The Africa programme would like to thank the following organizations for their current support of our work:
- Agility
- Airtel
- Anglo American
- Barclays Private Bank
- BHP
- BP
- Brenthurst Foundation
- British International Investment
- Chevron
- De Beers
- DP World
- ENI
- Equinor
- ExxonMobil
- Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- Globeleq
- Government of the United States of America
- Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung
- Helios
- Investec
- Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
- MacArthur Foundation
- Mitsubishi Corporation
- Mitsui
- National Endowment for Democracy
- Open Society Foundations
- Rio Tinto
- Robert Bosch Stiftung
- Shell International
- Standard Bank Group
- Standard Chartered Bank
- The World Bank
- TotalEnergies
- Tullow Oil
- UNDP
- Vodafone Group
Value for programme supporters
The Africa Programme offers the opportunity to support leading independent research addressing Africa’s challenges and potential, involving senior government officials, business and civil society representatives, regional specialists and other experts.
The Africa Programme is among the most influential policy research programmes in the world focused on the politics of African states and their international relations.
Most Africa-related 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 supporters is as follows:
An independent source of expertise on African countries: 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 supporters receive privileged access to this expertise.
We are actively concerned with improving the quality of information upon which senior policy-makers internationally 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. Supporters 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 interests 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 supporters in promoting global stability and growth opportunities for all.