The North-South Institute is Canada’s first non-partisan policy research institution dedicated to international development. Since 1976, The North-South Institute has worked with policymakers and partners around the world to support decision makers in addressing global and domestic development challenges.  NSI has been recognized by the Global-Go-To Think Tank Survey as the world’s top think tank with an operating budget less than $5 million, and Canada’s top international development think tank.

History

The North-South Institute was established in 1976 as Canada’s first independent policy research institution dedicated to international development. Its motto was — and remains — “Research For a Fairer World”.  The NSI pursued this motto by “work[ing] with policymakers and partners around the world to support decision makers in addressing global and domestic development challenges”.

NSI ceased operations in late 2014. The legal entity, its bylaws and relevant registrations all remain in place however.

Carleton University and its Norman Paterson School of International Affairs took on some of the remaining active projects (along with their earmarked external funding) with the agreement of their funders. They also developed a “Framework of Agreement” with the then-Board of NSI under which they agreed to backstop, including by committing staff time and back office support, an initiative to establish a new Board of Directors that would seek to: identify one or more nichesgoing forward for an independent development research organization in Canada, build consensusaround a corresponding mission statement, develop a business plan to deliver on that mission, attract funding and launch a transitional operation.

On the basis of the Framework of Agreement, the NSI Board elected an entirely new slate of Directors in February, composed of three senior Carleton officials (Dean, Faculty of Public Affairs, Director of NPSIA and Associate Vice-President of Research and International) plus two independent Directors (one of whom is now Chair of the Board of Directors).