Spotlight: Committed to building a safe and prosperous Africa

The ISS builds knowledge and skills to tackle Africa’s complex security threats.

Corruption, organised crime, radicalisation and violent conflict threaten human security and development in Africa. The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) works to understand and mitigate these threats. Independent research informs the practical policy advice and training courses that the ISS provides.

The ISS works in Africa’s security hot spots, from Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Burundi and Kenya. The organisation is responsive to African issues and reacts in a timely and relevant way. ISS expertise is sought internationally and is reflected by the appointment of its researchers to UN expert panels monitoring sanctions in South Sudan and Libya.

‘The ISS has established networks with key decision makers,’ says Said Djinnit, President of the ISS Advisory Council. ‘It collaborates with African and international partners on security strategies in the Sahel, and advises on options to resolve crises in countries like Burundi.’

ISS is a trusted partner of choice to work with on African human security issues. It supports the African Union (AU) and regional bodies as they build capacity for effective peace operations and peacebuilding. In South Africa, ISS researchers advise on police reform and helped strengthen the regulatory body that prevents abuse of police power. Technical assistance and training of this kind is a key part of the ISS’ strategy.

ISS is a trusted partner of choice to work with on African human security issues

In 2015, the ISS ran 29 training courses over 210 days. It also convened 47 technical assistance and advisory workshops. The ISS approach focuses on providing practical and sustainable support. Training courses are developed and hosted in partnership with those requesting them, and participants learn through real-world case studies and the experiences of their colleagues.

Capacity building is informed by credible research and analysis. ‘The drivers of conflict such as Africa’s young population, urbanisation, a surfeit of arms, and governments stuck between autocracy and democracy are exploited by organised crimes groups and terrorists,’ says Djinnit. ‘The value of ISS research and analysis lies in its ability to understand these threats.’

In 2015, ISS conducted original field research in 19 African countries. The results reached a wide public audience: 1 427 media interviews were conducted and daily analyses were published online throughout the year, backed up by 58 detailed publications. Research results were also discussed with specific decision makers in 319 closed briefings during 2015.

For more on the achievements of the ISS, the Annual Review 2015: Improving human security in Africa is available here.

For more information, contact:

Antoinette Louw, ISS: +27 82 883 5012, [email protected]

Picture: ©Anton Hammerl/Africa Media Online

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