As we embark upon the end of a resilient year, we would like to express our profound appreciation and acknowledgment to the friends and supporters of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS). Although due to the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic that recommenced with harsh impact from the previous year, 2021 has also been a challenging year. However, we were able to adapt to new realities and thrive in them.
Despite the difficulties, we have been able to accomplish many of our annual activities and joint programmes in collaboration with our new and existing partners. We published two volumes of our peer-reviewed Journal, the AfSol Journal, IPSS Annual Review Letter, 2020 Tana Outcomes Report, MPSA Alumni Booklet, Policy briefs, Conflict Insight reports on Benin, Chad, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Niger, and Tunisia. IPSS also continued to expand its academic, professional, and short courses to students on the continent and beyond.
Through our virtual policy dialogue events, we have sustained connections and embraced new spaces to convene and grapple with the peace and security challenges of our time. However, the much anticipated 10th anniversary of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa planned to take place in Bahir Dar from 25-28 November 2021, under the theme “Managing Security Threats: Building Resilience for the Africa We Want” is postponed until next year. This difficult decision was made after extensive consultation between the Tana Forum Chairperson and Board, the Government of Ethiopia, the Technical Committee, and the Secretariat.
We are grateful for the support we have received from our partners, the phenomenal team at IPSS, and our students who made it possible for us to implement all the above activities and much more. Our sincere appreciation also goes to the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) for their continued commitment and effort in collaborating with the Institute on various occasions in accentuating the importance of Silencing the Guns and other targeted interventions.
Our gratitude also goes to our partners and donors whose generous support has been instrumental to the success of IPSS’ activities this year, and we look forward to strengthening these ties in the coming year.
As we reflect on 2021, it is clear that we could accomplish all the above because we collaborated and stayed connected. As such, we look towards 2022 with renewed optimism.
On behalf of IPSS, thank you.
Happy and safe holidays to you.
Sincerely,
Yonas Adaye Adeto, Director/Associate Professor, IPSS
Lettie Tembo Longwe, Interim Director, Africa Peace and Security Programme/Tana Forum Secretariat Head, IPSS