What We Do

Effective leadership and good governance are central in this ever-changing complex world. Good governance entails creating an environment that is inclusive, sensitive and responsive to the needs of the people and effective to the many challenges it encounters. Leadership is instrumental in the course of enhancing the life of the people and realizing the goals of good governance. There is, therefore, a two-way link between leadership and governance. There are overlapping features of both governance and leadership that are important, especially an unrelenting focus on public good and benefit. In the context of narrowing the gap for vulnerable population, communities and groups, leadership and governance are particularly important for ensuring that a holistic approach is adopted and their varied needs are met. Strong leadership also contributes to effective governance by ensuring that the needs of the local population, including those of vulnerable groups, remain at the forefront of the agenda. In turn, governance frameworks provide strategic direction for leaders, help them to foster commitment, shared aims and to hold people to account.

APReD’s focus here is on the effective leadership in realization of the goals of good governance through the UNDP’s principles: participation; rule of law; transparency; accountability; responsiveness; consensus orientation; equity; effectiveness & efficiency; and, strategic vision.

The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly visible across many countries particularly in African Continent. Environment and climate-related risks—including extreme weather events, water scarcity and the failure to adapt and mitigate climate change—are among the top risks the world faces. Policymakers, researchers and the public increasingly recognize the need to address climate-related security risks through cooperation and dialogue. The challenges surrounding natural resources and climate change provides reliable insights on how natural resource-based and climate-related security risks evolve and how they are interlinked and interact with different social, political and economic processes.

APReD focuses on concrete and appropriate interventions that can be utilized to accelerate climate change action across all sectors, levels and regions. The main guiding question here is: What are the existing gaps at the global, regional and local levels that enable the exponential increase in ambition for climate action in order to make a tangible/real difference in the lives and livelihoods of people particularly in Africa?

Diplomacy has its ancient roots firmly in Africa, the cradle of humanity. Yet the idea of “African diplomacy” is surprisingly new, because most African States are very young compared to those in the rest of the world. The legacy of colonialism, combined with the damage caused by Cold War proxy wars, has infused the continent’s diplomacy and foreign relations with a collective memory of subjugation and marginalization.

APReD’s focus is on how both historical and contemporary contexts are, therefore, essential in understanding the different themes that guide Africa’s contemporary diplomacy and foreign relations; inter-Africa relations and Africa with ‘outside’ world relations. Among these are a preoccupation with pan-African unity, insistence on sovereign equity in the global arena, and, the pursuit of elusive peace, security and development for the continent. The main critical questions here are: How ‘multilateral and collective’ are the diplomatic styles in which these goals are pursued?  Are they marked by a unique ‘activist-like’ approach and emphasis on each State’s ‘national interests’ rather than TRUE ‘unity and solidarity’ among incumbent leaders?