The South African Institute of International Affairs
Information on the purpose of your organization
The purpose of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) is to provide input into policy development and promote balanced dialogue and debate on issues crucial to Africa?s advancement and engagement in a dynamic global context. Our vision is to be a pre-eminent think-tank on Africa and on global issues as they affect the continent so as to contribute to a well-governed, peaceful, economically sustainable and globally-engaged Africa.
Information on your programmes and activities in areas relevant to the subject of the Summit and in which country or counties they are carried out.
SAIIA has conducted research and produced publications and policy recommendations on the Post-2015 development agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related topics such as peace and security, health, poverty and climate change. It has also hosted events locally and internationally to discuss these issues with other organisations and governments.
SAIIA's Youth Programmes have been working on the SDGs and the post-2015 agenda for over two years. They have done this at a local level by hosting post-2015 and SDGs themed Model United Nations conferences, and at a national level through youth research progammes that focus on creating policy recommendations on sustainable development and climate change in the post-2015 development agenda. Through the Institute?s annual Young Leaders Conference and Youth Policy Committee top high school learners and university students have been hosting their own youth negotiations to inform South Africa?s position on the SDGs. The SAIIA Youth Policy Committee has also been highly active in the UN Major Group for Children and Youth, and has contributed to statements, responses and recommendations put forward in New York.
Information on activities at the national or international levels
1. Making input into policy development locally and internationally
2. Undertaking research on current issues of importance to Africa generally and South Africa specifically with a focus on governance and accountability; trade, investment and development; foreign policy; and climate change and energy security.
3. Developing linkages and joint programmes with international organisations and agencies throughout the world
4. Maintaining a resource centre and reference library (that is a United Nations depository as well as a World Bank Development Information Centre) for students and scholars of international relations
5. organising conferences, seminars and speakers? meetings on a wide range of topics addressed by prominent South Africans and distinguished international guests
6. Encouraging an interest in international relations among the youth through our leadership programme for postgraduate interns and our youth outreach programmes for university students and high school learners
Please see below some of the work done in the past year.
We have had workshops, seminars, debates, panel discussion and conferences such as the following:
1. The African Peer Review Mechanism in Southern Africa: Exploring Synergies with the Southern African Development Community. Workshop details available at http://www.saiia.org.za/aprm-sadc
2. Understanding Terrorism in Africa: how much of a threat is ISIS? Seminar details available at http://www.saiia.org.za/events/understanding-terrorism-in-africa-how-much-of-a-threat-is-isis
3. International Relations and Infectious Diseases: the politics of bugs. Seminar details are available at http://www.saiia.org.za/events/international-relations-and-infectious-diseases-the-politics-of-bugs.
4. 2014 SAIIA Young Leaders Conference. Details available at http://www.saiia.org.za/events/2014-saiia-young-leaders-conference
5. Model United Nations 2014: the largest in Southern Africa. Debate details available at http://www.saiia.org.za/events/model-united-nations-2014-the-largest-in-southern-africa
Organization have an annual report? (YES/NO) (should contain financial statements and a list of financial sources and contributions, including governmental contributions)?
YES -
2013-2014annualreport.pdf
List of members of the governing body of your organization, and their countries of nationality
Executive Committee
Moeletsi Mbeki (Chair)
John Buchanan (Honorary Treasurer)
Richard Steyn
Eltie Links
Elizabeth Sidiropoulos
All members of the Executive Committee are South African
Copy of the constitution and/or by-laws of the organization (WORD or PDF only), or a weblink to it
SAIIA-Constitution_29Feb2012_Final.pdf
