Message from Director

Welcome to the Center for Sustained Domestic Security and Development (CESDOSED). CESDOSED is a research institution with the objective of exploring critical challenges the African continent faces. Through theoretical, evidence and result-based research, the Center seeks to address substantively the security, governance, health environment, and development discourses on the continent. Donors, investors, and other stakeholders are concerned about institutional challenges in Africa and the consequent instability on the continent. There have been instances of "donor fatigue" that has led to donors withholding or withdrawing vital resources (financial, technical, security assistance, etc.) desperately needed to mitigate the negative effects of weak institutions. It has become a common practice that some developed states, who have the resources to help, have closed their embassies and withdraw or threaten to withdraw vital resources and other services as soon as there is some form of a "disturbance" in an African state, citing security concerns. Such a move may well be a necessary short-term precaution. However, the long-term strategy to deal with weak institutions within Africa is not served by such short-term tactical goals. Many of these weak African states have retrogressed, making it even more costly to salvage them. The Center provides a new perspective to understand the African situation through research, roundtables, and conferences to address the institutional, security, and development challenges. In doing so, the Center focuses on political, social, and economic institutions within African states, as well as policy strategies pursued by governments, sub-regional and continental organizations such as SADC, ECOWAS, IGAD and the African Union (AU) regarding institutional building, security and development. The Center is also interested in Africa's relations with the rest of the world. We cannot talk about strengthening African domestic and regional institutions without acknowledging the impact external relations has on such institutions and consequently Africa's overall development. CESDOSED is, and will strive to be, one of the leading research hubs for the study of African institutions, security, and development. Once again you are welcome to the Center. Please feel free to explore and engage the Center regarding the core issues and research areas in whatever way possible as the Center seeks to navigate the discourses of institutional, security, and development challenges in Africa.

Dr. Francis Wiafe-Amoako (Director)