The Think Tank Capacity Building Project (TTCB) is a two-year project implemented by the University of South Carolina Rule of Law Collaborative (UoSC-ROLC) through a grant from the United States Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA). The objectives of the project are to foster regional and/or international connections, strengthen the institutional effectiveness and improve research quality and impact of think tanks in Sri Lanka. SIPL is the primary implementing partner in Sri Lanka.

TTCB commits to provide a series of capacity building services to five Think Tanks. These services were identified through a self-assessment facilitated by SIPL, designed in collaboration with the respective Think Tanks. Included under these services is the assignment of an Organizational Development Facilitator (ODF) by SIPL to guide and mentor the think tanks, delivery of one on one and group trainings, technical research support from the UoSC-ROLC, and pairing with an international research organization.

As part of this project, UoSC-ROLC also aimed to fund a small grants programme to support Sri Lankan think tanks. UoSC-ROLC issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) calling for applications for grants in March 2021. Nine such applications were received from reputed Sri Lankan think tanks. The awards were selected through a competitive evaluative process carried out by an independent committee.

The committee looked for unique research proposals using cutting edge approaches to support reforms on timely issues of national or regional importance that integrate the needs of women and other marginalized groups in Sri Lanka. Following the evaluation process, UoSC-ROLC and SIPL selected 4 research grant proposals and the Grant agreements were signed in June 2021 for a one year period.