The Center for Sustained Domestic Security and Development (CESDOSED) is a research center that engages in security, governance, development, public health, and environmental issues on the continent of Africa. In addition, CESDOSED organizes Training and Professional Development workshops to enhance capacity building in both the private and public sectors in Africa.

Africa's Institutions

Designing effective institutions in Africa is a daunting task and may even be considered elusive. United States President Barack H. Obama once remarked in Accra, Ghana, in 2009 during his first trip to Africa after his election in 2008, that "Africa does not need strongmen, it needs strong institutions." With more than half a century of post-independent experience, institutional challenges still plague many African states. The question that often arises is what are these seemingly elusive "institutions" that could be a panacea to domestic political stability, liberty, security, and the overall development on the continent of Africa. The contemporary state of domestic African institutions presents a security and developmental dilemma to the African people, the respective states, and global security and development. CESDOSED researches African institutions in their uniqueness. It explores traditional African societal institutions as potential theoretical and practical pillars of institutional building and design on the continent. Thus, a critical institutional approach becomes imperative in the effort at designing sustainable institutions in Africa.

Security and Development

The nexus between Security and Development is fundamental to Africa's stability. Africa's development is encapsulated in the overall security of its people and the respective African states. Whiles the nature of post-independent African states presents a challenge and makes the respective states vulnerable to instability, it is the Center's view that Africa's security and development are intertwined and must be achieved together. The Center explores domestic and regional security, and most importantly human security as an essential piece to a sustainable security and development strategy in Africa.

Research

The research exploration of the Center is evidence-based. The Center's research is embedded in traditional African institutions and societal realities. As the Center's objective is to pursue sustainable conduct and application of its research outcomes, it has found it imperative to explore fundamental societal institutions and how such institutions form the foundational blocks for sustained development.

In addition, the Center's research objective engages Africa's position in shaping contemporary global issues. Currently, international agendas are predominantly shaped by states and people outside Africa even though the continent's massive human and natural resources contribute to global development. After more than six decades of independence, Africa's strategic global relevance is still not properly delineated and lacks clear direction. As many now begin to hint on the view that Africa is on the rise, the question is how this rise is measured and analyzed? Has the continent, represented by the respective states, positioned itself strategically to be relevant in shaping international agendas in the 21st century and beyond? Where does the conversation regarding Africa's rise begin? The center navigates this discourse through research.

Professional Development

Capacity building in both public and private sectors is key to Africa's security and development. The Center offers short-term courses to senior and mid-level public and private sector officials, educators, and other categories of workforce to equip them with an enhanced skill set for effective management and leadership of their respective organizations. The Center also organizes conferences, roundtables, speaker series to discuss potential areas that may challenge or enhance Africa's march towards development in the foreseeable future.