The Observer Research Foundation America is the United States-based partner of the Observer Research Foundation, a foreign policy think tank based in India that is focused on developing India into a leading country in international affairs. ¹

Background

The Observer Research Foundation America “produces research, curates diverse and inclusive platforms, and develops networks for cooperation between the developed and developing worlds based on common values and shared interests.” The primary areas of focus for the Foundation include economic policy, foreign policy, energy policy, and technology policy. ¹

Observer Research Foundation

The Observer Research Foundation America is an “overseas affiliate of the Observer Research Foundation,” an India-based foreign policy think tank. ¹ Part of the Observer Research Foundation’s mission is to contribute to the developing global conversation including “new frontiers of space, the oceans, the internet and the human mind,” while also addressing existing concerns of economics, security, and energy. ²

Partners of the Observer Research Foundation include Facebook, Netflix, Lockheed Martin, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, and Salesforce. ³

Initiatives

Initiatives of the Observer Research Foundation America include the India Trilateral Forum, a regular conference that is “co-hosted by the Observer Research Foundation America, the German Marshall Fund, and Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.” The purpose of the forum is to promote dialogue between India, Europe, and the United States on various issues including economic and foreign policy. ⁴

The Observer Research Foundation America also hosts the U.S.-India Emerging Climate Leaders Program, a “professional development program” designed to “raise awareness of climate challenges, propose and develop joint climate solutions, and identify and elevate diverse voices.” ⁵

The Observer Research Foundation America also hosts programs concerned with AI and cyber policy, including the U.S.-India AI Fellowship Program and the Global Cyber Policy Dialogues. ^{6 7}

Funding

The Observer Research Foundation America has received funding from the ClimateWorks Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ^{8 9 10 11}

Staff

Dhruva Jaishankar is the executive director of the Observer Research Foundation America. Jaishankar was previously a fellow in foreign research policy studies at the Brookings Institution and Brookings India from 2016 to 2019. Prior, Jaishankar worked for the German Marshall Fund and as a newswriter for CNN-IBN in New Delhi. Jaishankar is also a non-resident fellow with the Lowy Institute in Australia. ¹²

Sharon Stirling is the chief operating officer of the Observer Research Foundation America. Prior, Stirling worked as the chief operating officer of the BLK SHP Foundation and as deputy director of the German Marshall Fund’s Asia Program. Earlier, Stirling was a “TV news producer for NHK, Japan’s public broadcasting organization at the Washington, D.C. bureau, covering the U.S. State Department, the 2008 presidential election, and the 2008 global financial crisis,” according to the Observer Research Foundation America’s website. ¹³

1. “About Orf America.” ORF America. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://orfamerica.org/about-orfamerica.
2. “ORF.” orfonline.org. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://www.orfonline.org/about-us.
3. “ORF.” orfonline.org. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://www.orfonline.org/partners.
4.  “India Trilateral Forum.” ORF America. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://orfamerica.org/india-trilateral-forum.
5. “U.S.-India Emerging Climate Leaders.” ORF America. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://orfamerica.org/usindia-emerging-climate-leaders.
6. “U.S.-India AI Fellowship Program.” ORF America. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://orfamerica.org/us-india-ai-fellowship.
7. “Cyberspace Cooperation Initiative.” ORF America. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://orfamerica.org/cyberspace-initiative.
8. “John D. and Cathrine T. MacArthur Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2022. Part XIV Page 11.
9. “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2022. Part XIV Page 11.
10. “ClimateWorks Foundation,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2021. Schedule I.
11. “William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2022. Part XIV Page 11.
12. “Dhruva Jaishankar.” ORF America. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://orfamerica.org/dhruvajaishankar.
13. “Sharon Stirling.” ORF America. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://orfamerica.org/sharonstirling.