CSIS Launches Initiative to Strengthen U.S.-Africa Policy Dialogue

WASHINGTON, DC–October 28, 2025–The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) today announced it is launching a peer-to-peer forum that connects African think tanks, academic centers, and research institutions directly with U.S.-based policy conversations. This two-year project builds on the foundations of the Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding, which started at the Wilson Center in 2011. The transition of this project to CSIS complements the extensive work of the CSIS Africa Program, which is recognized as a leading resource for substantive and balanced analysis on U.S.-Africa policy issues. The project is supported by a $1 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Within the grant period, the project will elevate policy discussions that impact U.S.-Africa relations; convene country, regional, or thematic working groups; expand engagement on U.S.-Africa trade and investment issues with peacebuilding implications; and strengthen platforms for African leadership in global governance discussions. 

“Amid seismic shifts in U.S. foreign policy and a rebalance in the global order, this generous support from the Carnegie Corporation will address a critical need to ensure that African voices and perspectives are central to U.S.-Africa policy discussions,” said CSIS Africa Program Director and Senior Fellow Oge Onubogu.

“I am grateful to the Carnegie Corporation for its generous support of this important initiative,” said Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at CSIS. “Their grant is a testament to the depth of expertise and commitment of the Africa Program to foster informed debate and decision-making on U.S.-Africa policy. At a time of rising geopolitical competition, CSIS is uniquely positioned to provide a trusted platform for dialogue and analysis that strengthens U.S.-Africa relations through producing forward-thinking research and analysis that centers African knowledge and agency.”

The CSIS Africa Program helps stakeholders navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Africa, identifies the geopolitical trends that are shaping Africa’s relations with the global community, and fosters debate and informed decision making to strengthen U.S.-Africa relations. The Africa Program collaborates with other CSIS programs to deepen understanding of global powers’ engagement on the African continent, the future of international institutions, and emerging opportunities for U.S. partnership in Africa.

Visit here to learn more about the CSIS Africa Program. For media inquiries, please contact Sofia Chavez ([email protected]).