Accra, Ghana – June 18, 2026 – The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing peace and security research in Africa through a Partners’ Meeting convened by its newly established Department of Applied Research and Innovation in Peace and Security (DARIPS).
The meeting brought together representatives from the diplomatic community, development partners, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, and peace and security practitioners to discuss the Centre’s evolving research agenda under its 2024–2028 Strategic Plan and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Opening the meeting, the Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo, described the establishment of DARIPS as a strategic step towards strengthening the Centre’s research footprint and enhancing the policy relevance of its work. He noted that the Department has been created to generate innovative and actionable knowledge that responds directly to the practical challenges confronting policymakers, practitioners, institutions, and communities across the region.
Brigadier General Ayorrogo emphasized that KAIPTC’s success over the past two decades has been built on strong partnerships with state institutions, development partners, academic and research institutions, and civil society organizations. He stressed that the creation of DARIPS presents an opportunity to deepen existing collaborations and foster new partnerships aimed at developing evidence-based solutions to emerging peace and security challenges.
Representing the German Embassy, Mr. Jannis Neubert commended KAIPTC for establishing a dedicated research department, describing the move as a testament to the Centre’s longstanding commitment to evidence-based policy and practice. He expressed confidence that DARIPS would emerge as an internationally recognized hub for innovative, policy-relevant, and impactful research.
Mr. Neubert also highlighted the importance of sustained partner engagement in identifying priority research areas, noting that effective policy interventions must be grounded in research and informed by realities on the ground. He further acknowledged the Department’s strong technical expertise and leadership, as well as its contributions to regional policy discussions and collaborative research initiatives with institutions such as the National Defence College and the ECOWAS Commission.
Providing an overview of the Department, the Director of DARIPS, Dr. Emma Birikorang, explained that the separation of the former Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research (FAAR) into two standalone entities—the Faculty of Academic Affairs and DARIPS—was a deliberate response to the rapidly evolving peace and security landscape in West Africa.
According to Dr. Birikorang, challenges such as violent extremism, unconstitutional changes of government, and the resulting humanitarian and development concerns require more agile and responsive approaches to research and policy engagement. She noted that DARIPS was established to bridge the gap between evidence, policy, and practice by producing timely, innovative, and policy-oriented research.
As part of the Centre’s institutional transformation, DARIPS now hosts four new programmes designed to address emerging peace and security challenges across the continent. Through interactive discussions and thematic engagements, participants identified priority areas for research, explored complementarities among stakeholders, and discussed opportunities for future collaboration.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening partnerships and advancing research that supports sustainable peace, security, and development across Africa. The engagement marks an important milestone in DARIPS’ efforts to build a vibrant network of partners dedicated to generating knowledge and shaping policy for a more peaceful and secure continent.