Source description last updated: 9 March 2020

In brief: The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Africa is a regional non-profit organisation with a focus on human security in Africa and has offices in South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Senegal.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Reports and other relevant publications

Covered monthly on ecoi.net for African countries of priorities A, B and C.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

“The ISS was founded in 1991 as the Institute for Defence Policy […]. In 1996, the organisation was renamed the Institute for Security Studies.” (ISS Africa website: How we work, undated)

The ISS’s “goal is to enhance human security as a means to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity. […]

Using our networks and influence, we provide timely and credible analysis, practical training and technical assistance to governments and civil society. This promotes better policy and practice, because senior officials can make informed decisions about how to deal with Africa’s human security challenges.” (ISS Africa website: How we work, undated)

“We research policy-relevant topics and the results inform decision makers in Africa and globally. The findings of our research also shape the policy advice, technical assistance and training that ISS provides.” (ISS Africa website: Papers, undated)

“The ISS collaborates with government and civil society at national, regional, continental and international levels. […]

The ISS is registered as a non-profit trust in South Africa and is accountable to a board of trustees.” (ISS Africa: How we work, undated)

Funding:

Donors of ISS Africa include governments, UN agencies, foundations, think tanks and universities. (ISS Africa website: How we work, undated)

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: Africa

Thematic focus: Arms control and disarmament; conflict, peace and security; counter-terrorism; crime and criminal justice; gender and human security; governance and development; international criminal justice; maritime security; migration, organised crime; peacekeeping and peacebuilding etc. (ISS Africa website: Topics and regions, undated)

Methodology:

“Policy Briefs provide concise analysis to inform current debates and decision making. Key findings or recommendations are listed on the cover pages, along with a summary.” (ISS Africa website: Policy Briefs, undated)

“Papers provide the results of in-depth research based on fieldwork, surveys, data analysis and desktop analysis.” (ISS Africa website: Papers, undated)

Reports may be based on monitoring of specific developments, including through the analysis of secondary data, fieldwork involving interviews with affected persons (see, for example, ISS Africa: Violent extremism, organised crime and local conflicts in Liptako-Gourma, December 2019, p. 6; ISS Africa: The genesis of insurgency in northern Mozambique, October 2019, pp. 3-5 and ISS Africa: Guinea-Bissau: Priorities for long-term stability, March 2019, p. 3) and telephone interviews (see, for example, ISS Africa: Guinea-Bissau: Priorities for long-term stability, March 2019, p. 3).

Languages of publication:

English and French

All links accessed 9 March 2020.