Value for Programme Sponsors

The Africa Programme offers the opportunity to support leading independent research addressing the challenges facing Africa, involving senior government officials, business representatives, regional specialists and other experts.

The Africa Programme at Chatham House is amongst the most influential policy research programmes in the world relating to the politics of African states and their international relations.

Most Africa research conducted elsewhere is led by developmental concerns. While development is an important component of the work of the Africa Programme, it is our political and sub-regional focus that makes us special. The Africa Programme works to ensure decision-makers and opinion-formers have more nuanced and differentiated views of the politics of specific African countries, rather than of Africa as a whole. We firmly believe this is essential to sound decision-making, and that this is what makes the unique role of the Africa Programme so important.

The value we provide to Programme sponsors is as follows:

• An independent source of expertise on countries that are important to sponsors. As a charity, and unlike political risk consultancies, we are not driven by the need to generate repeat business, and so provide an essential check on the information consultancies provide. Corporate sponsors receive privileged access to this expertise.
  
  
• We are actively concerned with improving the quality of information upon which senior policy-makers in Western governments base their priorities and decision-making. Through its convening power, briefings and public reporting, the Africa Programme makes an important contribution to containing and resolving conflicts.
  
  
• Private investment in African states is essential for governments seeking to improve the lives of their citizens, as it is to rich countries concerned to reduce the threats that stem from poverty and alienation. Investment can only succeed in the long term when it takes place in an environment of transparency, accountability and the rule of law. The Africa Programme works to support such an environment, and exposes instances where governments, businesses and others fail to support it, or where behaviour could be improved. By doing so in a non-confrontational or alarmist way, we believe governments and businesses are more likely to recognize their own self-interest in reform. Sponsors of the Africa Programme benefit by publicly contributing to such an aim and demonstrating a mature engagement with the challenges of doing business in such environments.
  
  
• African states should and will play an increasingly active and influential role in global politics, and it is in the interest of responsible decision-makers to stay informed and seek to engage with these states. By providing a platform for African leaders and others to communicate with an international audience, the Africa Programme supports this agenda. This is in the interests of corporate sponsors in promoting global stability and growth opportunities for all.

Chatham House is constantly seeking support and input from organizations which recognize the importance of truly independent policy-focused research.

Further Information

For more information on any aspect of our work, please contact Elizabeth Donnelly at edonnelly@chathamhouse.org

Current Sponsors

The work of the Africa Programme is principally supported by

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