The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) has a long and proud record as South Africa’s premier research institute on international issues. It is an independent, non-government think-tank whose purpose is to encourage wider and more informed awareness of the importance of international affairs.  It is both a centre for research excellence and a home for stimulating public debate.
In 2009 the Institute celebrated its 75th anniversary with a range of conferences, high profile speakers’ meetings and social events across the country as well as in London.  Speakers during the year included the former President of Mali (and of the African Union), the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Commissioner for External Relations, the Trade Minister of Botswana, as well as several South African government ministers.
In early 2010 the University of Pennsylvania released its annual Global Think Tank Survey at the United Nations in New York, and SAIIA was pleased to learn that it had been voted the best think tank in sub Saharan Africa.  This was a result of an exercise involving some 1200 international peer reviewers, and was doubly exciting as it coincided with the Institute’s Jubilee year. In the four subsequent Surveys, SAIIA has continued to be ranked he best think tank in sub Saharan Africa.