About the Africa Programme

Overview

The Africa Programme at Chatham House develops independent policy-focused research on issues affecting individual states of Africa, the African continent as a whole and relations in the international system.

By working with the best international researchers on African politics, Chatham House offers reliable and independent research which is published globally. Using its reputation and influence, Africa Programme impacts on policy.

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Research

Policy-making in and towards Africa often suffers owing to a lack of accurate, up-to-date and reliable information, a lack of coordination between policy-makers and incoherent political focus. The Africa Programme mitigates these by identifying and delivering research which is:

  • Politically focused, whilst accommodating economic and developmental approaches;
  • Policy-based, seeking to affect decision-making and outcomes;
  • Regionally and country-led with a cautious approach to continental themes;
  • Based on empirical data and an avoidance of repackaged existing information;
  • Forward-thinking and differentiated from current research elsewhere.

Thematic Research

  • Governance and corruption
  • Piracy and non-state actors
  • Africa in the international system
  • Human security
  • Resources and society

Full list of current projects >>

Regional Coverage

Regionally, we have particular expertise on the shaded countries:

Africa Programme - regional expertise

Our current research focus is on:

  • Angola
  • CAR
  • Chad
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Mozambique
  • Nigeria
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • Sudan
  • Swaziland
  • Uganda
  • Zimbabwe

Expertise is also available on Africa in the international system, with particular reference to Europe, US, Russia, India, China, Brazil and the G8 and G20.

North Africa is covered by the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Programme at Chatham House, with which the Africa programme collaborates.

Dissemination

Our events provide the opportunity to engage world-renowned figures in discussing issues pertinent to Africa's national, regional and international politics.

The unique convening power and independent reputation of Chatham House and contacts with over 9,000 key decision-makers on Africa globally mean that briefing papers and reports are widely read and taken seriously. The Africa Programme promotes consensus and outcome orientated debate. By supporting informed reporting by international news agencies, the Africa Programme improves the quality of information disseminated globally.

Organization

In consultation with sponsors and other stakeholders, the Africa Programme initiates, monitors and delivers research, ensuring quality and accountability.

The majority of expertise is provided by Associate Fellows, who are appointed on the basis of their extensive knowledge and experience in one or more fields. Full staff list >>

A Global Network of Support

The work of the Africa Programme is principally supported by:

ANGLO AMERICAN
BANCO AFRICANO DE INVESTIMENTOS
BG GROUP
BP
CHEVRON
CHRISTIAN AID
CRS
DE BEERS
EXXONMOBIL

FCO
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY
GOVERNMENT OF SWITZERLAND
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
MARATHON OIL CORPORATION
ONE WORLD ACTION
REVENUE WATCH

SABMILLER
SAVE THE CHILDREN
SHELL INTERNATIONAL
SONANGOL
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
STATOIL
STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION
TOTAL
TULLOW OIL

The Africa Programme also works closely with research partners around the world to promote analysis with a global perspective. They include:

  • Center for Strategic and International Studies
  • Centro de Estudos e Investigação Científica
  • Council on Foreign Relations
  • Egmont Institute
  • German Institute for International and Security Affairs
  • Institut Français des Relations Internationales
  • Instituto Superior de Relações Internacionais
  • Nigerian Institute of International Affairs
  • Russian Academy of Sciences
  • Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
  • South African Institute of International Affairs

The Africa Programme is constantly seeking support and input from organizations which recognize the importance of truly independent policy-focused research. The Africa Programme fundraises for 100% of its activities and costs, including salaries.

More information about sponsorship >>

Newsletter

To sign up to the Africa Programme newsletter please contact Tighisti Amare.

Latest newsletter >>

Further Information

For more information on any aspect of our work, please contact:

Tom Cargill, Assistant Head, Africa Programme
Tel +44 (0) 20 7957 5718
Email Tom Cargill >>

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