About EPRI
About
The Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI), a global organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa, works to better enable governments, their development partners and civil society institutions to design, implement, monitor and evaluate strategies, policies and programmes that support inclusive social development and equitable economic growth.
EPRI specialises in research, capacity building and policy advisory services strengthening comprehensive and integrated social protection systems. EPRI is a not-for-profit institution incorporated under section 21 of South Africa’s Companies Act. A globally top-ranked research institute, EPRI brings twenty-five years of experience in best practice solutions to strengthening social protection systems and integrating them with effective and equitable policies for sustainable development, decent work and equitable economic growth.
Our Mission:
Through our commitment to building and sharing an evidence base on social protection that is drawn from economic analysis and global lessons of experience, we endeavor to build South-South cooperation and develop local knowledge, by means of research, capacity-building work and technical assistance to country-led policy formation
Our Vision:
To provide research, capacity building and policy advisory that influences policy to protect the vulnerable.
Directors
EPRI Directors
Dr Michael Samson
Director of Research
Michael Samson is the Research Director of the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI), a global research institute with offices in Thailand, South Africa, Ethiopia, Belgium and the United States. He has 34 years of experience working in social protection, and specialises in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating social protection programmes and policies, with a focus on developmental initiatives (including labour markets and public works). His experience in these areas includes work in 41 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific as well as many related publications, including with South Africa’s EPWP, Tanzania’s Social Action Fund (TASAF) public works programme, Bangladesh’s BRAC’s “graduation” livelihoods programme and others. Michael has implemented both impact assessments and ex ante evaluations of social protection, livelihoods and public employment programmes in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, including an ongoing evaluation of Thailand’s Child Support Grant. He was the lead author of the policy guide Designing and Implementing Social Transfer Programmes, which included a chapter on public works, he wrote the OECD’s policy guidance on social protection and employment, and he convenes courses annually in South Africa, and Thailand on this topic. His current research focuses on how comprehensive social protection strengthens cross-sectoral public investments delivering inclusive social development and equitable economic growth. Michael lectures at policy conferences and training workshops around the world. He is also on the economics faculty at the Williams College Center for Development Economics in the United States, and he has a Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University.
Ms. Ingrid van Niekerk
Executive Co-Director and Senior Researcher
Ms. Ingrid van Niekerk is an Executive Co-Director and Senior Researcher at EPRI, as well as the Chief Executive Officer. She has managed and carried out research projects for the Department of Social Development in South Africa as well as the inter-ministerial Committee of Enquiry for Comprehensive Social Security. She is responsible for EPRI’s capacity building programme for government departments, and her teaching has included courses for the Department of Social Development.
Our Partners
