South African Institute of International Affairs

The Institute was founded in Cape Town in 1934 and has been located since 1960 in Jan Smuts House on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand (in central Johannesburg) with which it has strong links.  In 2008 it opened an office in Cape Town and in 2009 another in Pretoria to service important stakeholder groups in those cities.  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.

It 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.  It is registered as a not for profit organisation with the Department of Social Development, and with the South African Revenue Services as a public benefit organisation.

The Institutions mission is to provide cutting-edge analysis and promote balanced dialogue on issues crucial to Africa’s advancement and its engagement in a dynamic global context.

We achieve this by:

• Making constructive policy input.
• Stimulating informed public debate.
• Building leadership and research excellence in Africa.