Addis Ababa, 8 February 2023:  The Department of Political Affairs Peace and Security (DPAPS) of the AU Commission launched the African Union Network of Think Tanks for Peace (NeTT4Peace) in Addis Ababa. This Network of Think Tanks for Peace is an initiative of DPAPS that intends to drive the much-needed strategic partnership between the research community (focussing on governance, peace and security) and the Department.

Prior to the launch, a 2-day technical session of a strategy group which will provide strategic direction for the Network, was convened by DPAPS, with GIZ sponsorship. The group, composed of 4 members from each of the 5 AU geographic regions, drafted a charter for the NeTT4Peace Network and agreed to meet at least twice a year while the NeTT4Peace will meet at least once a year.

Following this technical session, on the 8 February 2023, the AU NeTT4Peace was officially launched by the AUC Deputy Chairperson Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa. The Deputy Chair welcomed the initiative as timely and in line with ongoing AU institutional reforms. She also challenged the NeTT4Peace on a number of research focus areas of priority to Africa and promised AU collaboration.

PAPS Commissioner Bankole Adeoye, in his welcoming remarks, explained the rationale behind this initiative to create a structured and focused interface between AU PAPS and African think tanks and do tanks. He also mentioned that collaborative efforts are needed to achieve African solutions to African problems.

The initial structure and operational guidelines of the Network was presented at the launch by the Director-General of the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping & Peacebuilding and Co-Chair of the strategy group, Ambassador Ahmed Abdel – Latif, who indicated that NeTT4Peace will organise itself into thematic/country/regional working groups while taking into consideration the comparative advantages of African think tanks and work with other specialized African networks. Membership of the Network will be voluntary, inclusive and open to all African think tanks, including the Diaspora,  that have a track record in the field.

The initiative is expected to enhance the relevance and value of the contribution of African knowledge communities and allow the Department to identify and better utilise evidence-based research to inform policy formulation and strategic decision-making.

Participant Think tanks included: The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping & Peacebuilding (CCCPA), The Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), The Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Amani Africa, African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), IPAR-Rwanda, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Nkafu Policy Institute, Institut Interculturel pour la paix dans la Région des Grands Lacs (Pole Institute), Centre de Recherche en Économie Appliquée pour le Développement (CREAD), Centre for Policy Research AFRIA (CPRA) and Groupe d'Etudes sur les Conflits la Sécurité Humaine.

A keynote address was delivered by Professor Tim Murithi, followed by goodwill messages by AU-ECOSOCC, the German Embassy to Ethiopia and USIP.

For further information, please contact:

Limi Mohammed Shash, Website Administrator | Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department | African Union Commission
Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: shashlm@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Posted by Limi Mohammed

Last updated by Abraham Kebede

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