In February 2020, an innovative partnership was launched to connect academia and policymakers in South Africa. Initially formed by the Presidency of South Africa, the University of Pretoria, and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ, this initiative has since grown into a vibrant multi-stakeholder collaboration. It now includes civil society organisation African Monitor Trust (AMT) and Stellenbosch University (SU), bringing together diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives. Our team is united by a shared belief in evidence-based policy-making to drive impactful policies and meaningful change.