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Mission & Vision

Short, and deliberately so. This is what GPS is for.

Vision

A future where the intellectual, cultural, scientific, creative, and entrepreneurial forces of the Global South are deeply connected to the challenges and aspirations of their societies — and where collaboration across disciplines, sectors, cultures, and knowledge systems contributes to a more sustainable and inclusive world.

Mission

GPS advances socially grounded, evidence-based transformation by integrating scientific research, indigenous knowledge systems, innovation ecosystems, artistic practice, economic development, and policy design.

Its mission is to connect science and policy, communities and institutions, and research and action — fostering informed decision-making, inclusive collaboration, and measurable societal impact across the Global South and beyond.

Values

What we hold ourselves to.

Plural knowledge

Academic, indigenous, creative, and experiential knowledge systems — engaged on equitable terms.

Evidence to action

Ideas are not finished until they change decisions, institutions, and lives.

South-led partnership

Priorities defined by the South; cooperation with the North on equal footing.

Interconnection

Across disciplines, sectors, regions, and generations — nothing works in isolation.

Accountability

Measurable impact, transparent governance, and responsibility to the communities we serve.

Imagination

Memory and foresight together — the Sankofa principle applied to the future.

Knowledge Policy Impact

Our guiding framework: KPI — Knowledge, Policy, Impact. Knowledge must inform policy, and policy must generate real-world impact.