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About the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa


The Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa focuses on engagement with Africa through cutting-edge research, teaching and public events, strengthening LSE’s long-term commitment to placing Africa at the heart of understandings and debates on global issues.

I cannot think of any comparable centre for the study of Africa outside of the continent that has made such a huge impact within such a limited time

Wale Adebanwi, University of Oxford

Mission

The Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa (FLIA) at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) focuses on the study of, and engagement with, Africa. The FLIA promotes the visibility of Africa in LSE’s teaching, research and policy engagement. It supports independent multi-disciplinary academic research and teaching; open and issue-oriented debate; and evidence-based policymaking.

The Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa is at the forefront of producing rigorous social science research and evidence-based analysis, illuminating world affairs and interrogating local circumstances. As a multi-disciplinary Institute, the FLIA works across social science disciplines to develop cutting-edge research including work on health, South-South relations, justice and security, economic growth, environmental issues, grassroots organisations, conflict and humanitarianism, and public authority. The FLIA strives for producing robust independent scholarship that raises the profile of African issues and perspectives in global debates.

Through its various academic, research and outreach programmes, the FLIA promotes collaborative partnerships and knowledge sharing between LSE and UK scholars and institutions and their counterparts in Africa. The FLIA emphasises engagement with policymakers in public and private institutions and open dissemination of academic knowledge to facilitate availability and accessibility. Committed to public outreach, the FLIA hosts a wide range of ongoing programmes and activities such as the Programme for African Leadership (PfAL), the LSE Africa Summit, the Africa Talks series, the African Visiting Research Fellowship Programme, the Africa Engagement Programme, a ESRC/GCRF Research Centre and the Africa at LSE blog.

Why an Institute for Africa at LSE?

More than 100 scholars at the School currently work on Africa across social science disciplines including anthropology, development studies, economics, geography, health, international relations, politics, social policy and social psychology. The Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa is at the forefront of producing rigorous social science research and evidence-based analysis, illuminating world affairs and interrogating local circumstances. It will do what the LSE as a whole is committed to doing. It will look into the causes of things.

The FLIA emphasises public dissemination, engagement with policy-makers and work to enhance the quality and availability of evidence. It promotes teaching about Africa and the continent’s changing significance in the world both at LSE and internationally, and it upholds robust independent scholarship on the continent.

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Former President of Ghana John Mahama speaking at the 2014 LSE Africa Summit

Activities

The Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa builds on a wide range of ongoing programmes and activities such as the Programme for African Leadership (PfAL), the LSE Africa Summit, the Africa Talks series, the African Visiting Research Fellowship Programme, a research centre, the Africa Engagement Programme and the Africa at LSE blog.

Other activities include PhD student exchanges through an academic partnership between LSE and the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Research includes work on health, South-South relations, justice and security, economic growth, trade, the environment, decentralised governance, grassroots organisations, urbanisation, public administration, conflict and humanitarianism.

FLIA Annual Reports

Each year the FLIA produces an annual report showcasing its recent events, engagement programmes, research. media coverage and student initiatives. Click below to read the latest reports.

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FLIA Annual Report 2021-2022

Read online

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FLCA Annual Report 2020-2021

Read online

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Centre for Public Authority and International Development Report 2021

Read online

 

Previous annual reports

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Annual Report 2017/18

Read online

 

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Annual Report 2016/17

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Banner photo credit: Owen Billcliffe Photography