Institute for Security Studies

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See Institute for Security Studies (EU) for a European Union think tank

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) (French: Institut d'Etudes de Securite) (www.issafrica.org) is a leading policy think-tank with a focus on human security in Africa. The ISS has offices in Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Nairobi, and Pretoria (head office).

The ISS' work focuses on areas such as human rights, good governance (political and economic), personal and community security (crime), justice, refugee movements and internal displacement, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.

The ISS was originally established as the Institute for Defence Policy by Dr Jakkie Cilliers, and Mr PB Mertz in 1991. Dr Cilliers is the Executive Director.

1 Vision and Mission
2 Institutional Issues
3 Areas of Engagement
4 External links

[edit] Vision and Mission

As a leading African human security research institution, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) works towards a stable and peaceful Africa characterised by sustainable development, human rights, the rule of law, democracy and collaborative security. The ISS realises this vision by: • Undertaking applied research, training and capacity building; • Working collaboratively with others; • Facilitating and supporting policy formulation; • Monitoring trends and policy implementation; • Collecting, interpreting and disseminating information; • Networking on national, regional and international levels.

The mission of the ISS is to conceptualise, inform and enhance the debate on human security in Africa in order to support policy formulation and decision-making at every level towards the enhancement of human security for all in Africa. The Institute views itself as a regional and not a South African organization.

[edit] Institutional Issues

The ISS was established in 1991 and is a non-profit trust registered in terms of section 6(1) of the South African Trust Property Control Act, 1988. The Institute is also registered as a non-profit organisation in term of the South African Non-Profit Organisations Act, 1997 (No 71 of 1997). In Ethiopia the Institute is registered as a research association with the Ministry of Justice through certificate number 2190 dated 29th June 2005. In Kenya the ISS is registered as a company limited by Guarantee with no Share Capital, duly incorporated in the Republic of Kenya (registration Number C. 119625) on the 29th day of September 2005 under the Companies Act, Chapter 486, Laws of the Republic of Kenya.

The ISS has two external trustees and one internal trustee, namely Advocate Selby Baqwa, group executive head of corporate governance at Nedcor, Judge Lucy Mailula (Supreme Court) and Dr Jakkie Cilliers. The Trustees normally meet on a quarterly basis.

The Institute also has an Advisory Council that meets annually or more often as required. The purpose of the Council is to advise the ISS on strategic policy and management issues, to serve as a vehicle to enhance the accountability and transparency of the Institute and to advance and represent the interests of the ISS. The President of the Council is Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary-General of the OAU and member of the AU Panel of the Wise. The Council meets annually and the location of meetings rotates between offices.

Strategic management and policy is vested in an internal Management Board that meets quarterly, rotating its meetings between the various offices of the ISS. The Board consists of the Executive Director, all office directors, the Deputy Director, Pretoria Programme Head that serves on the Executive Committee of the Institute, the Finance Manager and HR Manager.

In between Management Board meetings an Executive Committee (ExCom) is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the ISS. Excom meets every Monday and is composed of the Executive Director, Deputy Director, a Programme Head from the Pretoria office, the Finance Manager and HR Manager.

The Institute has a formal code of ethics and code of conduct that is part of the employment contract of each staff member and that has been revised and updated on a number of occasions.

Over the decade and a half the ISS has collaborated with civil society organisations, governments and sub-regional organisations. The regional organisations include, the African Union (AU), Southern African Police Chiefs Cooperating Organisation (SARPCCO), the Eastern African Police Chiefs Cooperating Organisation (EAPCCO), the Regional Centre for Small Arms (RECSA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

[edit] Areas of Engagement

The Institute is currently (during 2006) engaged in the following areas of work:

• Conflict analysis - Sub-Saharan Africa • Security sector reform in Africa • Crime and justice issues in South Africa • Aids and the military in Africa • Arms control and proliferation of small arms • Understanding the private security sector in Africa • Reconciliation in Burundi • Support to the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand • SADC and the SIPO/human security concept • Peacekeeping - concepts, CivPol training, etc • Corruption and governance in Africa • Natural resource extraction in Eastern Africa • Organized crime & money laundering • NEPAD APRM process • Counter-terrorism in the Horn of Africa • Various civil society networks

The Institute also aims to engage in the following areas:

• Conflict prevention and the AU • Trafficking of people in Southern Africa • China in Africa – peace, security and governance implications • International Criminal Court and Africa • Cattle rustling in eastern Africa • Regional law enforcement & environmental crime in East Africa • Support to the Mozambican police academy • Expanding work on terrorism and Africa • Weapons of mass destruction and Africa