Mission

The activities and publications of IFAA contribute immensely to the search for solutions to Africa’s problems Salim A.Salim, Secretary General,OAU The Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA) is a network institute for policy research on alternative development strategies for the continent, with links to NGOs in the North and South and grassroots organisations in Africa. It was established in January 1986 in response to the prevailing African crisis. IFAA is in the roster of the UN Economic and Social Council

General aims of IFAA

• To conduct and facilitate research on the problems of Africa and the processes necessary for social transformation
• To arrange conferences, workshops and seminars to enable African scholars and personalities from all walks of life to meet, discuss and develop alternative policies for Africa
• To publish reports, proceedings and occasional papers that facilitate the development of alternative policies
• To ontinue to develop the existing IFAA centres in Africa and initiate new ones
• To represent African perspectives within and outside Africa
• To conduct residential training programmes and adult educational courses
• To run courses for certification in Africa-related subjects in conjunction with various universities
• The location of an office in London enables IFAA to undertake activities, which are often not possible in Africa due to lack of necessary resources, or for other reasons. The centre plays a key role in IFAA’s work and Website and is responsible for the following:
  carrying outresearch in ecology politics and conflict in the Horn region publishing books, reports and papers on problems of the African environment
• Holding educational and training programmes for students, African women, African environmentalists and IFAA personnel
• hosting IFAA’s e-mail system and disseminating crucial information to the IFAA centres in Africa
• representing African views and promoting IFAA’s policies to the mass media in Europe
• IFAA has established co-operative relations with the OAU, OATUU and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)