Established 1934 Founded 1934 | chief executive Elizabeth Sidiropoulos Phone +27 11 339 2021 Type of business Research Institute | |
 | ||
Location Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Address Wits University Dalrymple House, Jan Smuts Ave, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa Hours Closed now Monday8:30AM–5PMTuesday8:30AM–5PMWednesday8:30AM–5PMThursday8:30AM–5PMFriday8:30AM–5PMSaturdayClosedSundayClosedSuggest an edit Similar SAIMM, South African Institute o, Wits Art Museum, PRISA Profiles | ||
Neissan besharati south african institute of international affairs
SAIIA is a South African research institute on regional and 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.
Contents
Tom wheeler from the south african institute of international affairs
History
The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) was founded in Cape Town in 1934 by a group of academics, politicians, and newspaper editors. It has been located in Jan Smuts House, on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, since 1960. An Office was established in Cape Town in 2008 to engage more closely with key stakeholders in Johannesburg.
In the early 1990s the strategy of the Institute 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 donors and the wider public in the form of publications (such as policy briefs, occasional papers and research reports), workshops and conferences catering for a cross constituency audience, and media engagement.
Work
The Institute's activities include :
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.
SAIIA 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.
Research Output
SAIIA's research work currently focuses on:
Youth Outreach
SAIIA's youth initiative (Youth@SAIIA), emphasizes the broader goal of fostering awareness on international affairs, and stimulating public debate amongst young people, whilst providing skills development that cultivates future leaders and researchers.
Notable Visitors
As part of its mandate to hold conferences, seminars and speakers' meetings, SAIIA has hosted a range of well-known South African and international figures. These include UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the late South African president Nelson Mandela and the then US Senator (now President) Barack Obama.