The African Atomic Policy Lab (AAPL) is a 7-month comprehensive virtual program designed to develop the next generation of African nuclear policy experts and amplify African leadership in global nuclear and security policy debates.
Through a combination of rigorous theoretical training, skills-based training, one-on-one, personalized mentorship, and hands-on policy research, the Lab equips 25 emerging African professionals with the expertise to tackle critical global security challenges spanning nuclear arms control, nonproliferation, disarmament, peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, chemical and biological security, artificial intelligence, and emerging technological risks.
The program culminates in the production of original, actionable, policy research papers and offers international publication opportunities with leading policy outlets, including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, European Leadership Network, and Inkstick Media.
Ultimately, AAPL creates a pipeline of emerging experts capable of contributing meaningfully to global security policy debates and informing decision-making at both national, regional and global levels.
Program Objectives
The African Atomic Policy Lab is designed to:
- Equip 25 young Africans with comprehensive expertise in nuclear policy analysis and writing, research methodologies, research security, open source intelligence, diplomacy and tradecraft, impactful advocacy, and strategic communication.
- Produce high-quality policy papers that offer actionable solutions to contemporary nuclear and global security challenges.
- Produce and disseminate a policy anthology and comprehensive report addressing nuclear arms control, nonproliferation, disarmament, peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, chemical and biological security, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technological risks, from an African perspective.
- Amplify African voices and strengthen Global South leadership in nuclear disarmament and global security.
- Inform policy development in Africa and globally by providing African and international leaders with actionable solutions to contemporary nuclear challenges, thereby strengthening the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, regional and global security.
- Support participants’ engagement in the global policy community through application support for international conferences and forums.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be African nationals or be non-African professionals working on African issues.
- Be aged 18–35 at the time of application
- Demonstrate strong interest in nuclear issues, chemical and biological weapons, emerging technologies, global security, or related fields
- Be able to commit fully to a 7-month virtual program
Applicants from all academic and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Application Details
- Applications open: January 1, 2026
- Application deadline: January 20, 2026
- Program duration: February – September 2026
- Program cost: Free
- Format: Fully virtual
- Technical requirements: Reliable internet access and the ability to participate in video conferencing sessions
Click here to apply for the 2026 Cohort
Program Components
Theoretical Training
Led by a distinguished international faculty, participants engage in bi-weekly lectures covering:
- History of nuclear weapons and the theoretical foundations of nuclear deterrence
- Nuclear trends and contemporary challenges, including cyber threats, AI, autonomous systems, hypersonics, dual-use technologies, and regional instability
- Chemical and biological weapons
- Nuclear-weapon-free zones and alternative approaches to security, with a focus on African frameworks rooted in the Pelindaba Treaty
Skills-Based Training
The Lab integrates substantive expertise with practical skill-building, including:
- Policy research design and methodology
- Policy writing for decision-maker audiences
- Open-source intelligence (OSINT) and nuclear risk analysis
- Diplomacy, tradecraft, and policy entrepreneurship
- Research security
- Strategic communication, advocacy, and media engagement
One-on-One, Personalized Mentorship
Each participant is paired with a senior expert mentor who provides personalized guidance during the program. Mentors support participants in refining research design, analysis, and writing to ensure high-quality policy outputs. Beyond research, mentors also offer strategic advice on career development, professional networking, and navigating the global nuclear policy ecosystem.
Policy Research Project
Participants conduct original research and produce an actionable policy paper aligned with one of the following themes:
- Alternative security concepts and approaches to deterrence
- Nuclear energy and sustainable development
- Nonproliferation and disarmament
- Peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology for development
- Disruptive technologies and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear governance
Benefits: Why Apply?
- Specialized Training: Gain deep theoretical knowledge in nuclear arms control, nonproliferation, disarmament, chemical and biological security, and emerging tech (AI, cyber) from a distinguished international faculty.
- Practical Skills-Building: Develop critical skills in policy research design and methodology, policy writing for decision-maker audiences, open-source intelligence (OSINT) and nuclear risk analysis, diplomacy and tradecraft, policy entrepreneurship, research security, strategic communication, advocacy, and media engagement.
- Official Certification: Receive a Certificate of Participation recognizing your specialized training and contribution to African nuclear policy scholarship.
- One-on-One, Personalized Mentorship: Be paired with a senior expert mentor for one-on-one guidance on research design, writing, networking, and career development and navigation in the global security ecosystem.
- Global Access: Engage with expert faculty and mentors from leading institutions such as Pugwash Conferences, Harvard University, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists the Federation of American Scientists, the African Commission on Nuclear Energy, Council on Strategic Risks, ICAN, VERTIC, and AFRICSIS, among others.
- Alumni Network: Gain membership in the African Atomic Voices Network, ensuring continued access to mentorship, collaborative research, policy engagement, and career development opportunities beyond the program.
- Published Research: Have your policy paper featured in a comprehensive policy anthology and report disseminated to global policymakers and international institutions (including the Pugwash Global Forum).
- International Publication Opportunities: Outstanding papers emerging from the Lab will be considered for publication in leading international policy outlets such as the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, European Leadership Network, and Inkstick Media, subject to their review. Selected papers will also receive editorial support for publication refinement.
- Conference Support: Receive application support to present your research at high-level international conferences and policy forums.
- Leadership Impact: Play a direct role in informing policy development in Africa and globally and elevating African perspectives within global security policy debates.
Strategic Impact
- Critical and underrepresented African perspectives introduced into global and African nuclear policy debates
- Promotion of alternative security frameworks to nuclear deterrence, informed by Africa’s disarmament experience
- Contribution to shifting public discourse and policy skepticism regarding nuclear deterrence and promoting pathways to nuclear disarmament
- Strengthening the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone by informing policy frameworks that support effective national and regional implementation of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
- Increased visibility of African voices in international media, publications, and conferences
- Enhanced Global South leadership in nuclear disarmament and global security
Faculty and Mentors
Participants will learn from and be mentored by distinguished experts, including:
- Dr. Hussain Al-Shahristani — President, Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
- Professor Tom Sauer — University of Antwerp; Pugwash Council Member
- Professor Jo-Ansie Van Wyk — University of South Africa
- Professor Joelien Pretorius — Head of Department of Political Studies, University of the Western Cape; Pugwash Council Member
- Dr. Jean Pascal Zanders — Founder, The Trench; Pugwash Council Member
- Mark Finaud — Senior Advisor, Geneva Centre for Security Policy; Pugwash Advisory Board Member
- Hubert Foy — Director, African Center for Science and International Security; ISYP Advisory Board Member
- Noel Stott — Senior Researcher, VERTIC
- Oliver Meier — Policy and Research Director, European Leadership Network
- John Mecklin — Editor-in-Chief, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
- Francesca Giovannini — Executive Director, Project on Managing the Atom, Harvard University
- Martin Kalinowski — Senior Research Scientist, Peace Science Collaboration
- Matt Korda — Deputy Director, Nuclear Information Project, Federation of American Scientists
- Alice Saltini — Senior Research Lead, Rhode Island School of Design
- Alicia Sanders-Zakre — Head of Policy, ICAN
- Professor Vincent Intondi — Executive Director, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Professor Andrew Futter — Professor of International Politics, University of Leicester; Principal Investigator, Third Nuclear Age Project
- Chioma Egwuogu — Assistant Chief Scientific Officer, Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission
- Andrew Facini — Communications Director, Council on Strategic Risks
- Robin Moser — Associate Researcher, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt
- Tariq Rauf — Former Head of Nuclear Verification and Security Policy at IAEA
…and many more leading experts.
Implementation Partners
African Center for Science and International Security and African Research and Innovation Hub for Nuclear Disarmament Verification, and Didi Digital Solutions.
Contact Information
For questions or clarification, please send an email to office@isyp.org.