Africa Peace & Security Programme

The Africa Peace and Security Programme (APSP) is a joint programme of the African Union and Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) of Addis Ababa University, mandated by the African Union Executive Council Decision (AU) (EX.CL/567 (XVI), and the follow-up Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two institutions, to take up the intellectual challenge of defining African-centred Solutions (AfSol) through training, research and advocacy around African peace and security issues. With the mandate from the AU, IPSS has positioned itself to provide a veritable and honest platform for the incubation and exchange of innovative ideas, and translating such ideas into concrete action.

Our vision is to be a premiere source for substantial and high quality contributions towards the promotion of African-led solutions for peace and security challenges for the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and Regional Mechanisms (RMs).

Our mission entails:

• Building the capacity of professionals through the provision of substantial, first-rate practical education and training based on a deep understanding of the issues as well as on cutting-edge adult education methodologies.
• Developing data and concepts for action and programme design among top decision makers and experts.
• Providing practical advice to the African Union, RECs, and RMs.
• Bringing together institutions with relevant expertise from all sectors of African social and political life and facilitating their collaboration with the AU, RECs, and RMs; and supporting the AU in reaching out to them.

APSP is substantially funded by the Federal Republic of Germany with contributions from the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs implemented through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The support is based on a long-term agreement that extends to 2017. Other contributors are the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), several other development partners (Norway, Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium) as well as members of the African private sector (Dangote Enterprises and Brenthurst Foundation).