Asia s First Public Policy Think Tank by Youth

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1 INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS NETWORK (IPAN) Asia s First Public Policy Think Tank by Youth ABOUT IPAN: IPAN is an independent, private, non-profit public policy organisation currently based in India. The mission of IPAN is to be the world-leading source of independent analysis, informed debate and influential ideas; and based upon that research, to provide innovative and practical recommendations to further three broad goals: 1. Strengthen Indian democracy to foster the economic and social welfare of all Indians. 2. Secure a more open, safe and human-rights sensitive global governance system, through a stable and progressive world economic order. 3. Sensitise and empower youth in order to foster new age leaders and social reformers. THE TWO FOLD MISSION: The mission of IPAN is two fold: Advocacy and Activism. With research as the core of its advocacy activities, IPAN brings together leading individuals and organisations who share deep interest in advancing public welfare through independent thinking and debate. Our members come from a diverse range of backgrounds and professions. We undertake detailed in-depth analysis of specific issues of contemporary relevance. It is our mission to act as an influential pressure group and a think-tank through these research outcomes.

2 Presently, following are the focus areas for our research: 1. India, Public Policy and its People 2. International Relations and Global Governance 3. Human Rights Advocacy 4. Economic Policy Analysis 5. Environment Protection and Law 6. Youth Renaissance and Activism The uniqueness of IPAN is its youth-oriented activism as the second fold of the mission. Our Research, Advocate and Act approach focuses upon result oriented activism once our research outcomes are released. We believe in undertaking grass-root activism in order to effectuate research outcomes. We undertake this by following means: Sensitising youth by organising campus programs at schools and colleges. Organising unique and specific online courses. Establishing IPAN Campus Chapters and IPAN Self Help Groups. Engaging with government authorities through networking and other means of advocacy. Utilising all available legitimate tools of bringing in accountability like Public Interest Litigation, Right to Information Act and free legal aid. Initiating grass-root charity projects to serve the underprivileged of society and uphold the cause of human rights. THE UNIQUENESS OF IPAN AS A THINK TANK: We at IPAN take pride in the fact that it is Asia s first youth-led public policy think tank. The uniqueness of IPAN lies in the way it brings together experienced academicians, bureaucrats, government officials, corporate persons, diplomats, NGOs and lawyers along with some ambitious youth leaders across the world. As a think tank, IPAN goes a step ahead to rely majorly upon youth led research and analysis, mentored by our senior fellows. Youth representation under an able mentorship brings in a youth perspective in the research outcomes which is one of the main objectives of our policy recommendations. Such an active and reliable youth involvement in our research advocacy is unprecedented, and makes us unique. Our work approach of Advocacy followed by Activism relies on this very aspect of our youth centric human resource utilisation.

3 HISTORY: IPAN was founded by its current President Kshitij Bansal. As an active student of International Law and Global Governance with a very wide exposure to public policy research and youth activism, Bansal conceptualised the idea of starting Asia s first youth led think tank back in November, Bansal headed the Indian Delegation as the Head of State to G20 Youth Summit, Washington DC He is a widely published research scholar with numerous publications in leading journals, magazines and newspapers. Bansal, at such a young age has set high standards of public policy research and recommendations. He has also been the Robert Bosch Stiftung Scholar 2012, Europa University Summer Program Scholar 2012 and Xiamen Academy of International Law Summer Scholar He has been chosen as UNESCO Youth Peace Ambassador for the year With such an exposure and networking across institutions, Bansal finally established International Policy Analysis Network (IPAN) after detailed consultations with experienced academicians and scholars regarding IPAN s working model and broad objectives. His idea was to involve youth in core research activity instead of just having youth involvement in rigorous activism. The idea was to have an informed youth with practical recommendations before they set-out for activism. IPAN was formally launched on 23rd October, 2012, the birth anniversary of Late Prof. Dr. S R S Bedi who was the mentor and inspiration behind this social entrepreneurship initiative. Dr. Bedi, Former Head of Archives Division at the International Court of Justice, The Hague was one of the very reputed international law scholars. He unfortunately left us for the heavenly abode on 3rd October, He was the brainchild and inspiration behind this academic initiative which is being carried forward by his student Kshitij Bansal. IPAN offers a dynamic model of having youth led research under the mentorship of experienced professionals, which is very unique as a think tank. We envision IPAN as the world s leading think tank in future with a continuous youth engagement on a much wider scale across institutions throughout the world.

4 RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS: As a part of our research advocacy, our members come out with opinions, research briefings, working papers and books which would be updated on our website. IPAN will soon publish the first edition of its flagship yearly journal The Policy Analyst. This journal would commit itself to the highest standards of research, innovation and social impact. The aim is to set the highest standards for research publication in the field of specific national/international public policy issues. IPAN regularly organises a variety of events ranging from conferences, seminars, and campus programs where we host high profile experts to deliberate upon the issues of public concern. IPAN also conducts a Summer Internship Program for university students. MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE: Following is the Membership Structure at IPAN: 1. Senior Fellows: They are the mentors at IPAN with people coming from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. They are the highest class of experts at IPAN who would be the drivers and guides of research writing on our portals (print and online). They enjoy high advisory discretion and research autonomy. Numerous distinguished people have joined us as Senior Fellows. Some of them are:» Prof. Dr. Shubha Ghosh Wisconsin Law School, USA» Ms. Heather Collister International Service of Human Rights, Geneva» Dr. Savita Bhakrey Secretary (Research), National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi» Mr. Verghese Founder, Daya Peace Centre, Hyderabad» Jasleen Kewlani Asst. Prof. of Sociology, RGNUL India» Prof. Dr. Alan Madry Marquette Law School, USA» Prof. Dr. Alan Madry, Justus Liebig Universitat, Germany and many others.

5 2. Fellows: They are mid-career professionals with subordinate responsibilities to Senior Fellows. But, they also enjoy high research autonomy. IPAN Fellows are mostly young, vibrant scholars who are special achievers in their respective fields. A characteristic feature is that these young fellows come from across the world and give us a truly global outlook. 3. Project Specific Fellows: IPAN intends to start various funded research fellowships in specific areas, on specific issues. Such individuals who get chosen for these annual/biannual fellowships shall be Specific Fellows wherein Specific shall be the name of that fellowship. 4. Research Assistants: They are the youth researchers working under the guidance and mentorship of Senior Fellows and Fellows. 5. Management Staff: They are individuals dealing with logistics like office administration, publication manager, public outreach manager etc. MAJOR ACTIVITIES WE HAVE DONE SO FAR: IPAN has successfully undertaken numerous research projects and awareness programs with youth. Following are some the activities undertaken by IPAN in these last six months: RGNUL-IPAN Working Paper Series on FDI in Multi-Brand Retail in India. Campus Legal Literacy Programs in almost fifty colleges and schools of Punjab. Right to Information campaign with the departments like State Transport, National Highway Authority of India, University Grants Commission, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Haryana Urban Development Authority and many others. Various Essay Competitions for university students on public policy matters. ACTION PLAN : We have planned to undertake following activities during the period This is apart from our general public policy advocacy through articles/opeds and papers on our website and other internet portals. Special undercover field project on how narcotics enter the urban locales and finally young veins. Dr. S R S Human Dignity Research Fellowship. Summer Internship Program.

6 IPAN Campus Chapters for carrying core public policy research and forming a National Research Grid. A special program for school students to contribute to the policy debates and getting heard. This will be the most unique program by IPAN ever. A reach out program where IPAN will go to rural high schools in order to give platform to rural vibrant youth by identifying them and taking their views forward regarding policy matters. A social audit of its own kind for the first time in India where IPAN will be going to schools and rating them on the basis of determined parameters of innovation, practical curriculum, teaching methodologies, human rights education, sex education, child abuse etc. This audit report will be followed by a policy proposal to be sent to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, India. An exchange program with a partner British organisation for Indo-British Muslim Youth in order to raise our voice against Islam phobia. We are a noble yet a visionary and an energetic youth movement where we wish the global youth to get down to roots & start getting involved directly into core public policy research, advocacy and activism. We strongly believe in Protest by Participation. Join this initiative in any capacity you feel you can contribute the best. For More information, please contact us at Ipan.president@gmail.com Website: [Please note that no web development professional could be hired due to lack of resources, being a youth led not for profit venture. Thus, this webpage is not very informative and presentable. Our current focus is on content delivery and not presentation. We believe in substance more than appearance. We recommend our facebook page more than website because it is regularly updated for reaching out to millions of enthusiastic youth.] Best way to keep in touch with IPAN