Message from Director

Welcome to the Center for Sustained Domestic Security and Development (CESDOSED). CESDOSED is a research institution with the objective of addressing institutional challenges on the continent of Africa, and the context within which the continent's developmental efforts have been executed. Through evidence and result-based research, the Center seeks to address sustainability in Africa's institutional and developmental discourses. Donors, investors, and other stakeholders are concerned about the lack of effective institutions in Africa and the resultant 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 dire effects of weak institutions. It has become a common practice that some advanced countries, 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 state have actually retrogressed making it even more costly to salvage them. The Center provides a new perspective to understand the African situation through research, round-tables, and conferences to address the institutional and critical developmental challenges. In doing so, the Center focuses on political, social, and economic institutions within African states, as well as policy strategies pursued by 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 its external relations has on such institutions and invariably Africa's overall development. CESDOSED is, and will strive to be, one of the leading research hubs for the study of African institutions and its 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 vigorously seek to deal with the scope of institutional and development challenges in Africa.

Dr. Francis Wiafe-Amoako (Director)