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.

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Listen | Where Does Your Municipality Get Its Money: Understanding The Different Sources of Municipal FundingLocal Government

Listen | Where Does Your Municipality Get Its Money: Understanding The Different Sources of Municipal Funding

PARI's Local Government Programme Lead Jugal Mahabir spoke to Bridget Masinga about municipal finance to understand how municipalities are funded and what…
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Watch | Understanding the three-ballot systemLocal Government

Watch | Understanding the three-ballot system

Kate Tissington, urban governance and housing policy analyst and senior researcher at the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), joined the SABC to…
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Watch | Anti-Immigration Electioneering Reflects the Failure of a Nation-Building ProjectLocal GovernmentState Reform

Watch | Anti-Immigration Electioneering Reflects the Failure of a Nation-Building Project

Waseem Holland, a researcher at the Public Affairs Research Institute, spoke to Radio Islam about anti-immigration electioneering tactics and what they reveal…
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Op Ed | Corruption by Any Other Name — Organised crime has replaced State CaptureState Reform

Op Ed | Corruption by Any Other Name — Organised crime has replaced State Capture

By Waseem Holland The Madlanga Commission has shifted the discourse on South African grand corruption by framing it as organised crime rather…
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Blog | Anti-immigrant electioneering reflects the failure of a nation-building projectLocal Government

Blog | Anti-immigrant electioneering reflects the failure of a nation-building project

Image: Wikimedia Commons By Waseem Holland The pervasiveness of anti-immigration sentiment and rhetoric in South Africa reflects the failure of a nation-building…
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Blog | Local Government White Paper Falls Short on Traditional Authorities and Climate ResilienceLocal Government

Blog | Local Government White Paper Falls Short on Traditional Authorities and Climate Resilience

Zain Mayet In May 2026, government published the Reviewed Draft White Paper on Local Government – the first complete overhaul since 1998,…
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The COMPACT Toolbox is live!CompactLocal Government

The COMPACT Toolbox is live!

The COMPACT Toolbox is Live! The COMPACT programme is a partnership between PARI, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Integrity…
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Listen | Could solar rooftops cut power bills?Just Transition

Listen | Could solar rooftops cut power bills?

Stephen Grootes speaks to Tracy Ledger, senior researcher at the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), about how municipalities could cut electricity costs…
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Colloquium | Local Government in South Africa and BeyondAcademic Engagement

Colloquium | Local Government in South Africa and Beyond

 Local Government in South Africa and Beyond Johannesburg, 14-15 October Local Government is a pivotal tier of government in South Africa with…
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PRWG | Statement on the Draft Regulations under the Public Procurement ActState Reform

PRWG | Statement on the Draft Regulations under the Public Procurement Act

The Public Procurement Act currently faces several court challenges (two of these pending court decisions on the grounds of inadequate public participation).…
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Watch | ‘Surviving on Four Buckets’: Realities of chronic water insecurity in Joburg’s informal settlementsJust Transition

Watch | ‘Surviving on Four Buckets’: Realities of chronic water insecurity in Joburg’s informal settlements

Surviving on Four Buckets is a six-part documentary series produced by the Public Affairs Research Institute aimed at researching the everyday realities…
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Screening | Surviving on Four BucketsJust Transition

Screening | Surviving on Four Buckets

This Surviving on Four Buckets documentary series forms part of a broader research project documenting the everyday realities of water access in…
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Latest

Events

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Latest

Publications

Press Statement | The Public Service Commission ActState Reform

Press Statement | The Public Service Commission Act

Press Statement: The Public Service Commission Act 23 Sept 2026 The recent testimony of Professor…
Report | Independent Evaluation of the Municipal Capability & Partnership ProgrammeLocal Government

Report | Independent Evaluation of the Municipal Capability & Partnership Programme

The Municipal Capability & Partnership Programme (MCPP) is a structured, long-term partnership between Anglo American,…
Op Ed | Corruption by Any Other Name — Organised crime has replaced State CaptureState Reform

Op Ed | Corruption by Any Other Name — Organised crime has replaced State Capture

By Waseem Holland The Madlanga Commission has shifted the discourse on South African grand corruption…

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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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Procurement Reform Working Group

Find news and stay up to date on the developments from the Procurement Reform Working Group

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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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Transition

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Land

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Academic Engagement

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Compact

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