Peace & Security Division

A peaceful, secure and prosperous Cameroon and Africa

To quickly become an efficient, effective and leading centre in the promotion of interdisciplinary, action-oriented and community-centred approach to the (violent) conflict prevention, management, resolution, transformation, strategic peacebuilding, human/state security and sustainable development in Cameroon and Africa.

The P&SD is committed to ensuring that all aspects of its work and relationships are conducted in accordance with the following guiding principles which all cherished values of the Denis & Leonora Foretia Foundation that hosts the Peace and Security Division of the Nkafu Policy Institute:

• Integrity
• Fairness
• Transparency
• Inclusion
• Accountability
• Safety
• Quality

The broader objectives of the Division are to:

• Carry out in-depth research and make policy recommendations on issues relating to peace and security in Africa;
• Provide training and technical support to strengthen the capacity of local communities at the grassroots level, civil society groups, national institutions, and regional organisations in Africa;
• Inform national and regional peace initiatives through Nkafu’s experience and expertise, by equipping and empowering key individuals and groups with the skills to constructively manage community, political, and socio-economic conflicts, and institute sustainable conflict resolution mechanisms within their organisations; and
• Contribute to efforts to strengthen the peacekeeping and human rights protection roles of African peacekeepers in regional and UN missions through relevant and tailored training programs.

The Peace and Security Division of the Nkafu Policy Institute contributes to sustainable peace and security in Cameroon and Africa through its different programmes of research, trainings/capacity-building, policy recommendation and advocacy activities. Hence, the division disseminates key findings to various stakeholders at national sub-regional and regional levels with the aim of informing policy and programming.

Hence, areas of research, training and capacity building activities include but are not limited to:

• Peace and Security challenges in Cameroon and Africa.
• Causes and consequences of violent conflict in Africa;
• The nexus between peace, security, governance and development;
• Conflict Early Warning and Response
• The role of African Union and RECs in conflict resolution;
• The role of women and youth in conflict resolution;
• Post conflict peace-building process;
• African common and national policies and international community commitment to peace building in Africa;
• Leadership and cooperation in Africa;
• African shared values; and
• Democracy and governance in Africa.

The above thematic research focus areas and activities are organised within the flowing three (3) main pillars/programs that build on each other to effectively contribute to evidence-based sustainable Peace, Security and development Policies.

Pillar 1: Research and Development

Employing both qualitative and quantitative research methods, baseline or secondary data collection, the Institute conducts research activities in order to provide data and analysis on issues of peace, conflict, security, and development for the benefit of both local and international stakeholders. The Division sets to conduct research both baseline and secondary in the field of peace and security in Cameroon and make solution and/or recommendation in guaranteeing peace and security in Cameroon in particular and Africa in general. These methods are also applied in order to assess programs and activities organized by the Division culminating in annual assessment reports, copies of which will be made publicly available.

Pillar 2: Knowledge Management and Outreach

From its various research activities, the P&SD of the Nkafu Policy Institute generates reports, lessons learned, peered-review academic articles, policy briefs and stores them in a central knowledge bank on the Nkafu’s website. The various information products such as reports, policy briefs, training materials, lessons learned and other documents produced by P&SD are then made available to donors, partners and the general public. The findings are also shared with local communities and stakeholders that participate in its various research activities. The Division also organises public debates and dialogues which are meant to inform and or educate the public and stakeholders across the world.

Pillar 3: Capacity-building and Training

Based on the latest research findings as well as lessons learned, the P&SD develops context‐ specific training and capacity-building models for government, non‐governmental organisations, civil society organisations and community-based actors responsible for implementing responses to insecurity at both at the local and national levels in Cameroon in particular and Africa in general. The P&SD also offers additional training tailored to specific context in Cameroon on issues of conflict prevention, conflict early warning and response, conflict resolution, mediation, as well as other issues concerning post conflict reconstruction, conflict transformation and sustainable development. The P&SD is establishing a capacity-building and training centre in the near future in order to deliver these services more effectively and efficiently.