Southern Voice
Southern Voice is a Lima-based non-profit network of 71 think tanks across 35 Global South countries, producing evidence-based research on the Sustainable Development Goals and convening regional dialogues to influence multilateral policy through OECD, UN, and G20 partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Southern Voice does
Southern Voice is a non-profit network founded in 2013 and headquartered in Lima, Peru, that convenes 71 think tanks across 35 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America/Caribbean to produce evidence-based research on the Sustainable Development Goals and rebalance knowledge asymmetry in global development policy debates. The organization's core products are research outputs (State of the SDGs reports, Global South Perspectives publication, policy briefs), knowledge tools (the Resilience and Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool), multimedia (The Compass vodcast), and convening events (biennial conferences in Nairobi 2023 and São Paulo 2025, plus regional roundtables). Its go-to-market is community-led: the network leverages its tri-regional membership to produce research authored by Global South experts, then disseminates it through formal partnerships with the OECD, UN agencies, G20/T20 task forces, the UN Secretary-General's Scientific Advisory Board, and FAO processes to influence multilateral policy debates.
The business model is grant-funded non-profit operations with no commercial pricing. Revenue derives from institutional grants and development partnerships, primarily the British Academy and IDRC (for the Strengthening Think Tanks Initiative and Evidence-Informed programme), with historical support from the Ford Foundation and UN Foundation. Day-to-day operations are managed by a 16-person secretariat led by Executive Director Margarita Gómez (appointed March 2024, succeeded Andrea Ordóñez) under governance by a Steering Committee with regional representation and a Chair (Dr. Rose Ngugi of KIPPRA-Kenya). Customer/beneficiary segments are horizontal: Global South think tanks as primary members, international organizations and policymakers (OECD, UN, G20) as institutional users of the research, and civil society/development practitioners as downstream consumers of freely available publications.
Southern Voice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southern Voice
- Legal name
- Southern Voice
- Website
- https://southernvoice.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Southern Voice is a Lima-based non-profit network of 71 think tanks across 35 Global South countries, producing evidence-based research on the Sustainable Development Goals and convening regional dialogues to influence multilateral policy through OECD, UN, and G20 partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southern Voice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Policy Research and Think Tank Network
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)
Keywords
Southern Voice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding and Institutional Partnerships: Southern Voice operates as a non-profit network funded through grants and partnerships with international organizations, foundations, and development agencies. The network receives support from funders including the British Academy, IDRC, and participates in funded initiatives with organizations like the UN Foundation and Ford Foundation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Southern Voice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southern Voice is a non-profit network of 71 think tanks from the Global South, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Lima, Peru. Its core offering is convening member institutions to produce evidence-based research, policy analysis, and advocacy on the Sustainable Development Goals, while amplifying Southern perspectives in global policy forums including the United Nations.
Product overview
Southern Voice is a network of 71 think tanks from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean that serves as an open platform for generating and promoting high-quality, evidence-based analyses for global dialogue on the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. The organization's offerings include research publications such as the State of the SDGs reports and Global South Perspectives; tools like the Resilience and Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool for think tanks; events including biennial conferences; and initiatives such as the Challenge Fund for Evidence Use, Southern Voice on Global Development, the 1 for 8 Billion Campaign, and the Strengthening Think Tanks Initiative. The network also produces The Compass vodcast and various policy briefs addressing global development challenges.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Southern Voice on Global Development (SVGD): Flagship initiative providing Global South perspectives on international development cooperation
- State of the SDGs
- Global South Perspectives (GSP)
- The Compass
- Challenge Fund For Evidence Use
- Strengthening Think Tanks Project
Products and services
- Southern Voice Think Tank Network Membership A membership-based network that brings together 71 think tanks from the Global South to collaborate on policy research and advocacy related to the Sustainable Development Goals. Membership is offered to policy research institutions in developing countries.
- SDG Policy Research and Publications Evidence-based research reports and policy briefs on the Sustainable Development Goals, produced by the network's member think tanks and intended for multilateral institutions, policymakers, and development partners.
- UN ECOSOC Advocacy and Engagement Advocacy and engagement with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, leveraging Southern Voice's Special Consultative Status to channel Southern think tank perspectives into UN policy discussions on the SDGs.
Companies that use Southern Voice
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Southern Voice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Southern Voice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Plataforma CIPÓcorePlataforma CIPÓ, a Southern Voice member, concluded the 2026 Global Policy Dialogue on Post-COP30 Climate Implementation in Salvador, Bahia. Southern Voice participated through Javier Aliaga Lordemann from INESAD, bringing Global South perspectives to climate governance discussions.
- OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)flagshipSouthern Voice partnered with OECD to convene regional roundtables across Africa, Asia, and Latin America between March and April 2026 as background research for the OECD Conference on the Future of Development Co-operation. The dialogues informed Southern Voice's flagship initiative, Southern Voice on Global Development (SVGD).
- UN Secretary-General's Scientific Advisory BoardflagshipSouthern Voice became one of 12 global networks to join the Scientific Advisory Board of the United Nations Secretary-General.
- HDP Nexus CoalitioncoreSouthern Voice joined the Fighting Food Crises along the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Coalition, co-chaired by g7+, SIPRI, FAO, and WFP. The coalition brings together over 65 members working on food security and conflict.
- PCSD PartnershipcoreSouthern Voice joined the PCSD Partnership - a multi-stakeholder platform for enhancing policy coherence for sustainable development. Partners include OECD, CGD, IISD, and DIE among others.
- Global Partnership for Sustainable Development DataflagshipSouthern Voice joined as an Anchor Partner of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, contributing perspectives from the Global South to working groups on Country Level Data Roadmaps, Global Data Collaboratives, and Resource Alignment.
- IDS (Institute of Development Studies)coreIDS collaborated with Southern Voice on developing the Resilience and Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool as part of the Strengthening Think Tanks Initiative.
- AERC (African Economic Research Consortium)coreAERC collaborated with Southern Voice on developing the Resilience and Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool.
- ECDPM (European Centre for Development Policy Management)coreSouthern Voice joined forces with ECDPM for two events in September 2018 about Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development. A workshop and conference took place in Maastricht and Brussels.
- DIE (German Development Institute)coreSouthern Voice partnered with DIE alongside ECDPM for policy coherence workshops and conferences in 2018.
- T20 (Think 20)flagshipSouthern Voice served as co-chair of Task Force 4 (Solidarity and SDGs), focusing on accelerating G20's implementation of the SDGs. Multiple member institutions participated in various T20 Task Forces.
- SAIIA (South African Institute of International Affairs)coreSAIIA hosted T20 events alongside IDG and participated in COP30 representing Southern Voice.
- SDPI (Sustainable Development Policy Institute)coreSDPI represented Southern Voice at COP30 and participated in T20 processes. Executive Director Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri contributed to panels on climate policy.
- CIPPEC (Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento)coreCIPPEC participated in T20 Task Force 4 and represents Southern Voice in Latin America.
- Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI)coreIAI co-hosted an event with Southern Voice and ETTG in Rome on food systems transformation and FAO priorities.
- European Think Tanks Group (ETTG)coreSouthern Voice and ETTG jointly published policy proposals for FAO on food systems transformation in the Global South.
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreSouthern Voice engaged with FAO through events on food systems transformation and contributed to discussions on FAO's role in addressing food security priorities.
- UN FoundationcoreUN Foundation co-hosted the launch of the Global State of the SDGs Report 2019 alongside Ford Foundation and collaborated on policy briefs.
- Global Alliance for CareminorSouthern Voice participated in events alongside the Global Alliance for Care on care economy in the multilateral system.
- On Think TankscorePartnership with On Think Tanks for the Young Think Tankers initiative and pitching contest.
- Club de MadridminorClub de Madrid participated in events with Southern Voice including the launch of Global State of the SDGs Report.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Southern Voice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ECDPM (European Centre for Development Policy Management): ECDPM is a Europe-based think tank focused on EU development policy and international cooperation, directly comparable to Southern Voice in its convening role between think tanks and multilateral processes. The two organizations have co-hosted joint events on policy coherence for sustainable development, indicating overlapping mandates and constituencies.
- DIE (German Development Institute): DIE is a German policy research institute producing research and policy advice on global development and international cooperation, comparable to Southern Voice in addressing sustainable development governance. Both organizations partnered on the 2018 PCSD workshops and conferences in Maastricht and Brussels.
- ODI (Overseas Development Institute): ODI is a leading global affairs think tank producing research on international development and humanitarian policy, comparable to Southern Voice in shaping evidence-based policy on SDGs and global development cooperation. Both serve as bridges between researchers, policymakers, and multilateral institutions.
- IAI (Istituto Affari Internazionali): IAI is an Italian think tank conducting research on international politics and global governance, comparable to Southern Voice in bridging research communities with multilateral policy processes. IAI co-hosted events with Southern Voice and ETTG on food systems transformation and FAO priorities.
- IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development): IISD is a research and policy organization focused on sustainable development, directly comparable to Southern Voice's focus on SDG implementation and policy coherence. Both organizations are members of the PCSD Partnership alongside OECD and CGD.
- CGD (Center for Global Development): CGD is a US-based think tank focused on global development economics and policy, comparable to Southern Voice in producing influential research on international development cooperation. Both are engaged in the PCSD Partnership and address policy questions on SDG progress and effectiveness of development aid.
- SAIIA (South African Institute of International Affairs): SAIIA is a leading African think tank on international affairs, comparable to Southern Voice in producing policy research and engaging multilateral processes including T20 and COP30. SAIIA hosted T20 events alongside IDG and represented Southern Voice at COP30.
- AERC (African Economic Research Consortium): AERC is a pan-African economic research network producing policy-relevant research, comparable to Southern Voice as a regional research consortium addressing development policy. AERC collaborated with Southern Voice on the Resilience and Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool.
Emerging players
- On Think Tanks: On Think Tanks is a community of practice supporting think tanks globally with research on think tank ecosystems, partially comparable to Southern Voice in supporting research institutions. The two organizations partner on the Young Think Tankers initiative and pitching contest.
Broad incumbents
- European Think Tanks Group (ETTG): ETTG is a consortium of European think tanks working on EU development policy, comparable to Southern Voice in representing a regional think tank perspective in global policy debates. ETTG and Southern Voice jointly published policy proposals for FAO on food systems transformation.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Southern Voice social profiles
Digital presenceSouthern Voice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southern Voice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Southern Voice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southern Voice M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southern Voice
What does Southern Voice do?
Southern Voice is a non-profit network of 71 think tanks from the Global South, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Lima, Peru. Its core offering is convening member institutions to produce evidence-based research, policy analysis, and advocacy on the Sustainable Development Goals, while amplifying Southern perspectives in global policy forums including the United Nations.
Is Southern Voice a public or private company?
Southern Voice is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Southern Voice founded?
Southern Voice was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
How does Southern Voice make money?
One revenue line is on record: grant Funding and Institutional Partnerships.
Who are Southern Voice's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ECDPM (European Centre for Development Policy Management), DIE (German Development Institute), ODI (Overseas Development Institute), IAI (Istituto Affari Internazionali), IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development), CGD (Center for Global Development), SAIIA (South African Institute of International Affairs) and AERC (African Economic Research Consortium). On Think Tanks is listed as an emerging player. European Think Tanks Group (ETTG) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Southern Voice have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southern Voice.
What industry is Southern Voice in?
Southern Voice's product category is Policy Research and Think Tank Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAO, Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes. Its NAICS code is 54172.