News Source: PASOS Secretariat, Czech Republic

PASOS has published two guidebooks for think-tanks, one a code of good governance and one based on a set of principles for ensuring quality control.

“Thinking Ethically” and “How to win respect and influence policymakers” were released at the annual PASOS members assembly in Warsaw November 26.

The ethics guide was written by Petr Pajas, a PASOS programme manager. The 44-page booklet unveils “The PASOS think-tank code of good governance,” 10 principles to assist think-tanks facing ethical decisions. The code  includes chapters on avoiding conflicts of interest, responsible fundraising, and financial management.

“Thinking Ethically” draws on a wide variety of sources to construct the code, including some from PASOS members: an integrity statement created by The Centre for Research and Policy Making in Macdeonia, and a code of conduct from The Centre for Social and Economic Research in Poland.

The second guidebook, “How to win respect and influence policymakers”, was edited by PASOS Secretariat Director Jeff Lovitt. It likewise offers a set of 10 core principles for excellence in policy work at think-tanks. Many of the book’s ideas were spawned at a February 2010 gathering PASOS members in Prague.

“The result is a publication that draws on, and cites, a number of their approaches, codes, and methodologies, and we are indebted to those who attended and to others who have provided input and comments”, Lovitt said. “This gives the initiative a greater sense of ownership by the practitioners to whom it is addressed.”

The publications were made possible with the support of the Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative (LGI) of Open Society Foundations.

Download: Thinking Ethically