ANCIP

On 11 February 2025, the second ANCIP Transfer Workshop took place in Brussels with logistical support by the Brussels office of the Leibniz Association. Representatives from European and African embassies, the EU Commission, think tanks, political party foundations, and research institutions attended the workshop to engage with the work of the research network on African Non-Military Conflict Intervention Practices (ANCIP). In her welcome and introductory remarks, Dr. Antonia Witt (ANCIP, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt) explained that the aim of the workshop was to engage policymakers and practitioners on the practical implications of the network’s past three years of research and to explore future avenues for evidence-based science-policy interactions in the field of African non-military intervention practices. Taking place under Chatham House rules, the workshop was structured around a series of presentations from the network’s various projects as well as a roundtable discussion, each contributing to a deeper understanding of the complexities and potential of non-military approaches by Africa peace and security actors.

In the first session, S. Elisabeth Warnck and Vincent J. Schober (both ANCIP, Leipzig University) introduced the participants to the content and structure of the ANCIP database as well as to the functionality and areas of application of the dashboard on non-military intervention practices of African regional organizations that is currently being developed out of the database. In the subsequent discussion, workshop participants emphasized the value of such data projects, for instance for advocacy work, making the role of African actors in non-military interventions visible. Participants also underlined the importance of extending and sustaining the database beyond the current project phase.

The workshop transitioned to short presentations on published or upcoming ANCIP Policy Briefs, moderated by Prof. Dr. Christof Hartmann (ANCIP, Duisburg-Essen University). Camille Vern (ANCIP, Leipzig University) presented her policy brief on the institutionalisation of FemWise and Jonas Schaaf (ANCIP, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt) presented lessons from the establishment of umbrella CSOs in the field of early warning, which will soon be published as policy brief, co-authored with Prof. Dr. Ulf Engel (ANCIP, Leipzig University) and Taye Abdulkadir (African Union Commission, Addis Ababa). In her presentation, ANCIP Fellow Dr. Emma Birikorang (Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Accra) highlighted the historical importance of ECOWAS’ non-military intervention practices and argued that the organization is currently faced with a complex crisis of leadership, which negatively affects ECOWAS’ ability to project power on member states and uphold regional norms. Building on this, Dr. Mona Saleh (ANCIP, Duisburg-Essen University) in her presentation explained why the EU should remain a reliable partner of ECOWAS even in turbulent times for the regional organization and how the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI–Global Europe) should be used to continue mutually beneficial partnerships. Responding to the various presentations, the workshop participants asked how the institutionalization of civil society participation could learn from FemWise-Africa experiences and vice versa, how ECOWAS-EU partnership could avoid undermining ECOWAS’ agency, what model of regional governance should ideally underline that partnership, and what ECOWAS member states actually wish from cooperation with the EU.

The second session featured a roundtable discussion under the moderation of Nneka Okechukwu. The panelists – H.E. Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana, Lidet Tadesse, head of peace, security and resilience at the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM, Maastricht), and Lorenzo Conti from the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO, Brussels) – reflected on the futures of African non-military interventions. The panelists highlighted the different but inter-linked challenges faced within the space of non-military interventions, such as broad and comprehensive mandates leading to high expectations, lack of leadership at continental and national level, unclear or competing priorities, as well as shrinking spaces for civilian actors. The latter aspect in particular makes it increasingly difficult for civil society actors to contribute meaningfully to the planning and evaluation of non-military interventions. The panelists also discussed the neglected role of African cultures and culture more generally as foundation for peacebuilding and non-military engagements, which tends to be sidelined in the professionalized field of international peacebuilding. The panelists simultaneously provided recommendations that could further strengthen African non-military interventions such as setting clear priorities, supporting dialogue and preventive action at local level, and engaging with the role of technology both for conflict escalation and for peacemaking.

 Picture (c) Frank Mattheis. Panel speakers and ANCIP team at the transfer workshop in Brussels.