Coping with Crisis

IPI’s Middle East Program focuses on broad, cross-regional research and the facilitation of policy dialogue. Particular emphasis is placed on helping the Middle East peace process move forward through third-party involvement.

The program has three primary areas: 1) research and analysis focusing on qualitative projects, such as public opinion research, with the aim of injecting local voices into decision making at the UN; 2) the facilitation of policy dialogue through the convening of forums and workshops; 3) a Middle East Peace Process Compendium, to be published by Oxford University Press.

Established in 1992, the Africa Program examines the capacity of Africa's regional and sub-regional organizations to prevent and respond to existing and emerging security challenges on the continent. Its primary objective is to deepen knowledge about Africa's crises, draw international attention to them, and contribute to the enhancement of institutional capacities in peace and security. In this regard, the Program works closely with the African Union, regional economic communities, the United Nations, the European Union and other partners and states to explore policy options for capacity building in sustainable peace, stability, and development.

With the projected increase in demand for UN peace operations worldwide, and the increasingly transnational nature of threats to human security — including climate change, terrorism, organized crime and armed conflict — there are opportunities for the UN and Asia to develop stronger cooperation to address transnational security threats.

To that end, IPI's Asia-related programming seeks to promote a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the region, and better connect the UN community to regional research and policy networks through a series of policy research projects and by using IPI's convening capacity to advance informal dialogue among scholars, practitioners and diplomats.