In 1994, the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) initiated its first law enforcement development project in the Africa and Middle East region—a “whole of police force” development effort in Somalia. Since then, ICITAP has delivered a wide range of technical assistance and specialized training programs in nearly 30 countries throughout the region. Today, ICITAP’s law enforcement development focuses on combating human-trafficking, gender-based violence, and public corruption.

ICITAP receives funding and partnership support from the U.S. Agency for International Development; the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and its Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons; and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Learn more about ICITAP's programs in this region (*indicates field office):

Current Programs

Benin*
Since 2002, ICITAP has provided training and technical assistance in criminal case management and investigations, including questioned documents examinations. Benin is one of four African countries in which ICITAP will provide training and technical assistance—under the Women's Empowerment and Justice Initiative—to combat gender-based violence.

Gabon
ICITAP began working with the State Department in 2007 on a program to combat trafficking in persons.

Gambia
ICITAP began working with the State Department in 2007 on a program to combat trafficking in persons.

Kenya*
In July 2005, ICITAP provided Kenyan investigators training in basic criminal investigations. Kenya is one of four African countries in which ICITAP will be providing training and technical assistance—under the Women's Empowerment and Justice Initiative—to combat gender-based violence.

Nigeria
Since 2002, ICITAP has provided training on civil disorder management and election security. ICITAP also provided technical assistance on recruiting and training criminal investigators for the Police Service Commission, a civilian oversight body for the Nigerian police force. ICITAP is currently working with the State Department on a program to combat trafficking in persons.

Senegal
In 2002, ICITAP initiated a three-pronged law enforcement development program focused on mid-level management training for officers in Senegal's gendarmerie and national police, and on drug investigation training, including drug testing techniques and laboratory management. More recently, ICITAP launched a project to help establish a community policing program and an office to combat trafficking in persons.

South Africa
ICITAP began a project in 2003 to help the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) become a full-service police organization. Working with senior JMPD officials, ICITAP developed a complete standard operating procedures and policy manual, and provided support for the development of basic recruit and in-service training. South Africa is one of four African countries in which ICITAP will be providing training and technical assistance—under the Women's Empowerment and Justice Initiative—to combat gender-based violence.

Sudan
ICITAP, working with the State Department, launched an election security program in southern Sudan in 2008 to provide police officers with the democratic policing skills necessary to maintain order during upcoming landmark elections.

Uganda
Since 2003, ICITAP has helped the Ugandan police force improve its basic and criminal investigation skills, including forensics capabilities, and has assisted in building criminal intelligence management systems. ICITAP is currently working with the State Department on a program to combat trafficking in persons. The passage of a comprehensive anti-trafficking law combined with ICITAP’s training and technical assistance is strengthening the government’s capacity to increase prosecution of trafficking cases.

Zambia*
ICITAP began working with the government of Zambia in 2007. Zambia is one of four African countries in which ICITAP will be providing training and technical assistance—under the Women's Empowerment and Justice Initiative—to combat gender-based violence.

Past Programs

Ghana
In 1999, ICITAP began providing training and technical assistance to Ghana's police service on civil disorder management, sex crimes investigation, first responder training, and community policing. The comprehensive program—which included instructor development, mid-level management, basic criminal investigations, media relations, narcotics investigations, and internal affairs—was part of a major democracy-building initiative in Ghana.

Madagascar
ICITAP began providing human trafficking investigations training to law enforcement investigators throughout Madagascar in 2008. The project focused on establishing the first nationwide interagency law enforcement unit dedicated to combating trafficking-in-persons.

Mozambique
ICITAP's work in Mozambique contributed to the development of law enforcement capabilities in three critical areas. The initial project, in 2003, assisted the Academy of Police Sciences in creating training requirements for the Mozambican police and created a training forensics laboratory at the academy. The following year, ICITAP initiated a community policing project that included the creation and deployment of bicycle patrol units.

Tanzania
ICITAP's assistance to Tanzania began in 2002 in response to the 1998 terrorist bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam. ICITAP's support focused on civil disorder management and election security, basic police skills, criminal investigations, police training and curriculum development, anti-human trafficking, and the establishment of a criminal forensics laboratory.