The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has restructured its academic and research divisions. This change aims to strengthen its ability to respond to complex security challenges across West Africa. The Centre’s former Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research has been split. It is now an Academic Faculty and a new Department of Applied Research and Innovation in Peace and Security (DARIPS).
This reform seeks to make KAIPTC’s work more relevant to policy. It also aims to deepen its research and align its outputs with real-world security needs. Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo, the Deputy Commandant, highlighted worsening regional security as a key driver. This includes the expansion of violent extremist networks and unconstitutional changes of government. These factors create instability affecting millions across the sub-region.
The KAIPTC’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan underpins this restructuring. This plan prioritises stronger institutional structures. It ensures better responsiveness to the rapidly changing peace and security landscape in Africa and beyond. DARIPS will serve as the Centre’s main engine for applied research and innovation. It bridges the gap between academic knowledge and practical policy needs.
Brig. Gen Ayorrogo noted that the regional environment is increasingly complex and interconnected. Violent extremist networks are expanding from the Sahel into coastal West African states. This trend poses a serious threat to regional stability. Unconstitutional changes of government also disrupt governance structures. They place pressure on regional security frameworks. These issues are worsened by humanitarian crises and governance deficits affecting millions.
The Deputy Commandant stressed that instability directly impacts livelihoods and development. He called for responses informed by strong evidence and agility. This allows them to match the pace and complexity of new threats. The KAIPTC maintains its role as an ECOWAS Centre of Excellence. It supports Member States in building sustainable capacity for peace and security. This responsibility extends beyond training to include knowledge generation and institutional strengthening.
Brig. Gen. Ayorrogo cautioned that training alone is no longer enough. He called for stronger integration of rigorous applied research into all capacity-building efforts. DARIPS ensures that evidence from the field informs training programmes and policy. This enhances the effectiveness of interventions at national and regional levels. The goal is to equip policymakers with analytical tools for informed decisions in complex security environments.
DARIPS will focus on four new thematic programmes. These include Conflict, Governance, and Leadership; Technology and Security; Climate Security and Migration; and Peace Operations, Stabilisation, and Peacebuilding. These areas reflect the interconnected nature of current threats. They range from governance fragility to climate-induced displacement. The Deputy Commandant encouraged partners to engage critically with these programmes. Their insights will ensure the research agenda remains relevant and impactful. KAIPTC’s credibility over two decades comes from sustained partnerships. These are with governments, international agencies, and civil society. The reintroduction of DARIPS deepens these existing collaborations.