Economic and Social Research Foundation

What Economic and Social Research Foundation does

Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) is an independent, Tanzania-based non-profit policy research think tank established in October 1992 that began operations in 1994 during the country's transition from a socialist to a market economy. It is organized around four functional departments: Strategic Research and Publications, Commissioned Research, Governance and Capacity Development, and Knowledge Management and Innovation, and maintains a headquarters in Dar es Salaam plus a branch office in Dodoma, staffed by approximately 62 employees. ESRF's core products are policy research outputs (Discussion Papers, Policy Briefs, Research Reports, Quarterly Economic and Social Reviews, and Regional Investment Guides covering all 25 Tanzania Mainland regions) and a set of flagship initiatives including the Impact Evaluation Laboratory (IE Lab, co-founded September 2019 with William and Flora Hewlett Foundation funding), the Tanzania Urbanization Laboratory, the Rapid Response Implementation Support (RARIS) project with the Ministry of Agriculture funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation via UNDP, and the Tanzania Human Development Report.

ESRF generates revenue through commissioned research contracts with government ministries, development partners, and civil society organizations, complemented by supply-driven strategic research funded through partnerships with international foundations and development institutions. Customer segments span the Government of Tanzania (its primary client, including the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Planning Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and TARURA), development partners (UNDP, BMGF, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, IDRC, ESRC, JPAL, EU), civil society organizations, private-sector clients (e.g., Gatsby Africa, WWF Tanzania), and academic institutions. Distribution runs through direct engagement, public seminars, annual conferences, policy dialogues, short training courses, newsletters, an online knowledge platform (Maarifa TV, TAKNET, Tanzania Online), and a modern content production studio (Maendeleo Studio). Knowledge dissemination is further supported by the Mobile Kilimo (M-Kilimo) agricultural extension platform and the ESRF Library.

Name

Economic and Social Research Foundation

Legal name

Economic and Social Research Foundation

Website

https://esrf.or.tz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Economic development research
• Capacity building programs
• Impact evaluation studies
• Knowledge management platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Dar es Salaam

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Research Contracts: ESRF generates revenue through commissioned research contracts with government ministries, development partners, and international organizations. These include policy reviews, impact evaluations, feasibility studies, and strategic plan formulations.
2. Strategic Research: Supply-driven policy research funded through partnerships with development institutions and foundations, generating insights for national policy frameworks.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) is an independent policy research think tank that conducts policy and economic management research, delivers commissioned research and advisory services, builds national capacity for policy analysis, and disseminates knowledge through publications, conferences, training, and digital platforms. Its four core departments—Strategic Research and Publications, Commissioned Research, Governance and Capacity Development, and Knowledge Management and Innovation—serve the Government of Tanzania, development partners, civil society, the private sector, and academia with policy reviews, impact evaluations, feasibility studies, sector strategies, and capacity development programs.

Product overview

The Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) operates as a policy research think tank rather than a product company, organized around four core departments: Strategic Research and Publications, Commissioned Research, Governance and Capacity Development, and Knowledge Management and Innovation. The Foundation offers research services, capacity building programs, and knowledge dissemination platforms including the ESRF Library, Maendeleo Studio, Maarifa TV, TAKNET, and Tanzania Online. Key flagship projects include the Impact Evaluation Laboratory, Tanzania Urbanization Laboratory, Mobile Kilimo agricultural platform, Rapid Response Implementation Support (RARIS), Tanzania Human Development Report Project, and Regional Investment Guides for 25 Tanzanian regions. The organization produces various publications including discussion papers, policy briefs, research reports, and quarterly economic and social reviews.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Research and Publications Supply-driven policy research and analysis generating research evidence for economic, social, and policy-making processes in Tanzania, aligned with the Foundation's strategic research themes and benefiting government, private sector, civil society, development partners, and the general public.
• Commissioned Research Demand-driven research and advisory services including policy formulation, sector strategy development, impact assessment studies, baseline surveys, feasibility studies, and strategic plans commissioned by government ministries, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
• Governance and Capacity Development Capacity development services that strengthen national capacities for policy analysis at macro, sector, and local government levels through training, policy dialogues, conferences, workshops, and internship programs for policy actors and development advocates.
• Knowledge Management and Innovation Knowledge management services supporting policy analysis, development management, and research communication through the ESRF Library, Maendeleo Studio, Maarifa TV (Knowledge TV), TAKNET, and Tanzania Online platforms for researchers, policy analysts, students, and the general public.
• Impact Evaluation Laboratory (IE Lab) A laboratory dedicated to conducting rigorous impact evaluation research using experimental and quasi-experimental methods, generating evidence for development programs and policy interventions in Tanzania and Eastern Africa.
• Tanzania Urbanization Laboratory
• Rapid Response Implementation Support (RARIS) Project providing Business Development Support services to the Ministry of Agriculture and Local Government Authorities' capacity to respond fast and meet day-to-day demand for agricultural development business planning, investment, and resource mobilization under ASDP II.
• Tanzania Human Development Report (THDR) Project
• Regional Investment Guides Investment guides produced for 25 regions of Tanzania Mainland from 2017 to 2020 to attract local and foreign investment and enhance regional competitiveness through analysis of investment opportunities and regional economic potential.
• Mobile Kilimo (M-KILIMO)
• Maarifa TV (Knowledge TV)
• TAKNET (Tanzania Knowledge Network)
• Tanzania Online
• ESRF Library
• Maendeleo Studio Content production studio producing TV and radio programs for community radios, supporting research communication and policy dissemination for community audiences in Tanzania.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 25 regions of Tanzania Mainland in developing Regional Investment Guides (2017-2020)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Together for GirlscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to conduct qualitative research on changes in Violence Against Children (VAC) prevalence between 2009 and 2024 VACS surveys, with funding support.
• London School of Economics (LSE)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIE Lab research on home-grown growth in African cities is housed at LSE's Department of Geography and Environment.
• Columbia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Afya Maoni e-health feedback project and multiple health research initiatives including radio-based public health campaigns.
• Muhimbili UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Afya Maoni project for improving health services in Tanzania.
• Women in Social Finance (WSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on scaling innovations for reducing and redistributing women's unpaid care work in rural Tanzania, co-funded with IDRC.
• REDESOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on unpaid care work project in Kishapu district, Shinyanga Region.
• University of HelsinkisecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates Making Agricultural Trade Sustainable (MATS) project funded by EU.
• FANRPANsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates Food Systems Transformation in Southern Africa (FoSTA-Health) project funded by EU.
• CHR Michelsen Institute (CMI) NorwaysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Work Lab project examining transition from education to employment for young women.
• Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Work Skills for Life study investigating work readiness program for Tanzanian teenagers.
• Open University of LondonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on cancer care innovation in Africa.
• Gatsby AfricasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned formulation of Textile Subsector Development Strategy 2022-2032.
• REPOAsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on empowering women-owned businesses through public procurement.
• WWF TanzaniasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreparation of Western Indian Ocean Mangrove Network Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
• Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFebruary 2026 delegation visit to strengthen research and diplomatic collaboration between institutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): UK-based global development think tank with active East Africa programs; competes for the same donor-funded policy research mandates and frequently partners with or co-implements alongside ESRF on regional projects.
• African Economic Research Consortium (AERC): Pan-African network supporting economic policy research and training across the continent; comparable to ESRF as a coordinating research platform with shared donor funders and overlapping policy-research scope.
• Brookings Africa Growth Initiative: Global policy think tank with active Africa economic-policy research; competes for high-profile donor-funded assignments and is a direct substitute on the donor bid pipeline serving East African policymakers.
• World Resources Institute (WRI) Africa: Global sustainability research institute with active Africa programs; comparable for climate, environment, and sustainable development mandates that intersect with ESRF's environmental and urbanization work.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): Global agricultural policy research institute with strong East Africa presence; competes for the same BMGF/UNDP agricultural-policy research pool that funds ESRF's RARIS and ASDP II programs.

Emerging players

• Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI): Pan-African policy research start-up focused on economic transformation; competes for similar donor funding (BMGF, Hewlett) and targets the same East African policy advisory market as ESRF.

Direct peers

• Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI): Norwegian development research institute; directly comparable as an active ESRF partner on gender, unpaid care work, and youth employment research, with overlapping funder base (NORAD, IDRC).
• REPOA: Tanzania's leading research-focused think tank on poverty alleviation and economic policy; directly comparable to ESRF given overlapping government clients, donor funder mix, and policy research mandate in Dar es Salaam.
• UONGOZI Institute: Tanzania's government-affiliated leadership and governance institute; comparable to ESRF's Governance and Capacity Development department and shares the same executive director lineage (Prof. Makene previously led research at UONGOZI).

Regional players

• Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Kenya: Kenya's leading independent policy think tank; comparable operating model (commissioned research, publications, policy dialogues) and similar donor-funded structure, serving as the regional benchmark ESRF is benchmarked against in East Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esrftz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Economic and Social Research Foundation