Africa
Africa and Saferworld
Saferworld focuses on the Horn of Africa. We work on arms control, security and development in Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.
We also work to strengthen regional arms controls in the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes.
Our regional office is in Nairobi and our Africa team is split between Kampala, London and Nairobi.
What are the challenges in the Horn of Africa?
The Horn of Africa is the most conflict affected region in Africa. Conflicts are often cross-border and they frequently stem from disputes over access to resources and competition between different ethnic groups or clans.
There are also high levels of insecurity and armed violence in the region. This presents major obstacles to poverty reduction and sustainable development.
Factors fuelling conflicts and insecurity in the region include:
- the proliferation of small arms
- weak or absent state security provision
- development work that does not take the risk of conflict into account
What we do in the Horn of Africa
We work to address these factors by:
- strengthening the capacity of regional bodies, national governments and civil society to work on arms, conflict and insecurity issues
- facilitating the development and implementation of small arms policies and laws and frameworks for arms control and security sector reform
- supporting the piloting of new and innovative approaches to arms control and insecurity such as community-based policing
- undertaking research and advocacy on conflict and security issues
Read a case study about conflict-sensitive development in Uganda
Read a case study about community-based policing in Kenya
Read our report which highlights how conflict-sensitive development can have a positive impact on armed violence and peace.
Download 'The experience of the Northern Ugandan shea nut project'
Reports and briefings
Uganda and international small arms transfers: Implementing UN Programme of Action commitments, July 2008
Water provision as a peacebuilding tool, June 2008
Peace and security in Africa, March 2008
Africa's missing billions: International arms flows and the cost of conflict, October 2007
Prospects for sustainable peace in Uganda, July 2007
The experience of the Northern Uganda Shea Nut Project, June 2007
Progress 7: Great Lakes region and Horn of Africa newsletter on small arms, June 2007
Aid and conflict in Uganda, March 2007
Kenya National action plan for arms control and management, September 2006
Find out more
Read more about our work on:
Conflict-sensitive development
Security and justice sector development
Find out how you can support us
