CBRN assistance and capacity-building programmes for African states

This directory, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) with financial support from Denmark, provides an inventory of assistance and capacity-building programmes available to African states in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) areas. It details the offers of nearly 50 states, various international and regional organisations, and civil society entities, primarily within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and other international non-proliferation treaties.

• The directory identifies a wide array of assistance providers, including nearly 50 states and numerous international, regional, and sub-regional organisations, that have formally offered assistance under UN Security Council Resolution 1540 as of 15 November 2016.
• The African Union Commission plays a central role in promoting the implementation of Resolution 1540 among its member states and coordinating the delivery of assistance on the continent.
• The European Union's CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative is a major vehicle for capacity building in Africa, implementing numerous projects focused on border security, legal frameworks, and public health mitigation.
• The United States provides extensive bilateral and multilateral assistance across all CBRN domains, including the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) for nuclear security and the Cooperative Biological Engagement Programme (BEP) for biosurveillance and biosecurity.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as the primary international hub for nuclear cooperation, providing legislative assistance, technical cooperation programmes (TC), and the Response and Assistance Network (RANET) for nuclear or radiological emergencies.
• The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) provides African member states with assistance in legislation drafting, enforcement of transfer regimes, and preparedness and response to chemical attacks.
• INTERPOL supports African states through a three-pillar methodology consisting of information sharing and intelligence analysis, capacity building and training, and operational and investigative support for CBRNE threats.
• Civil society and academic entities, such as the African Bio-safety Association (AfBSA) and the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), contribute to African capacity by promoting professional standards in biosafety and biosecurity and providing professional certification.
• The World Customs Organization (WCO) focuses on enhancing border security and the control of dual-use goods through its Security Programme and the Strategic Trade Control Enforcement (STCE) programme.
• The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) is the only UN regional entity specializing in disarmament and non-proliferation in Africa, providing technical and legal assistance for national reports and action plans.

APA

DuPre, A., & Kasprzyk, N. (2016). CBRN assistance and capacity-building programmes for African states. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/research-directory-cbrn.pdf

Chicago

DuPre, Annie, and Nicolas Kasprzyk. CBRN assistance and capacity-building programmes for African states. Institute for Security Studies, 2016. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/research-directory-cbrn.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=DuPre |first1=Annie |last2=Kasprzyk |first2=Nicolas |title=CBRN assistance and capacity-building programmes for African states |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2016 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/research-directory-cbrn.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dupre2016cbrn, author = {DuPre, Annie and Kasprzyk, Nicolas}, title = {{CBRN assistance and capacity-building programmes for African states}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2016}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/research-directory-cbrn.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }