Research. Policy. Training. African Perspectives.
The Center for International Law and Policy in Africa is a non-partisan, not-for-profit pan-African research think tank advancing international law, regional law, African Union law, policy research, training and institutional engagement.
CILPA works at the intersection of international law, regional law, African Union law, policy research, training and institutional engagement, helping ensure African perspectives remain central to global legal debates.
Connecting legal scholarship, public institutions and practical policy engagement across Africa.
Core areas shaping CILPA’s legal and policy agenda.
ExploreProgrammes, funded initiatives and institutional work.
ExplorePapers, reports, briefs and scholarly outputs.
ExploreConferences, training activities and expert dialogues.
ExploreInstitutions supporting CILPA’s mission and public-interest work.
ExploreStaff, trustees, advisory members and contributors.
ExploreCILPA's work spans international law, African Union law, human rights, governance, climate justice, accountability, legal capacity-building, research and institutional development.
Research, dialogue and policy engagement on international criminal justice and accountability in Africa.
Research and policy engagement on international law issues affecting Africa and its global relationships.
Research and engagement on African Union law, regional law, institutions, and continental legal development.
Legal research and policy work supporting human rights, justice, dignity, and protection across Africa.
Policy research and legal analysis supporting accountable governance and strong rule-of-law frameworks.
Research and policy engagement on climate change, environmental law, and legal responses affecting Africa.
Research and analysis on trade, investment, economic law, and Africa’s participation in global markets.
Training, mentoring, and capacity-building initiatives for lawyers, students, institutions, and legal professionals.
Scholarly research, policy papers, publications, and knowledge resources on international and regional law.
Research and dialogue on reparations, accountability, historic injustices, and justice for people of African descent.
Recent CILPA projects and funded initiatives connecting research, policy engagement and institutional partnerships.
A general support project focused on capacity building and strengthening CILPA’s role in Africa’s engagement with the international legal order.
View projectA brief selection of CILPA’s latest project work. Visit the projects archive for the full portfolio.
A project designed to enhance clarity for States, civil society and other stakeholders on the principle and application of universal criminal jurisdiction.
View projectA project assisting selected African States participating in the International Court of Justice advisory proceedings with context-specific scientific evidence on climate change.
View projectA project supporting academic research and a workshop on an international law framework for reparations for historic injustices suffered by people of African descent.
View projectCILPA brings together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, students and institutions through events and high-level engagement.
CILPA’s inaugural symposium and conference in Freetown examined the legal legacy of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and introduced CILPA to the local legal community.
View eventCILPA, with the co-sponsorship of the American Society of International Law and the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, convened a roundtable discussion on Africa, the Ukraine crisis and international law.
View eventThe Center for International Law and Policy in Africa (CILPA), with the co-sponsorship of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) and the International Nuremberg Principles Academy (INPA) hosted a roundtable discussion exploring the International Criminal Court’s ongoing review and reform process.
View eventA publication centre for CILPA journals, occasional papers, policy briefs, reports and scholarly work.
The African Journal of Legal Studies is a peer-reviewed and interdisciplinary academic journal focusing on human rights and rule of law issues in Africa, drawing analysis from lawyers, economists, political scientists and scholars from across the continent and beyond.
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This report documents CILPA’s first three years of operations, institutional development, programmes, partnerships and early contribution to international law and policy in Africa.
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This occasional paper examines the relationship between the International Criminal Court and African States, providing background and legal-policy analysis as part of CILPA’s work on bringing African perspectives to the ICC reform discussion.
Read publicationInstitutional updates, announcements, commentaries and event reports.
CILPA has received accreditation from the Sierra Leone Tertiary Education Commission to offer short courses in international law.
Read moreCILPA has signed MoUs with government, academic and legal institutions to support legal training and international relations.
Read moreThe project supports African States’ engagement with the international legal order through training for legal advisers, judges, practitioners, armed forces personnel and foreign affairs officials.
Read moreCILPA welcomes collaboration with academic institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, public institutions and researchers working on international and regional law.
