About SAIIA

Profile of the Organisation

SAIIA has a long and proud record as South Africa’s premier research institute on international issues.  It is an independent, non-government think-tank whose purpose is to encourage wider and more informed awareness of the importance of international affairs.  It is both a centre for research excellence and a home for stimulating public debate.

In 2009 the Institute celebrated its 75th anniversary with a range of conferences, high profile speakers’ meetings and social events across the country as well as in London.  Speakers during the year included the former President of Mali (and of the African Union), the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Commissioner for External Relations, the Trade Minister of Botswana, as well as several South African government ministers.

In early 2010 the University of Pennsylvania released its annual Global Think Tank Survey at the United Nations in New York, and SAIIA was pleased to learn that it had been voted the best think tank in sub Saharan Africa.  This was a result of an exercise involving some 1200 international peer reviewers, and was doubly exciting as it coincided with the Institute’s Jubilee year.

In the early 1990’s the Institute’s strategy began to shift from speakers’ meetings and a general conference programme to a more focused research agenda.  The major research projects within the Institute produce a range of deliverables to its funders and the wider public in the form of publications, policy briefs, workshops and conferences catering for a cross-constituency audience.

Download SAIIA's Highlights brochure
to learn more about what we do
Highlights 2011  [pdf 1.9 MB]
Highlights 2010  [pdf 2.3 MB]
Highlights 2009  [pdf 1.8 MB]
Highlights 2008  [pdf 2.9 MB]

Our Vision
To be the pre-eminent think-tank on Africa and on global issues as they affect Africa.

Our Mission
To provide cutting-edge analysis and promote balanced dialogue on issues crucial to Africa’s advancement and its engagement in a dynamic global context.

We achieve this by:

• Making constructive policy input.
• Stimulating informed public debate.
• Building leadership and research excellence in Africa.

The Institute’s activities include:

• making input into policy development locally and internationally;
• undertaking research on current issues of importance to Africa generally and South Africa specifically with a focus on governance and accountability; trade, investment (i.e. economic diplomacy) and development ; South African foreign policy; existing and emerging powers and their role in Africa; and lastly, global challenges such as climate change and energy security;
• developing linkages and joint programmes with international organisations and agencies throughout the world;
• maintaining a resource centre and reference library (that is a United Nations depository as well as a World Bank Development Information Centre) for students and scholars of international relations;
• organising conferences, seminars and speakers’ meetings on a wide range of topics addressed by prominent South Africans and distinguished international guests; and
• encouraging an interest in international relations among the youth through its leadership programme for postgraduate interns and its various outreach programmes for university students and high school learners.

The Institute was founded in Cape Town in 1934 and has been located since 1960 in Jan Smuts House on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand (in central Johannesburg) with which it has strong links.  In 2008 it opened an office in Cape Town and in 2009 another in Pretoria to service important stakeholder groups in those cities.  Its project funding derives from grants from international governments, multilateral organisations and private foundations while some core institutional funding comes from local corporate, diplomatic and institutional members.

It is governed by an independent council whose members represent the Institute’s branches around South Africa as well as senior figures in business and civil society.  It is registered as a not for profit organisation with the Department of Social Development, and with the South African Revenue Services as a public benefit organisation.