Institute for Security Studies

The Institute for Security Studies, also known as ISS or ISS Africa (to distinguish itself from other similarly named institutes in other parts of the world), described itself as follows: "an African organisation which aims to enhance human security on the continent. It does independent and authoritative research, provides expert policy analysis and advice, and delivers practical training and technical assistance." It is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa.

The institute was recognised as the third best African NGO in Sub-Saharan Africa by the Global Go To Think Tanks Report 2011.

History
The institute was originally established as Institute for Defence Policy in 1991. ISS began with a focus in civil-military relations and democratic reform in the waning years of apartheid South Africa, but has since evolved to encompass a wide range of issue areas of human security across Africa, including: human rights, arms control, corruption and governance, climate change, and crime and criminal justice. Since its inception, the Institute for Security Studies has grown into a pan-African research institution, partnering with the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, and a host of governments, institutions, and organisations throughout the world.

Areas of work
ISS works in the following areas:


 * Governance, crime, and justice
 * Conflict prevention and risk analysis
 * Conflict management and peace building
 * Transnational threats and international crime

Partnerships
ISS is a regional partner of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and they are currently working together on the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). ISS is also a member of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Crime Justice Network (part of the UNODC).

The institute has engaged with the African Union on various platforms. ISS was a research partner with the African Union Commission in the Year of Peace and Security in 2010. Additionally, the ISS website hosts as a repository for African Union documents, dating back to 1990. Finally, ISS collaborates with the African Union Peace and Security Council to produce a monthly report on the security challenges and opportunities that face the continent.

Corruption and Governance Programme
In 2010, the Corruption and Governance programme of the Institute for Security Studies launched the Who Owns What? database. This is an extensive, open-source database of disclosure forms of the assets and interests of South African politicians, in an effort to increase transparency of public officials. The Who Owns What? Database has been used to hold South African politicians accountable for their private interests.

African Futures Project
The African Futures Project is a collaboration between the Institute for Security Studies and the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures to promote long-term strategic thinking for the African continent across a broad range of key global systems. The African Futures Project has produced monographs on long-term African development, as well as a quarterly policy brief series that addresses specific development issues, such as the future of traffic accidents and fatalities or the implications of a Green Revolution for Africa.

Reception
ISS is listed as a prominent organisation in Africa in independent listings.

The views of ISS staff have been cited and referenced in news stories in the African press, in connection with the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping and in other contexts. It has also been cited in some non-African publications, such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.