Research. Advocacy. Implementation support.

Shaping Change

We are an African institute doing research into the constraints to effective governance, underlining the importance of improved institutional design and performance. We work towards building effective and democratic state institutions, for more equitable policies to reduce poverty and inequality.

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For general enquiries, please email info@pari.org.za; for Human Resources enquiries, please email hr@pari.org.za.

PARI offices will be closed from 12 December 2025 to 5 January 2026.

What’s happening?

Recent News

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Blog | How Open Municipal Data in South Africa is Improving Service Delivery

Blog | How Open Municipal Data in South Africa is Improving Service Delivery

PARI Local Government Programme South Africa’s municipalities have long been plagued by poor service delivery and governance. This has only been worsened…
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Webinar | Radio Workshop: Insights from Power to Change CampaignJust Transition

Webinar | Radio Workshop: Insights from Power to Change Campaign

PARI's Just Transition programme is a participant in Radio Workshop's civic dialogue engagement that looks at youth voice, community-centred storytelling and the…
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G20 Summit with Dr Sithembile Mbete

G20 Summit with Dr Sithembile Mbete

The twentieth G20 Summit was held in Johannesburg over 22-23 November 2025 – the first G20 to be held in Africa. PARI's…
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Gallery | COMPACT National Research Conference 2025Compact

Gallery | COMPACT National Research Conference 2025

On 1 and 2 December, COMPACT and SALGA hosted a national research conference under the theme 'Reimagining Developmental Local Government: New Approaches…
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Vacancy | Director of Operations

Vacancy | Director of Operations

The Director of Operations (the Ops Director) will be responsible for managing and leading key areas of PARI’s operations, Strategic Communications, Grant…
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Where do we stand with the Presidential commitments on state capture?

Where do we stand with the Presidential commitments on state capture?

PARI is releasing two publications regarding President Ramaphosa’s commitments in response to the State Capture Commission / Zondo Commission report. In October…
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Webinar | Municipal Financial TransparencyCompact

Webinar | Municipal Financial Transparency

Know where your money goes: Tracking municipal spending. A COMPACT webinar. 15 October 2025 2-4 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Watch | Sarah Meny-Gibert: What kind of mayor does Joburg need?

Watch | Sarah Meny-Gibert: What kind of mayor does Joburg need?

PARI's Dr Sarah Meny-Gibert looks at the kind of leadership needed for the efficient running of a city. She spoke to Newzroom…
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Listen | Sithembile Mbete: More Explosive information released at Madlanga Commission

Listen | Sithembile Mbete: More Explosive information released at Madlanga Commission

Dr Sithembile Mbete, PARI's Executive Director, gives commentary on the proceedings at the Madlanga Commission of Enquiry into Criminality. This is following…
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Op Ed | South Africa urged to firm up developmental vision for universal electricity accessJust Transition

Op Ed | South Africa urged to firm up developmental vision for universal electricity access

Image: Bram Lammers/2021/De Aar/Family uses electricity for heating   A leading advocate for the provision of free basic electricity (FBE) to poor…
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Watch | Dr Mbete comments on Ramaphosa’s meeting with US President

Watch | Dr Mbete comments on Ramaphosa’s meeting with US President

“I think that President Ramaphosa dealt with falsehoods as well as he could. But of course, no one can ever be prepared…
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Report | Affordability of Basic Services for South African HouseholdsJust Transition

Report | Affordability of Basic Services for South African Households

By Tracy Ledger, with Nonhalanhla Mathibela South Africa is characterised by high poverty and high inequality. More than half of all households…
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Latest

Events

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Latest

Publications

Report | Comparative Review of Global Approaches to Electricity Tariff SettingJust Transition

Report | Comparative Review of Global Approaches to Electricity Tariff Setting

By Shirley Salvoldi This report reviews global approaches to electricity tariff design, focusing on cost…
Working Paper | Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the New Colonialism of Climate Data in the Global SouthLand Governance

Working Paper | Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the New Colonialism of Climate Data in the Global South

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the New Colonialism of Climate Data in the Global South Toward…
Working Paper | The Tyranny of Metrics, the Power of Stories and Epistemic DiplomacyLand Governance

Working Paper | The Tyranny of Metrics, the Power of Stories and Epistemic Diplomacy

The Tyranny of Metrics, the Power of Stories and Epistemic Diplomacy  Building bridges, not silos…

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Spotlight on Johannesburg

Some of our work across programmes focuses on the City of Johannesburg, what’s gone wrong and what needs to happen.

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Our Work

PARI Programmes

Current programmes: Land Governance, State Reform, Local Government, Just Transition, Compact – Municipal planning, participation and accountability

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Academic Engagement

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