The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs is leveraging and extending its Abraham Accords partnerships into the African continent. African nations are turning to Israel as an anchor for security, stability, and prosperity, viewing Israel’s technological capabilities as a solution for food security, water desalinization, and infrastructure development for future generations.
For the first time in Israel’s history, a leading Israeli policy and diplomacy institute – the Jerusalem Center – is partnering with Ethiopia’s leading policy and applied diplomacy institutes. Ethiopia, the second-largest African nation, with a population of 125 million, shares similar national security challenges with Israel, including combating terrorism and radicalization, and seeking to maintain political and social cohesion in a multiethnic society. The Jerusalem Center has also been approached by leading policy institutes in Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, and the Red Sea states of Djibouti and Somaliland.
The Jerusalem Center is collaborating with Ethiopia’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) and Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) to create a shared agenda using the following modalities:
- Exchange of Jerusalem Center, IFA, and IPSS-led governmental, parliamentary and diplomatic delegations.
- Zoom consultations, workshops, roundtables, podcasts and videocasts.
- Annual major conference on Israel-Africa national security challenges to be held in Africa, Israel, and the United States.
- Policy recommendations on strategic intelligence, military and national security, and infrastructure, food and water security.
- Impact assessment of Israel’s profile in the West including polling of African, Israeli and Jewish American public opinion on bilateral and multilateral relations.
- Extension of the Jerusalem Center’s policy and applied diplomacy activities through research centers and universities, media and opinion influencers, and selected civil society stakeholders across the African continent.
Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) – Ethiopia
The Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) at Addis Ababa University is a leading institute for education, research and policy dialogue on peace and security in Africa. Established in 2007, IPSS produces skilled professionals in conflict prevention, management, and resolution; peacebuilding; and promotes the values of a democratic and peaceful society.
Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) – Ethiopia
The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) is the premier foreign policy think tank of the Ethiopian Government based in Addis Ababa. Established as the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development (EIIPD) in 1996, the Institute was rebranded and moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in 2020. The Institute researches foreign policy, international relations, security, governance, and democratization.
