocacy is carried out via engagement with policymakers, media and other stakeholders using multiple avenues such as workshops, dialogues, seminars and regularly published high-quality policy briefs. CDPR is also building capacity as a reservoir of research materials (reports, papers, books, data) on key policy areas relevant to Pakistan.

The objectives of CDPR include:

• Promoting collaboration among participating researchers/organizations for research on critical growth policy issues
• Creating a resource base for researchers in key areas of public policy.
• Informing the debate on economic policy in Pakistan by drawing on and consolidating research in different thematic areas undertaken by participating research organizations
• Engaging with federal and provincial Pakistani policy makers to provide an informed and independent input into the design and implementation of policy
• Partnering with key stakeholders (such as the private sector, media, political parties, NGO’s, donors) via policy briefs and other instruments prepared by the association and participating researchers/organizations
  to improve the quality of policy debate in the country
• Developing a live website and bringing out a newsletter on research and policy dialogue on inclusive growth issues.
• Partnering with the media to conduct televised policy debates on inclusive growth policy with all major political parties.
• Facilitating all of the above as homegrown initiatives led by Pakistani professionals with access to international networks for advice and peer reviews to ensure quality and relevance.