Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) is Pan-African research organisation headquartered in Dakar

Dakar

Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...

, Senegal.

Background

CODESRIA was established in 1973. Its aim is to promote, facilitate and disseminate research (within the social sciences

Social sciences

Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...

) in Africa and to creating a community in which this can take place. While CODESRIA is an active research organization it does not abstain from serving as a platform for political statements. Unlike many other organizations it does not agree with the traditional division of Africa in the social sciences where North Africa is often more or less left out, instead, it tries to equally represent the 5 regions in Africa (North Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, West Africa and South Africa). To achieve their mission CODESRIA cooperates with African institutes (e.g.: ERNWACA, FSS ) and non-African institutes and organizations (e.g.: the ASC

Afrika-Studiecentrum, Leiden

The African Studies Centre is an independent scientific institute in the Netherlands that undertakes social-science research on Africa with the aim of promoting a better understanding of historical, current and future social developments in Sub-Saharan Africa. The present director is Ton Dietz...

 and the NAI

Nordic Africa Institute

Nordic Africa Institute serves as a research, documentation and information centre on modern Africa for the Nordic countries. The Institute also encourages research and studies on Africa. The institute was founded in 1962....

). Funding is obtained through various donors ranging from the Dutch and Danish Foreign Ministries, the Senegalese Government, the Ford Foundation

Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....

  to the United Nations.
CODESRIA has three governing organs, the General Assembly

General assembly

General assembly may refer to an official meeting of the members of a trade union, church, association, or similar organization, or of their representatives, in particular:-Governing bodies of international organizations:*The United Nations General Assembly...

 being the highest, followed by the Executive Committee (headed by Sam Moyo) and the Scientific Committee (headed by Takyiwaa Manuh), each with their own specific roles.

Contributions to Social Sciences

CODESRIA grants scholarships. These grants comprise all levels from MA to post-doctoral research. organizes conferences and programs focusing on issues related to the social sciences and humanities, publishes in various forms (also see publications) and helps in setting up research training. Within the CODESRIA environment different strains of thought can be discerned, namely an older, more Marxist oriented group and a younger, neo-liberal group. A third group is characterized by people active in women studies and civil movements. Most of the programs offered to people are however dominated by men with the exception of the gender institute (2007 figures).

Publications

Journals

• Africa Development
  Africa Development
  Africa Development is the quarterly bilingual journal of CODESRIA published since 1976. It is a social science journal whose major focus is on issues which are central to the development of society. Its principal objective is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among African scholars from...
  
  
• African Sociological Review
• African Journal of International Affairs
  African Journal of International Affairs
  The African Journal of International Affairs offers a platform for analyses on contemporary issues in African International Affairs in relation to global developments as they affect Africa.- References :* * * - External links :...
  
  
• Afrika Zamani
• Identity, Culture and Politics : an Afro-Asian Dialogue
• CODESRIA Bulletin
• Journal of Higher Education in Africa
• Africa Review of Books (started 2005)

  The ARB is published twice yearly in English and in French.

• Africa Media Review
  Africa Media Review
  Africa Media Review is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering communication theory, practice, and policy in Africa. It is a collaborative publication between the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa based in Dakar, Senegal and the African Council for Communication...
  
  
• Afro-Arab Selections for Social Sciences

Online Publications

• Africa Development
• African Sociological Review
• Afrika Zamani
• Identity, Culture and Politics : an Afro-Asian Dialogue
• Monographs on line